It seems that everywhere I go, I see Easter candy. I use this term loosely, for these days I classify anything wrapped in pastel colors as being “Easter.” These days M&M’s come in lavender and Reese Peanut Butter Cups are wrapped in green; and they’re everywhere. No matter how much pink, yellow, and light blue I see, the candy that represents this quintessential moment in spring the best are marshmallow chicks – Peeps. These colorful and squishy chicks have been around for decades. Ever since its debut in the 1920s, they have become an important part of Spring tradition. I remember chewing into its sticky goodness while hunting for Easter eggs when I was younger. That’s how important Peeps were to me and my friends (and probably to you too).
So you can imagine my surprise when I learned that people use Peeps for a purposes other than sugar highs. The Washington Post is hosting a competition for dioramas created with Peeps. They are encouraging their readers to recreate a famous event or scene and have the characters represented by Peeps marshmallow chicks. Apparently, they will announce the winners April 8, and I can’t wait to see actual photos of the submissions. Another use for Peeps involves a microwave, toothpicks, and a very bored individual or two. Called “Peeps Jousting,” you stick a toothpick into each Peep, arrange them to face each other in the microwave, turn it on, and watch as the toothpicks fly into the other chick. The winner is the Peep chick that does not deflate when hit with the opponent’s “lance.” (I’m not kidding. I found documented evidence that this is a real game.)
Whether you like Peeps for its sugar overload, jousting, or creative purposes, in the spirit of this Easter season it’s hard not to buy a couple of boxes of yellow, pink, and blue chicks to bring back home. I know I will be enjoying a few and sharing the rest. Will you?
