Why we should cancel Valentine’s Day

Source%2F%2FNew+York+Post

Source//New York Post

Kami Geron, Creative Editor

When you think about Valentine’s Day what comes to mind? Red roses, fancy dinners, boxed chocolates maybe. My favorite part of Valentine’s day are those sweetheart candies. Yes, those pastel hearts with messages. However the New England Confectionery Company, also known as Necco, went out of business! According to CNBC Spangler Candy Company bought the Necco wafer brand and Sweethearts, but there wasn’t enough time for the hearts to be manufactured this year.

Necco is one of the oldest candy companies in America, according to the Smithsonian Magazine. The invention of a device that cut candy diamonds started in 1847 by Oliver Chase. At first, the candy was sold in scallop shells with messages written on paper inside like fortune cookies. Over a decade later the machine was updated to stamp words onto the candies with red vegetable dye. This made them popular at weddings because the messages were relationship advice. For example:

“Married in White, you have chosen right” or “Married in Pink, he’ll take to drink.”

Over the years the candy went from shells, baseballs, and even horseshoes before becoming hearts. Popularity of the hearts created the shorter messages we all know:

“Miss You” “Love U” “Be Mine” “Be True” “Kiss Me”

What most people don’t realize was how trendy the hearts were. The change in lingo from “Dig me” “Hep Cat” and “Fax Me” to “You Rock,” “Text Me,” “Me & U” makes the hearts so iconic.

So while we see all these couples celebrating one day out of the 364 days of the year, I will be at home boycotting Valentine’s Day. Without these hearts, is there even a point?