Confetti are sugar-coated almonds, also known as Jordan almonds. These candies represent the bittersweet life of a married couple. The sugar coating is added to the bitter almonds in the hope that the newlyweds will have more sweet times than bitter during their lifetime together. When confetticome in boxes or bags they are called bomboniere and serve as place settings or favours.
The candy is given out in odd numbers, most often 3s and 5s. Three almonds symbolize the bride, the groom and their future child, and five almonds represent five wishes for the sposi: health, wealth, fertility, happiness and longevity. Confetti are not only used in Italian weddings, but also in Greek and Middle Eastern wedding ceremonies.
This tradition most likely dates back to the ancient Romans. In fact, the term comes from the Latin confectum meaning “prepared or wrapped”. In the Middle Ages the term referred to jams or dried fruit covered in honey, however the confetti that we know today were first produced around 1400 in the city of Sulmona, located in central Italy.
Once-upon-a-time only white organza bags held the white confetti and were tied with a white ribbon. Today, bomboniere come in all different colors and flavors, and containers are all shapes and sizes.
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