The Peppermint Pig is a long-standing, peculiar holiday purchase of Upstate New Yorkers. It began in Saratoga, New York, at the height of the Victorian era (1880s). Of course, it was the brainchild of a merchant, who made lots of money marketing his little creation into a lucrative– and yummy– venture. But it’s the centerpiece of a Christmas tradition, and a quirky one at that!

The Peppermint Pig is candy. A pig was a symbol of wealth when most Americans had farms and kept livestock and other animals. All of the other animals served as workers on the farm as well as a source of food (for example, the bull helped plow fields but was used as food; the chickens ate pesky insects, but provided eggs and meat for the family). The pig, however, served for no purpose other then for food. Not all families kept pigs, only the wealthier ones. Some families pooled their resources together to keep one pig between them, and shared the meat at butchering time. As Americas prospered, particularly after the Civil War, pigs on farms became more commonplace but still retained their traditional status as a symbol of prosperity.

A Saratoga, NY, confectioner got this brainy idea to make this status symbol into a sweet pink pig of hard candy, flavored with peppermint. Christmastime was the perfect time to buy these little goodies, when spending was high and good will was abundant.

Unlike other (and more modern sweets), the Peppermint Pig must be made from sugar, not corn syrup. This is because the Peppermint Pig more easily broken for eating (whereas a pig made from corn syrup would be gummy and not shatter).

During the Victorian Christmas holidays, it became all the “vogue” to purchase the sweet little Peppermint Pig for the Christmas dinner. After the traditional meal, the family would gather ’round and each member would take a turn at swacking the little pig into pieces and munching on the candy. The Peppermint Pig became so popular in Upstate that numerous candy stores started producing them, but the tradition dwindled and now only one confectioner in Saratoga continues to make the Peppermint Pig. However, the Peppermint Pig is gaining popularity again. Today, the Peppermint Pig is purchased in a little velveteen pouch with a small hammer by Saratoga Sweets. I had one many years ago, and it is a sweet little delicacy! You can read more about the candy maker and the story behind this uniquely American tradition here.