April 22

National Jelly Bean Day

A food observance on April 22 celebrating jelly beans, the colorful candy popularized during the Civil War era and long associated with Easter traditions.

Yearly Date
April 22
Observed in
United States
Category
Food
Subcategory
Candy
Founding Entity

Unknown

First Observed
Unknown
Origin

Community Origin

The observance has no verified creator or establishment year.

Holiday Calendar
Last updated February 26, 2026 by the Holiday Calendar Team
Have an update or spot an error?

Introduction

Celebrate National Jelly Bean Day on April 22 with a big bowl of your favorite flavors! Although this fun holiday was only invented in the 2000s, jelly beans have been around since the 1800s. Since then, they've become one of America's most popular confectionery treats and are enjoyed all over the world. Not only are jelly beans irresistible to eat but also come in an endless variety of colorful shapes and yummy flavors.

National Jelly Bean Day Timeline

1860s
Jelly Bean Inception
Jelly beans were first made in Boston, with their shape inspired by Turkish candies and interior based on French 'jelly' candies.
1905
Jelly Beans Commercially Available
The first Jelly Beans were sold commercially in Boston and became popular throughout the United States.
1930s
Associated with Easter
In the 1930s, jelly beans became a permanent part of the Easter holiday due to their egg-like shape.
1976
Introduction of Gourmet Jelly Beans
The Jelly Belly company created a high-quality, gourmet jelly bean, expanding the popularity and flavor possibilities of these sweet treats.
2000s
National Jelly Bean Day
The National Jelly Bean Day was established to celebrate this versatile confection, giving fans a day to indulge in their favorite treat.

How to Celebrate National Jelly Bean Day

1

Create a jelly bean art masterpiece

Create a unique piece of art with jelly beans. Paint with them, create mosaics, or use them to make 3D shapes. Get creative and have fun.

2

Host a jelly bean taste test

Gather your friends and family to participate in a jelly bean taste test. Have everyone try each one without looking at the flavors, then guess what it is! Award points for correct guesses and tally up the scores at the end.

3

Make some jelly bean infused recipes

There are many recipes you can make with jelly beans. Try making some jelly bean cookies, cupcakes, brownies, or ice cream! There are so many possibilities.

4

Go on a scavenger hunt

Hide jelly beans around your house or yard and have your family go on a treasure hunt to find them! Make it even more interesting by adding clues along the way.

5

Play games with jelly beans

Grab a bowl of jelly beans and have some fun playing games like sorting by color, rolling dice with them, or holding competitions to see who can eat the most in one minute.

Why We Love National Jelly Bean Day

A

Jelly beans are fun

Eating a bag of jelly beans is almost as much fun as playing a game or watching a movie. There's something exciting about the colorful assortment of flavors and the challenge of determining which one you get before you pop it in your mouth! Plus, they make great party favors for special events!

B

Jelly beans come in all sorts of flavors

From classic fruity varieties to more unusual flavors like pizza, sushi, or cotton candy, jelly beans have something for everyone. And if you're looking for variety, there are even bags that contain multiple flavors so you can sample them all at once!

C

Jelly beans are filled with nostalgia

Remember those days when you would head over to the local candy shop with pocket change in hand and come home with a bag full of goodies? Those were the days! So when you celebrate National Jelly Bean Day, it's a chance to relive some of the best moments of your childhood, without having to leave the comfort of your home!

Holiday Dates

Year Date Day
2023 Saturday
2024 Monday
2025 Tuesday
2026 Wednesday
2027 Thursday