Willy Wonka Day
Feb 1
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
“Invention is 93% perspiration 6% inspiration 3% perspiration and 2% butter scotch ripple.”
~ Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl, 1964
The recipe quoted might also well be what it takes to devise a new Scottish Country Dance! If you're fond of chocolate, February is the month to indulge in one of the many chocolatey dances available to those with a dancing sweet tooth! The first of February is also a special day in chocolate literature as it marks the day in which the five lucky golden ticket holders in Roald Dahl's well-loved children's story, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, gathered to tour the mysterious Willy Wonka's chocolate factory! Although Wonka's chocolate factory is credited with marvelous and magical candies and chocolates, there have been new innovations in the real chocolate world too! Besides dark, milk, and white chocolates, the newest member of the chocolate clan is "ruby chocolate", a variety made from "ruby cocoa beans" and notable for its natural pink colour and sweet flavour (described as a combination of white chocolate and raspberries)! Perhaps If Willy Wonka had opened a factory in Scotland, he might have used his candy genius to compose tartan chocolates and used the setts as "chocolate mapping", the encoding of drips and decorations to identify flavours! Just think what flavours could be inspired by Royal Stewart:
Red: Strawberry or Raspberry for a classic fruity flavor.
Blue: Blueberry, offering a sweet yet slightly tart contrast.
Green: Green Apple, to add a crisp, tart element.
Yellow: Lemon or Honey, for a citrusy or sweet touch.
White: Vanilla or White Chocolate, to mellow and balance the flavors.
Wouldn't that be "Scrumdiddlyumptious"?! Indulge any chocolate cravings with this chocolately jig, which incorporates figures that suggest mixing the chocolate, folding in the flavours, and final swirls and angles for decorating! 🍫 🍭 🍬 🍫
The Chocolate Factory
Many chocolate factories supply the world's taste for chocolate and people have their favorite manufacturer and candy bar and flavour combination.
But one of the most recognizable candies are M&M's, the initials standing for a collaboration between chocolate makers Forrest Mars (from Mars Candies) and Scotsman Bruce Murrie (from Hershey Chocolates).
M&M's have a "colorful" history of colors, some even entering urban legend status.
The red version of the candies were eliminated in 1976-1985 because of health concerns over the dye amaranth (FD&C Red #2), which was a suspected carcinogen. They were replaced with orange-colored candies, despite the fact that M&M's did not actually contain the offending dye. The action was purely to satisfy worried consumers.
Red candies were reintroduced ten years later, but the orange colors remained. Paul Hethmon, then a student at University of Tennessee, started the campaign to bring back red M&M's as a joke that would eventually become a worldwide phenomenon.
Blue M&Ms were introduced in 1995.
Various rumours about M&M colours have been rife since their introduction, the stuff of schoolyard legend, especially during Halloween candy season. Here are few you may have heard in your youth:
Green M&M's are an aphrodisiac.
If the last candy out of a bag is red, make a wish and it will come true.
If the last candy out of a bag is yellow, call in sick and stay home from school.
Orange M&Ms are good luck.
Brown ones are bad luck.
Another strange reference to M&Ms has to do with contract riders of certain rock bands, who often include a clause requiring the removal of green M&Ms from the candy bowls supplied to their dressing rooms.
Surprisingly, this urban myth is actually true, and not the result of superstitious musicians. For the real reason, click the newest designer color M&M palette below.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
