December 17, 2025: The Christmas Countdown (Day 5)

A memory wrapped in cardboard.

The Lifesavers Christmas Story Books. Remember these?

Lifesavers are hard candies with a ring shape resembling a life preserver. During the holidays, the company needed a way to stand out from chocolate companies.

And that desperation spurred the invention of their nostalgic Books.

Multiple rolls were packaged like a storybook, turning sweets into a fun event. Early versions contained 12 rolls, with a mint side (Pep-O-Mint, Wint-O-Green) and a fruit side (Cherry, Orange) to satisfy both adults and children.

Whenever I’d see them in stores, my brain flipped into Christmas mode. The essential stocking stuffer.

Another cool tidbit: kids back in the day used the empty cardboard shells as safes to hide money or small toys. Once you’d eaten all the treats, the container became a secret storage unit.

It all points to a masterclass in marketing. The book transformed a snack into a story.

That’s why you don’t need complex tech or crazy expense to create joy. A simple idea, perfectly executed, can become something iconic.

Standing out beats blending in.

BTW, the fruit side is still better than the mint.