Serious humor in time for Purim!

The time has come for cotton candy to reclaim its well deserved place in our society. For so long the power of cotton candy has been hiding in plain sight.

First is the power of size. When cotton candy is in a gargantuan form, it takes on a whole new meaning. Encountering a massive cotton candy brings people to instant jubilation, totally unparalleled by any other form of excitement. There is something quite magical and remarkable about it. Try to walk into any party or event with such a cotton candy, and I know from experience the results are plain and simple, “off the charts.”

As you can see in the photos, there is no better way to celebrate a bris, upsherin, bat mitzvah, bar mitzvah, engagement party, wedding or sheva brachos other than with some massive “color, size, and flavor of your choice” cotton candy.

Did you know there are more than 10 different cotton candy flavors including blue raspberry, pink vanilla, chocolate, pina colada, cherry, bubble gum, grape, apple, watermelon and banana?

Getting the perfect shape, size, color and texture is somewhat of an art.

Here is a cotton candy fun fact: Machine-spun cotton candy was invented in 1897 by Dentist William Morrison, and confectioner John C. Wharton, and was first introduced to a wide audience at the 1904 World’s Fair as “Fairy Floss.”

Now for some real Purim fun — do you know how to say cotton candy in Hebrew?

Well guess what, if you type in Google translate “cotton candy” it will give you a translation that means “sweet wool grape” or “sweet cotton.” In Hebrew “cotton” can be called “woolen grapes” (because of the cotton ball shape).

If you ask an Israeli, they will surprise you by explaining that there is another term for cotton candy that Google must have thought is a special secret because it does not offer it as a translation, but if you know the secret word and type it in Hebrew, it will confirm it means “cotton candy.”

The secret Israeli term is “grandma’s hair.” Sorry, grandmas, I do not know why your hair was given the special honor of being associated with cotton candy.

Now for some homework, I heard there is a third name in Israel for cotton candy.

Do you know what it is? Write it in to The Jewish Link.

Now for the serious part: I am available to come to your next party or event, and by the time the party’s� over, even Dentist Morrison would be impressed!

By Asher Miller

Asher Miller is a sixth grade student at Yeshivat He’Atid and can be reached at [email protected].