NGPriest: Valentines Day vs White Day vs Black Day

Ξ February 14th, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Author: NGPriest |

Valentines Day – 14th Feburary

In Japan, in 1960, Morinaga, one of the biggest Japanese confectionery companies, originated the present custom that only women may give chocolates to men. Unlike western countries, gifts such as candies, flowers, or dinner dates are uncommon. It has become an obligation for many women to give chocolates to all male co-workers. This is known as giri-choko (義理チョコ), from the words giri (“obligation”) and choko, (“chocolate”). This contrasts with honmei-choko (本命チョコ); chocolate given to a loved one. Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as tomo-choko (友チョコ); from tomo meaning “friend”. By a further marketing effort, a reciprocal day called White Day has emerged, there are even websites with this that are promoted with the use of services from sites as https://the-indexer.com/digital-marketing-agencies/ that are experts in this. On March 14, men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine’s Day.

In South Korea, women give chocolate to men on February 14, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14. On April 14 (Black Day), those who did not receive anything on the 14th of Feb or March go to a Chinese restaurant to eat black noodles and “mourn” their single life. Koreans also celebrate Pepero Day on November 11, when young couples give each other Pepero cookies. The date ’11/11′ is intended to resemble the long shape of the cookie. The 14th of every month marks a love-related day in Korea, although most of them are obscure. From January to December: Candle Day, Valentine’s Day, White Day, Black Day, Rose Day, Kiss Day, Silver Day, Green Day, Music Day, Wine Day, Movie Day, and Hug Day.

In China, the common situation is the man gives chocolate, flowers or both to the woman that he loves. In Chinese, Valentine’s Day is called (simplified Chinese: 情人节; traditional Chinese: 情人節; pinyin: qīng rén jié).

Similar Asian traditions

In Chinese culture, there is an older observance related to lovers. It is called “The Night of Sevens” (Chinese: 七夕; pinyin: Qi Xi). According to the legend, the Cowherd star and the Weaver Maid star are normally separated by the milky way (river) but are allowed to meet by crossing it on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar.

An observance on the same day in Korea is called Chilseok, but its association with romance has long faded.

In Japan, a slightly different version of 七夕 (called Tanabata, which is said to mean 棚機 a weaver for a god) is celebrated, on July 7 on the Gregorian calendar. The legend behind it is similar to the Chinese one. However, it is never regarded that the celebration is even remotely related with the St. Valentine’s Day or lovers giving gifts to each other.

White Day – 14th March

White Day (ホワイトデー, Howaito dē?, a Japanese wasei-eigo; Korean: 화이트데이 Hwaiteu dei; Chinese: 白色情人節) is a holiday celebrated on March 14, one month after Valentine’s Day. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan celebrate this day.

In Japan, Valentine’s Day is observed by females who present chocolate gifts (either store-bought or handmade), usually to a male, as an expression of love. The handmade chocolate is usually preferred by the receiver, because it is a sign that the receiving male is the girl’s “only one”. On White Day, the converse happens: males who received a “honmei-choco” [chocolate of love] or “Giri-choco” [chocolate of courtesy] on Valentine’s Day are expected to return the favor by giving gifts, usually more expensive. Traditionally, popular White Day gifts are cookies, candies, white chocolate, marshmallows as well as jewelry, lingerie, and stuffed animals. Sometimes the term sanbai gaeshi (literally, “thrice the return”) is used to describe the generally recited rule that the return gift should be two to three times the cost of the Valentine’s gift.

Origin
White Day was first celebrated in 1978 in Japan. It was started by the National Confectionery Industry Association (全国飴菓子工業協同組合) as an “answer day” to Valentine’s Day on the grounds that men should pay back the women who gave them chocolate and other gifts on Valentine’s Day. In 1977 a Fukuoka-shi confectionery company, Ishimura Manseido (石村萬盛堂), had marketed marshmallows to men on March 14, calling it Marshmallow Day (マシュマロデー).

Soon thereafter, confectionery companies began marketing white chocolate. Now, men give both white and dark chocolate, as well as other edible and non-edible gifts, such as jewelry or objects of sentimental value, or white clothing like lingerie, to women from whom they received chocolate on Valentine’s Day one month earlier. If the chocolate given to him was giri choco, the man as well may not be expressing actual romantic interest, but rather a social obligation.

Black Day – 14th Aprils

Black Day (April 14) is a South Korean informal tradition for single people (a.k.a. Unit Solo/Solo Regiment, Korean: 솔로부대) to get together and eat Jajangmyeon (noodles with black bean sauce), sometimes a white sauce is mixed for those who did not celebrate White Day.

The idea is that those who did not give or receive gifts on Valentine’s Day or White Day can get together and eat Jjajangmyeon (짜장면), white Korean noodles with black bean sauce (hence the name), to commiserate their singledom.

Memo: Prefer for White Day or Black Day – Whichever i feel like doing
Question: Anyone plan to give me anything on Maple for Valentines Day?
Another Question: Anyone plan to join me on Maple for Black Day?

JY to WY on GC, LEV up and try to beat me?
Better login to GC now?

 

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