Sweetest Day

2009 Product Features

• Hallmark offers nearly 150 Sweetest Day cards. Card prices begin at 99 cents.
• The collection includes Cards With Sound that feature popular songs such as “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe" by Barry White with CD-like sound quality, as well as clips from favorite movies and TV shows such as Peanuts.
• Hallmark offers a variety of gifts appropriate for Sweetest Day, including photo frames, Instant Scrapbooks, Gift Books From Hallmark and Gillham & Grand chocolates, as well as many gift wrap options.
• Hallmark.com also provides a selection of e-cards and paper cards that may be personalized and mailed directly to the recipient.

Holiday History

Legend has it that Sweetest Day was established around 1922 by Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveland, Ohio, candy company employee who wanted to bring happiness to the lives of those who often were forgotten. Kingston and others distributed candy and small gifts to orphans, shut-ins and others to show them someone cared.

In the early 1930s, movie stars got into the act. Ann Pennington distributed candy to 2,200 Cleveland newspaper boys, and Theda Bara gave candy to theater-goers and patients in Cleveland hospitals.

In time, the Sweetest Day idea of spreading cheer broadened to include everyone from family members to sweethearts, and co-workers to acquaintances.

Observance of Sweetest Day is most prevalent in the Great Lakes region where the holiday originated, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. As people become more mobile and jobs take them to different regions, the once-regional celebration of Sweetest Day is spreading throughout the country.

Sweetest Day celebrations are similar to Valentine’s Day in most locations.

In Stores

Available at Hallmark Gold Crown® stores nationwide and wherever Hallmark products are sold. Use the store locator on Hallmark.com to find the nearest Hallmark Gold Crown store.