Daniel Chase, the brother of Necco founder Oliver Chase, created the first "Motto Hearts" in 1866 after inventing a machine that printed phrases onto the hearts with vegetable-based dye. Necco, founded 14 years earlier, stands for "New England Confectionery Company."

Before World War I, Sweethearts candies came in a variety of shapes, including baseballs, horseshoes, and watches. The Sweetheart's predecessor was a candy scallop shell that held a paper messages inside, similar to a fortune cookie.

The original hearts included wedding-day editions with sayings like, "Married in satin, Love will not be lasting," "Married in pink, He will take to drink," and "Married in white, You have chosen right."

There are about 45 sayings included in the mix but sometimes even those aren't enough to get one's message across. In 2004, Michigan resident Mike Waltz planned to propose using "Marry Me" hearts but found only a few among several bags he'd purchased. He reached out to Necco for help and the company obliged by sending him a boxful. (His now-wife, Chris, says she'll never open it: "It's a keepsake.") Today the company offers candy customization for special occasions.

To make enough Sweethearts for Valentine's Day, production for the next year starts right after the holiday, in late February, and continues until mid-January.

all

none

Made from the same batter of sugar, corn syrup, and gelatin as Necco wafers, Sweetheart dough is rolled out, imprinted, and cut out into heart shapes which then must dry for 45 minutes to achieve their hardened consistency.

More than 8 billion of the candies are manufactured each year (that's about 100,000 pounds per day)!

Necco's marketing director Aimee Scott told Smithsonian that Sweethearts account for roughly 40 percent of the Valentine candy market. It's estimated that 13 million pounds of the hearts are sold in the six weeks just prior to the holiday.

Certain emblazoned phrases have stuck around since the beginning of Sweethearts, including "Be Mine," "Kiss Me," and "Be True." The saying "The One I Love," from the 1900s, made a comeback in 1997 for Necco's 150th anniversary. Another oldie but goodie, "Let's Read," was brought back in 2014.

In keeping with the times, Necco lets customers make suggestions for modern sayings to take into consideration. Some newer phrases in rotation include "Call Me" and "Email Me." In 2007, the company released a limited "Pet Lovers" edition with sayings like "Puppy Love" and "Take a Walk."

all

none

Yes

No

Undecided