Jell-O Week

Jell-O Week celebrates the wiggly gelatin dessert and its special connection to Utah. The Utah State Legislature established the observance in 2001, when Utah also recognized Jell-O as its state snack. According to a contemporary report from BYU’s Daily Universe, the first observance took place during the first full week of February. From 2002 onward, it has been held during the second full week of February.

The holiday grew out of a campaign to highlight Utah’s fondness for Jell-O. Brigham Young University students collected more than 15,000 signatures urging state recognition, while Utah competed with Des Moines, Iowa, for the title of highest per-capita Jell-O consumption. The Utah Legislature’s resolution followed that campaign and a 2001 celebration that included Jell-O sculpting.

Jell-O’s story began well before the holiday. Gelatin was patented in powdered form in 1845, and Pearle Wait introduced a flavored gelatin dessert called Jell-O in Le Roy, New York, in 1897. Wait later sold the struggling business to Orator Woodward, whose marketing helped turn it into a successful convenience dessert, as the Daily Universe reported. Today, Jell-O Week offers a chance to enjoy the dessert in its many colorful, molded, sweet, and savory forms.

How to Observe Jell-O Week

Celebrate by preparing Jell-O in a decorative mold, trying a new flavor combination, or making a colorful dessert to share. You can also learn about Jell-O’s history and Utah connection, revisit vintage Jell-O advertisements, or get creative with a molded gelatin design. Be sure to allow enough time for your creation to set before serving it.

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