Cornucopia- The Horn of Plenty

Greek mythology states that the Cornucopia was given to Amalthea, a foster mother to Zeus, by Zeus. She was given this gift because she gave him goat’s milk while she was raising him. In gratitude for her kindness, Zeus broke off a goat horn filling it with fruits and flowers claiming that great abundance would be given to her.

The Cornucopia has been a symbol of good harvests since the time of the Greeks. For societies that can only survive with a good harvest, such as the Pilgrims in the US, the Cornucopia was a ray of hope. This is why we use the cornucopia at our Thanksgiving holidays and other festivals that have to do with harvests. Giving the gift of a Fruit and Nut Cornucopia basket to friends and family will bring good tidings and prosperity for the next year.

The Candy Apple

The first signs of candy apples that we are accustomed to in present time were made in the early 20th century. The delightful sugary fruit combo was first mentioned in the “BEF Time” Christmas of 1917. The coloring and delicious taste made it one of the best Fall Fair foods of all time. Through the passing of time we have covered apples in different types of sweets, toffee, hard candy, caramel, and chocolate. With Halloween just around the corner you’ll find out Halloween candy apples is a great treat to keep the tricks at bay.

The Great Pumpkin

The pumpkin has been a long standing tradition during the month of October in modern America for centuries. The concept of carving a Jack O'Lantern during Halloween came about due to an Irish myth about a man named "Stingy Jack." The story revolves around Jack tricking the Devil multiple times due to his mischievous nature. Once Jack finally died, he was not allowed in to heaven because of his mean nature. He was also not allowed into Hell because of an agreement between him and the Devil. Instead, Jack was sent into the night with just a burning coal to light his way. Jack carved a turnip and placed the coal inside and the legend is that he has roamed the earth ever since. The Irish soon referred to this ghoulish figure as "Jack of the Lantern", which eventually became what we know today as "Jack O'Lantern."

Older versions of the Jack O'Lantern were made of turnips and potatoes, where scary faces would be carved into them and placed in windows to scare Jack and other ghostly spirits away. Eventually, immigrants from Ireland and Scotland brought the Jack O'Lantern tradition with them to the United States and found that the pumpkin actually made the perfect carving surface.

As youngsters prepare for an evening of tricks and treats for Halloween, pumpkins will certainly be at the top of every one's list to complete their front yard decorations. As pumpkins will be lit up everywhere, The Gift Basket Pros also want to suggest sending a pumpkin full of yummy delicious candy to those ghosts and goblins that you won't be able to be with during this spooky time. A Halloween Gift Basket may not be as magical and decorative as a real pumpkin, but it certainly earns points for not being as messy! Happy Halloween to all!

Halloween Cookie Bouquets

The witching hour is almost upon us as Halloween is right around the corner. This year, we have added a number of new and exciting gifts that little ghosts and goblins will love. Brand new to our line up are Halloween Cookie Bouquets such as the Halloween Monster Cookie Bouquet and the Spooky Halloween Bouquet. Each bouquet comes in a variety of sizes and price ranges to suit any budget. Close to 5 inches in diameter and weighing nearly 1/4 pound, these hand decorated butter creme cookies are decorated to look like real ghosts, witches and pumpkins! Great for all ages these yummy cookie gifts will be a huge hit for your one of a kind trick or treaters.

Birthday Gifts for all Ages

Did you know that the song “Happy Birthday to You” was written by 2 teachers out of Louisville, KY in 1893? The birthday cake is believed to be traced back to ancient Greece, where honey cakes or breads symbolized what we consider today as the birthday cake. The birthday candle was used by German families to symbolize the “light of life.” No matter the history or tradition, celebrating birthdays has always been a part of our society and today those traditions are stronger than ever.

Regardless of your age, turning another year older marks change in your life. Putting the past behind you and moving forward to bigger and better things. You can share in this celebration of life by sending festive birthday gifts to friends and family with a variety of gift options. From the rich and delicious hand decorated butter crème cookie bouquet to the birthday cake with candles or festive birthday gift basket, there is a theme for all ages. So don’t let another year go by without sending your warmest birthday wishes to someone special. Get creative and know that the smallest gift can brighten someone’s day more than you can imagine.

Cookie Gifts for All Occasions

Who doesn’t love to snack on cookies? With a wide range of gift giving occasions, sending a fresh baked delectable cookie gift basket or gift tower is a delicious way to show you care! Is the occasion a birthday or a new baby? What about a corporate thank you gift or a sympathy gift? If you have the occasion, we have the perfect cookie gift.

Just imagine their surprise when your recipient receives a box full of decadent Belgian chocolate covered Oreos with colorful confetti sprinkles for their birthday! Or what about an assortment of Mrs. Fields finest fresh baked mini cookies, brownies and muffins as a way to show gratitude to your corporate clients or business associates? No matter the occasion, holiday or theme, cookies always make excellent gift ideas. From hand-decorated butter crème cookies to beautiful gift towers full of an assortment of fresh baked treats, the perfect cookie gift is waiting for you!

Fresh Fruit Gift Ideas

It’s hard to imagine, but it is believed that the apple was grown and eaten by cave dwellers during the Neolithic time. Today, there are more than 7,000 different types of apples grown world wide with the most popular apple being the Red Delicious apple. A faithful companion to the apple is the pear, which is believed to have been consumed by the Stone Age people as food. In today’s society there are over 3,000 varieties of pears grown across the world!

You might be asking, why the history lesson? The reason is fresh fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, and oranges, among many others, have been around for extremely long times and today are still as delicious and full of flavor as they used to be. Sending fruit gift baskets exemplifies your thoughtfulness for the recipient’s special occasion and also demonstrates your exceptional taste. So for your next special gift giving occasion, treat someone to the luscious gift of fruit. You will not only be sending exceptional quality, but also a little history.