July 20 Lollipop Day is an annual observation of this popular and flavorful treat.Lollipops come in many colors, flavors and shapes. They range from the small size, which can be purchased by the bag full and are also given away at banks, barber shops and parades, to the very large ones that are made out of candy canes twisted into circles.
Lollipops usually consist of hardened sugar and corn syrup with added flavoring. They are mounted on a stick and intended for licking or sucking. Lollipops come in dozens of flavors, colors, and shapes. Sometimes they contain fillings, such as a soft candy or bubble gum.
Culinary historians believe that the lollipop (or at least some form of it) has been around since the prehistoric era. Early humans often enjoyed honey on a stick as a delicious treat. No one really knows how the modern-day lollipop was invented, but we do know how it got its name. George Smith, the owner of a small American candy store, came up with the sweet's name. In the early 1900s, he called the candy a "lollipop" after his favorite racehorse—LollyPop.