_{This story is from The Heights, an independent, nonprofit newspaper run by Boston College students with which the Newton Beacon has a partnership.}

National Fig Newton Day was this past Friday, and while it may not be the first snack that pops into mind for a tasty treat, its historical relationship with Newton makes each bite that much more special.

Over 130 years ago, the Kennedy Biscuit Company bought a recipe from Philadelphia baker Charles Roser, inspired by the British fig roll, and decided to name it after a nearby Massachusetts suburb, Newton. When the cookies were first disseminated, they quickly rose through the pastry ranks, becoming the third most popular cookie in the United States in the early 1990s.

Nabisco, a cookie manufacturer, decided to shed the “fig” in the “Fig Newton” to reflect the cookie’s larger flavor offerings: strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, and apple cinnamon. Since this 2012 change, the brand has been simply known as “Newtons.”

While the Newton is the third best-seller of the Nabisco brand, Newton residents seem to prefer their nationally recognized state cookie: the chocolate chip cookie. Newton resident Julie Ginsburg listed the classic chocolate chip cookie in her top three favorite cookies, with no mention of the Newton at all.

“I like anything with chocolate and not too many nuts,” Ginsburg said.

But the Newton might not even have a fair chance of being named as a favorite, as there is confusion over whether the Newton is a cookie or a cake.

Ruben Berganza, MCAS ’28, argued that the treat is more cake-like than cookie-like.

“When I think of a cookie, I think of it being circular, crunchy, and rich, whereas a Fig Newton is square-shaped, soft, and fruity,” Berganza said.

But Ginsburg can’t consider the Newton a cake at all.

“When I think of a cake, I think of something fluffy with a bit of height, not really what Newton is,” Ginsburg said.

Rafael Garcia Ramos, CSON ’28, is also convinced that the Newton is a cookie.

“It’s small, one-size … you can’t really share it, you know,” Ramos said. “It’s your cookie.”

Adding sugar to the dough, then fruit and nuts to the biscuit, is traditionally how the treat was made, but modern changes, like increasing the sugar content, have made its “healthiness” questionable.

Regardless, Berganza considers the treat a healthy snack.

“I feel like generally, fruity flavored things, especially with their packaging, any normal person would consider it to be like a healthy-ish snack, as opposed to something like a chocolate chip cookie,” Berganza said.

Despite growing up in Dorchester, a nearby neighborhood, Berganza had no clue that Newtons were named after Newton.

“I thought it was named after whoever made it, like, the creator’s name was Newton or something,” Berganza said.

Garcia Ramos fell victim to a common misconception, attributing the sweet snack’s name to a—completely unrelated—mathematician.

“I thought they were named after Isaac Newton,” Garcia Ramos said.

For Newton residents, the origin of the name of the cookie seems to be common knowledge—Ginsburg could not recall learning the name’s history, but knew the fact nonetheless.

While the Newton may rank a bit lower—or not at all—on the average person’s favorites list, it’s a recognizable snack for consumers across the country. For Newtonians, the treat may hold a bit more meaning, even if chocolate chip cookies hold a special place in their hearts.