Looking to celebrate Sweetest Day? Here are gift ideas and ways to celebrate to make it the sweetest yet
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Your new favorite holiday has arrived and it's called Sweetest Day! Sweetest Day is all about expressing gratitude to the ones you love. If you’re not sure how to celebrate—don’t worry. We've got you covered with everything you need to know about the holiday, including gift ideas that will be sure to put a smile on your loved one's faces.
►Related: When is Sweetest Day 2022? What you need to know about October's sweetest holiday
What is Sweetest Day?
According to Hallmark, the holiday was created 100 years ago by a Cleveland, Ohio confectionary company employee who wanted to spread happiness to those who were often forgotten such as orphans.
Today, Sweetest Day has expanded to encompass appreciation towards anyone you care about, whether romantic or otherwise, though it's often celebrated as something of a mini–Valentine’s Day. If you're a romantic at heart and looking for a low-pressure excuse to show your love and appreciation for your partner, Sweetest Day is the holiday for you. You might even find a new tradition.
When is Sweetest Day?
Sweetest Day is observed annually on the third Saturday of October. This year, it falls on Saturday, October 15, 2022.
Where is Sweetest Day celebrated?
If you haven't heard of the holiday, it's probably because it’s mainly observed in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest, though it’s also observed in some communities in Florida, South Dakota, Washington and West Virginia.
How to celebrate Sweetest Day
There are many ways to show your appreciation for your loved one such as partaking in a fun date night activity or buying gifts that they'll appreciate. Here are 14 products that we know your partner will love.
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1. Go the chocolate route
If you're celebrating Sweetest Day as a mini-Valentine’s Day, then you'll of course want to gift your partner some chocolate that's as sweet as they are, and we know just the chocolate to get. Taza Chocolate is stone-ground chocolate that is available in bars and Mexican-style discs. There are several flavors to choose from including more unique flavors like Guajillo Chili and Spiked Eggnog.
2. Treat your cupcake to a cupcake
If your partner's sweet tooth is more partial to cakes, we wholeheartedly recommend Baked by Melissa, which bakes some of the best cupcakes we've had the pleasure of testing. These delectable, bite-sized treats come in a variety of flavors that are as special as your loved one—cookies and cream, caramel cone, birthday cake and cookie blizzard, to name a few. Baked by Melissa even offers gluten-free offerings so everyone can have a taste.
3. Gift a savory snack
While many people love sweets, others prefer more savory snacks to sink their teeth into. If this is the case for your partner, we recommend one of the most unique bouquets you can buy. Have you ever had the pleasure of eating a beef jerky bouquet? Manly Man offers this one-of-a-kind, delectable gift in both 8-stem and full dozen varieties. It comes in several different flavors—classic, teriyaki, and a mixed assortment.
4. Opt for a classic bouquet
Flowers are another great gift to give on Sweetest Day. Roses, in particular, are associated with romance, so a bouquet of crimson will ensure that your feelings are crystal clear. One advantage that Sweetest Day has over Valentine's Day is that roses are in season during October, meaning that you'll be able to find them more easily at your local florist. If you're looking for a convenient place to buy a beautiful bouquet online, look no further than 1-800 Flowers. Whether your partner fancies radiant reds, pretty pinks or poised purples, there’s an arrangement for everyone. The site offers other gift options as well such as a giant teddy bear and a sweet message in a bottle.
5. Grab a bottle (or two) of wine
Fancy wine with your roses? Thanks to Winc, a wine subscription service, you and your partner can spend Sweetest Day sipping delicious wine as you snuggle on the couch. When signing up, Winc has you complete a short questionnaire to personalize wine options to your taste. After this, you can choose exactly what (and how much) wine you want to receive each month. Winc even recommends recipes that pair well with your wine. Reviewed Managing Editor Kate Ellsworth loves Winc for helping her identify what wine she enjoys.
6. Get a plant that’ll last
For a more permanent fixture of in your home, one worthy of symbolizing the longevity of your love, consider getting your partner a plant from The Sill. It offers many plants, both live and faux, to choose from. After ordering a ZZ plant from The Sill, Reviewed Home Editor Meghan Kavanaugh was happy to announce that Branche Devereaux (adorably, The Sill has you name your plants) was alive and well without much maintenance several months later.
7. Grab them a plushie they’ll love
Stuffed animals and plushies make for popular gifts and there's perhaps no type of plushie more popular right now than Squishmallows, a colorful collection of egg-shaped animals and fruits. Yes, fruits. Squishmallows come in several sizes, but their uniform shape means that they're great to collect. The joy of getting a Squishmallow accurately conveys the joy your loved one brings you every day.
8. Show your love with a book
Book of the Month is the perfect gift for bookworms. It's a great way to discover new books both from first-time and established authors from a variety of genres. The subscription service curates five new books each month to choose from. If your partner is a particularly avid reader, up to two extra books can be added to the subscription box each month.
9. Build a bouquet made of LEGO
LEGO offers a decidedly more unique take on the bouquet in its Botanical Collection. It's the perfect gift for any brick lovers and is sure to show them that you care about their interests. While you can construct the bouquet yourself before Sweetest Day, a fun date night idea is spending an hour or two making it together. When you're done, they're sure to have a fixture like no other.
10. Give them a painting kit
The only thing better than gifting your loved one a painting is gifting a painting that the two of you make together courtesy of Muse Paintbar's home kits. Breathtaking sunsets at the piers, ethereal auroras and starry beaches are just a few of the beautiful paintings you'll be able to create together for your next date night.
11. Get to know each other better with a game
Communication is a vital part of every healthy relationship. While this might sound intimidating to some, it doesn't have to be. Talking with your partner could be the basis of a fun, new date night tradition thanks to the Hygge Game. The Danish word "hygge" translates to "a feeling of well-being and togetherness" and that's exactly how you'll feel playing this game. With countless fun and thought-provoking questions, you'll learn even more about the one you love and the way they think.
12. Stream a movie
Looking to cozy up on the couch and watch a movie together? Streaming is the best way to have a relaxing night watching all the best shows and movies. Between Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video, you'll be hard-pressed not to find something you and your partner will enjoy. Whether you're looking to discover a new movie or are planning on rewatching an already-favorite film, you won't be disappointed.
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13. Team up to catch a killer
Is your partner a fan of true crime or murder mystery stories? If so, they may just love to don their detective cap and become Sherlock for an evening to solve a mysterious case—with you as their Watson, of course. The aptly named Hunt A Killer is a subscription box service that offers premium, detailed games where you, well, hunt a killer. There are many dastardly crime cases to choose from just in time for Halloween. This is a gift you surely wouldn't want to miss out on.
14. Serenade them with song
When it comes to playing the chords of love, we love Spotify, which brings countless songs to your fingertips. There are many options when it comes to incorporating music into date night (especially if you amplify the sound with a speaker). You and your partner can belt your favorite tunes, dance like nobody's watching or just sit and vibe. You can also use music as a backdrop for other date night activities.
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15. Treat them with a foot spa
The best gifts are often ones that allow your partner to relax and leave their worries behind for the day. There are few better ways to relax than by taking a trip to the spa and with a foot spa, you can bring the relaxation right to your home. The Ivation Foot Spa Massager is the best foot spa we've tested thanks to its massage rollers and adjustable heating. One use of the Ivation Foot Spa feels like you're in the lap of luxury.
16. Help them relax with a weighted blanket
If you're planning to treat your partner (and yourself) to a relaxing day at home, there's no better gift than the Gravity Blanket, which earned our vote as the best weighted blanket. While this blanket fetches a pretty penny, it's money well spent. The Gravity Blanket feels like a warm hug, meaning that your loved one will feel your embrace even when you're away. If that wasn't enough, weighted blankets have been linked to a decrease in anxiety, chronic pain and insomnia. Plus, it's easy to clean, ensuring that your gift doesn't ever become a hassle.
17. Show them you care with a greeting card
Sometimes, you can't beat the classics. The greeting card is a staple gift for many holidays from Christmas to Mother's Day, and Hallmark offers a variety of Sweetest Day cards. Some cards are eligible for one-day pickup and others can even be personalized on the site with a loving message. While greeting cards pair nicely with the gifts we've recommended, they also work as a perfect solo gift if you’re not trying to spend a ton.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sweetest Day 2022: How to celebrate, gift ideas
