Autumn in Tucson: It's National Candy Corn Day

Invention of candy corn is credited to Wunderlee Candy Company employee George Renninger in the 1880s. Goelitz Candy Company (now the Jelly Belly Candy Company) started making the tri-colored candy in 1898.

Candy corn is basically three autumnal-colored layers of corn syrup, honey and sugar. It was first handmade but Goelitz started manufacturing big batches near the turn of the century. Basically, “sugar and corn syrup are blended, gelatin and sugar are whipped with air and a fondant is added, followed by yellow and orange coloring,” according to newsfeed.time.com

Candy corn's autumnal harvest colors were linked to Halloween in the 1950s when individually-wrapped candy started to be handed to the trick-or-treaters knocking at the door.

The candy is not just for Halloween however. A Thanksgiving variation has a chocolate-brown end and the colors are mixed up for other holidays — red-white-and-green for Christmas or red-white-and-pink or Valentine's Day.

If you find eating candy corn overly sweet without much flavor, as we do, you can decorate with it. Strings of candy corn make a garland. With the help of a glue gun and some Styrofoam, the candy can become a wreath or a centerpiece

One Oro Valley resident uses a clear glass hurricane filled with candy corn and nestling a pillar candle. She uses a flameless battery-operated candle instead of the real thing because, on occasion, a hand reaches into the hurricane for a nibble or two. She uses the hurricane year-round, filling it with seasonal treats like cranberries for Christmas, heart-shaped sugar candies for Valentine's Day, jelly beans for Easter. You get the drift.

If you’re feeling crafty, check out the many Pinterest boards devoted to crafts and decorating with the candy.