11. During the American Civil War, sweet ‘cockles’ were popular Valentine’s gifts
The tradition of giving candy hearts to your Valentine dates back to the American Civil War. However, these sweet treats were much simpler – and probably much healthier too – back then. Back in 1870s America, they were known as ‘cockles’, and for obvious reasons. Made out of crisped candy, they were usually shaped like small cockles and shells. Soldiers would scribble little declarations of love onto tinted strips of paper and then affix these onto the cockles. They would then send the finished article to their Valentine, and so yet another tradition was born.
