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Since childhood, we Boomers have had a secret weapon in the quest to find a valentine. Many a heart was melted with a little pastel heart or two slipped discretely in a Valentine’s Day Card. “Be Mine,” “Kiss Me,” “Miss Me” said the little heart,s and we were thrilled to give and to get them. The New England Confectionery Company (aka NECCO) first introduced its Sweethearts® candies in 1902 after many years experimenting with printing words on other candies. The candies were a big hit early on, but it was the Boomer generation that really took to the hearts, commonly known as “Conversation Hearts.” According to the company’s site, NECCO produces 8 billion conversation hearts a year and demand continues to be strong. Candy hearts have been used to teach children how to read and have been a part of many a marriage proposal. Original flavors are still the most popular—cherry, banana, lemon, grape, orange and wintergreen (although most folks I know can’t tell the difference). Original sayings, such as “Say Yes” and “Oh Boy” are still around but in the 1990s the company started retiring some sayings and adding sayings popular with Generation Next such as “Fax Me,” “Hot Mail” and “Go Girl.” No matter how you say it, these sweet and chalky
little tokens of our childhood valentine affections are as popular
today as they were back in the day. —Betty |
For more about Sweethearts® Check out history, games and trivia on the
Wikipedia also has good information on conversation hearts. Return to archives main page.
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