Party favors originated in the Victorian era as a thank-you to guests who attended extravagant weddings. The favors were typically small sugar candies in ornate bags or boxes. Sugar was expensive at the time, so the gifts were a show of the couple’s wealth and hope for the new union. These gifts were known as bonbonnieres, meaning “good good” in French, and later, bonbon became synonymous with small candies. Party favors have remained popular and are given at children’s birthday parties, festive events, and, of course, weddings.