Peppermint Pigs: A Smashingly Fun New York Holiday Tradition

What are in the world are peppermint pigs, you ask?

To the festive residents of upstate New York they are a delightfully quirky part of a holiday tradition that started way back in the 1800s. A smashing part, one might say.

According to The Associated Press, festive holiday goers in Saratoga Springs have a long standing relationship with the amusing candy. Typically weighing around 8 ounces and shaped like a pig, these treats are made of peppermint and are considered to be good luck charms.

Are you ready for the best part? Each little piggy comes with it’s very own metal hammer. The hammer is used to smash the candy into edible and shareable bits.

You might be curious as to how this tradition got started.

Saratoga.com writes that Victorian culture viewed the pig to be a token of good health, fortune, prosperity, and happiness. Similar to the taste and texture of a traditional candy cane and sporting a bright pink color, they were offered by candy makers during the holiday season.

That tradition is being continued to this day by Saratoga Springs candy merchants and residents alike. Don’t worry — you don’t have to live in New York to enjoy a little pig smashing of your very own. You can grace your holiday table with one of theses little guys by ordering one online. Those of you who might like a smaller peppermint intake can also choose the option of the smaller, or piglet, size version.

Would your family get a kick out of the peppermint pig tradition?