Hearts History

For over a century now, the makers of NECCO Sweethearts Conversation Hearts have come up with some of the sweetest ways of saying “I love you”. The company prints new messages on the tiny colored hearts every year, and can you believe they’ve been a holiday tradition since the Civil War?

These conversation hearts were invented in the 1860’s by the brother of NECCO’s founder. These first hearts had printed paper notes tucked inside. The lengthy , old-fashioned sayings included such wistful thoughts as “Please send a lock of your hair by return mail.” ~~~hmmm…..???

Sweet Talk for the Times
Some favorites among the more than one hundred Sweetheart sayings have been in circulation since the hearts were first factory-made in 1902. These classics include "Kiss Me," "Sweet Talk," and "Be Mine." Sometimes a motto is discontinued for a time and then makes a reappearance; others are gone for good. Sayings considered outdated by NECCO include the funky "Dig Me" and the cheerful "You Are Gay."

NECCO says that creating mottoes can be tricky. The new sayings can't be "offensive, distasteful, or too wordy," according to Walter Marshall, retired NECCO vice president.
Space is also an issue. Conversation hearts come in two sizes—the standard 1/2 inch and the larger 3/4 inch model. The small hearts generally can fit no more than two words with four letters each, while the large hearts may accommodate two words with six letters each. Fortunately, creative phrasing can help fit longer sentiments onto the tiny hearts, as in the case of "EZ 2 LOVE."

Say It Again, Sweetheart
If you miss some of the old sayings, or would like to see some of your own, you can have them custom-made. The catch is that you'll have to buy a full production run, or about 1.7 million candy hearts. But you'll have plenty of time to eat them—they should stay fresh for at least five years.
Production of Sweethearts for Valentine's Day has already begun. There's still a chance to submit your slogan ideas for next year, however. NECCO must produce about 100,000 pounds of the candy hearts every day in order to meet the Valentine demand, when about 8 billion hearts are sold in six weeks.

Candy Hearts Archive
2006 Candy Hearts
TO
AND
ILU
HOME SOON
SWEET HOME
HOUSE PARTY
GO HOME
HOME SICK
CALL HOME
HOME RUN
2005 Candy Hearts
#1 FAN
FIT FOR LOVE
DREAM TEAM
LOVE LIFE
BE A SPORT
LOVE MY TEAM
CHEER ME ON
BE MY HERO
HEART OF GOLD
ALL-STAR
2004 Candy Hearts
3 WISHES
EVER AFTER
NEW YOU
MAGIC
DREAM
CHARM ME
START NOW
NEW LOVE
IM ME
I LOVE YOU

2003 Candy Hearts
WRITE ME
CLASS ACT
WHIZ KID
WISE UP
TEACH ME
LOVE LETTER
PEN PAL
BOOK CLUB
SCHOOL MATE
LET'S READ



2007 Candy Hearts
· COOL CAT
· PUPPY LOVE
· TAKE A WALK
· MY PET
· BEAR HUG
· TOP DOG
· URA TIGER
· GO FISH
· LOVE BIRD
· PURR FECT