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Behind the famous Valentine's Day candy

A variety of pink treats, including Hershey's kisses, icing-covered animal crackers shaped like x's and o's, pink lips, and pink and white candy hearts laid out on a light pink surface. There is also two light pink paper hearts and a pink box of chocolates that says "Hey girl, happy v-day."
Traditional Valentine's Day candy has history.
Photo by Emarie Majors

In a video from the Food Network titled “How Hershey’s Kisses Are Made” Jody Cook, the director of product publicity at the Hershey company said Hershey’s Kisses got the “kiss” name because of “the smooch sound the machine makes as the kiss is deposited onto the conveyor belt.”

Annette Foglino writes in an article for The Smithsonian Magazine that the Sweetheart candy which feature’s printed mes-sages such as “Marry Me” or “Love You” is still a popular traditional Valentine’s candy and can make a special day even cuter.

Foglino shares the story of Mike Waltz proposing to his now-wife Chris. After opening several bags of Sweethearts only to find a few sweethearts with the phrase, “Marry Me,” he emailed the New England Confectionery Company, (Necco) asking for a few more.

Necco employees then sent him a bag full of Sweethearts with “Marry Me” printed on them, which helped make Waltz’s special day possible.