February 14 has never been an important day in my diary. The one Valentine's card I ever sent as a 15-year-old left the boy at the receiving end so flabbergasted and me so embarrassed that I vowed never to go there again! No small wonder then that Vaughan and I never exchange gifts on this day, although this is also because both of us find such Hallmark-holidays just too blatantly commercial. So what exactly then was I doing last night feeding him chocolate fondue and offering a box of chocolate truffels decorated with heart-shaped pink stickers??? Let's just say I was embracing the spirit this year because of the unique Japanese way of celebrating Valentine's Day... Here it's not the women who are pampered and spoilt on this day, but the men! They are given gifts of chocolate, which are divided into two types: giri choco (obligatory chocolate) and honmei choco (chocolate for the man the woman is romantically involved with). Giri choco is given by women to their superiors at work as well as to other male co-workers. I'm sure their colleagues in the rest of the world wouldn't say no to such a gesture! Needless to say, the approach of Valentine's Day is something that department stores and shops look forward to and promote with zeal because of its potential for increased sales. 
While all of this may seem quite one-sided, confectioners in Japan - never ones to miss an opportunity to sell more! - took advantage of the Japanese feelings of obligation and created "White Day" in 1980 to help the men who received chocolate on Valentine's Day get rid of their guilt feelings. On March 14th, exactly one month after Valentine's Day, men who were lucky enough to receive gifts of chocolate have the chance to return the favor by purchasing a slightly more expensive box of chocolate or sweets. Again, the stores provide plenty of reminders of the approach of this day so that even the most forgetful man cannot say that it slipped his mind! I've already re-named it "White Chocolate Day" just so Vaughan knows what to get me :-).
To really show your undying devotion baking a chocolate cake is strongly advised. Heart-shaped cake tins will say 'I love you' even more!
3 comments:
That seems fascinating. A one sided Valentine's Day with reciprication a month away. Do most practice Valentine's Day in Japan that way; or is it the trend for new partners only? My experience in the US is that old, married couples don't do much but give the obligatory card and have dinner together. The expensive stuff is left to those new in relationships.
Ah, it's all about the merchandising! Interestingly lots of Japanese women hate Valetines mainly because of the obligatory 'giri' - very much a part of Japanese society & socialisation as you've no doubt discovered.
For me it's the oblgatory nature of the 'festival' that gets me & also the fact that if you don't join in you are either a grinch or a sado. Still would have paid to see Vaughan in the throes of chocolate fondue 'therapy'.
Inge!waw, what Japan does to you! I am getting really scared here..;)
Here in Korea they have something with love every 15th day of the month from Feb to June. 'White day' exists here too. And in April we have 'black day'. This means that for all the singles who didn't get anything on the previous special days, day can go and eat 'chachang-myon' together, a Korean-Chinese dish that involves long noudles and black sauce.In May there is again a celebration for the singles who got together in April after Black day... it is actually quite complicated, so Piet and me don't bother too much about it. I still prefer my chocolates coming from Belgium all the time of year!
o ja, inge, de geocities site date ik niet meer op, veel te veel werk om die op te daten en nogal onhandig eigenlijk. Ik heb nu al een tijdje mijn spaces.msn.com/bethsteahouse... dus mocht je je link kunnen updaten...
Valentine-kisses!
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