CANDY: What is America’s favorite Valentine’s Day candy?
According to Candystore.com, for Pennsylvanians, it’s M&Ms. The website released a report that said with pandemic restrictions still in effect, candy is expected to be a big seller this year, as many won’t be able to swing a night out.
The second most popular candy for sweethearts is a heart-shaped box of chocolates, while the third is conversation hearts. Residents in New Jersey, North Dakota and in Arizona shared the same thoughts.
What about our New York neighbors? There, the heart-shaped box of chocolates tops the list, followed by conversation hearts and cinnamon bears.
Washington, D.C., was the only other region to mention cinnamon bears on its favorites list.
Others that made the list for other states include chocolate roses, candy necklaces, Hershey’s Kisses, chocolate hearts and Cupid corn — candy corn in pink, white and red.
The website offers some quick facts about candy for Valentine’s Day, too: 47% of people said they will buy themselves a box of chocolates this year; 58 million pounds of chocolate are bought during Valentine’s Day week; the peak selling period for conversation hearts is only 6 weeks long and it takes manufacturers 11 months to produce enough for those 6 weeks; and children receive 39 percent of all Valentine’s Day candy and gifts.
According to Good Housekeeping, the most common recipients of Valentine’s Day cards are teachers, children and moms. And 9 million Americans spend money on their pets for Valentine’s Day.
The date Feb. 14 came about at the end of the fifth century. It wasn’t until the Middle Ages when it became associated with love and romance, based on a common belief in the 1300s that birds began their mating seasons on that date.
