Just like Christmas, which is a typically occidental event because of its religious origins and which has been adapted by Japanese people, many events exist in Japan under their occidental names but with totally different practices... That's for instance the case of the Valentine Day, lovers' day, celebrated the 14th of February, which takes a really different form from what exists in France and which is combined with the 14th of March, the White Day.
As all imported event, Valentine Day does not have an actual Japanese name. Only a translation in phonetic alphabet, the katakanas, from its English name: the Valentine Day is thus the バレンタインデー. More than its name, the event also keeps the same date, the 14th of February, the same meaning, as it is still a particular day for lovers, and the same commercial side... and maybe even stronger than what we have in France. Indead, from the 1st of February, and even sometimes a little before, shops offers Valentine Day's products... as chocolates, gifts, but also well decorated windows for hearts are everywhere.
However, the practice is completely different. If, in France, it is usual to send letters to the one you love, to make presents, to go to the restaurant, or to make your declaration or even your proposal in the 14th of February, in Japan, Valentine Day is celebrated differently. Here, the responsability of the Valentine Day is not shared. All the work is for the womankind... But, don't worry ladies: men are going to get even with some presents, one month after, for the White Day, in Japanese, the ホワイトデー, a day which does not have any equivalent in France... or even in Europe.
On the 14th of February, Japanese girls must offer chocolates to all the men for who they care. For instance, they can offer some chocolates to the men of their family, or to their friends and colleagues, and, of course, to their husband/boyfriend or to their love interest as a declaration. And, if they really want to respect the tradition, they have to make these chocolates by themselves... As the molds sold in most of the shops show it. In Tokyo Hands, big departement stores of Tokyo, which are notably in Shinjuku, Shibuya or in Ginza, there is a whole flour entirely dedicated to these molds which can have the classic shape of a heart to the exotic one of a colomb... Finally, it is usual to offer these chocolates in a box with a card, as we do it in France.
In compensation, if compensation exists in love... but there we enter a much more philosophical subject for this trivial article, men have to respond on the day of the White Day. This event, nonexistent in France, has been celebrated in Japan since 1980, but also in South Korea and Taiwan. Invented in Japan, even though its origins are quite fuzzy, it seems that it was at the beginning a way to ''repay their debt'' to the women who has bought them a present. It has been called the White Day for it is first a brend of white chocolate which got its hands on this commercial opportunity... before the practice has extended and that a white present has became the norm. Nowadays, if there are some rules (as the giri-choco offered as a thanks but without any love's feelings, or as the Sanbai Gaeshi (or « Thrice the return ») which implyes that the present offered must be three time bigger than the present received...), exchanged presents for Valentine's Day are similar to those which are given in France (as jewelleries, perfums...).
Actually, there is not only one Valentine's Day in Japan: Valentine's Day and White Day seem to be combined... which is really interesting for the different industries (of chocolates, but also of jewelleries, for the restaurants...). But, far from these economical issues which break the magic of this day (my romantic side is revealed here...), there exists a different adolescent practice for the White Day... Young men can offer a white ribbon to the girl they like: if she ties it before the end of the day (around her bag, in her hairs, in her clothes...), it means that she shares the same feelings... Isn't this cute, in this world of capitalism ? <3 ^^
Good バレンタインデー
And good ホワイトデー to you all !
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