Ah… Valentine's Day! Time for big red hearts, luscious chocolates, and, of course, little heart candies.
The New England Confectionery Company (NECCO®) produces 8,000,000,000 (eight billion!) Sweethearts® Conversation Hearts each Valentine's Day season. In 1866, Daniel Chase invented the process of printing the sayings directly on candy pieces. NECCO®, which Daniel's brother Oliver established in 1847, began printing messages on the candy in the late 1800s. The candies became popular in the early 1900s, and the company produced them in several sizes and shapes, from horseshoes to postcards.
On a whim, I got a little box of Valentine candies. The words on the conversation hearts differ from company to company and even year to year. Here's a little word search that I wrote using the words on my candies. The remaining, unused letter will spell out the origin of the modern conversation heart. It was popular in the late 1800s so the modern heart candy isn't so modern after all!Ask Me
Be Mine
Cutie Pie
First Kiss
Hug Me
It's Love
Lover Boy
Love You
Miss You
My Guy
Only You
Romeo
So Fine
True Love
U R Cute
It's not too late to whip up a special valentine for your loved one. Here's a clever idea for a child's card. Color one to match a child's (or Grandpa's) dog! Crystal's site is always interesting. See her valentine dog here.
Wanda shares this fancy card, but you can easily adapt it by using conversation hearts and strips of colored construction paper. Be sure that you give the recipient some edible hearts; once you glue the candy hearts to the card, they are no longer safe to eat! See the card here.
Happy Valentine's Day and Happy puzzling!
Terrie
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