Valentine's Day: Japan vs. America
A little late I know, but let's be honest, the day after Valentine's Day is so much better than the actual holiday. All the chocolate and candies go on sale, restaurants aren't as crowded, flower prices go back down (a little bit), it's great!
Valentine's Day is that special day where you're expected to buy roses and champagne and chocolates for your sweetheart, have a nice dinner, and maybe exchange small gifts. It's a day when elementary schoolers bring bags of goodies for their classmates and teachers, and if you were really unlucky, all you would get were those heart-shaped candies that tasted like chalk. It's a day of red and pink gift bags, heart balloons, and a lot of "I love you"s to those you hold closest in your life. This is what Valentine's Day looks like in America.
In Japan, it's a little bit different. They don't do the typical gift exchange in elementary school or even encourage men to get sweets and flowers for their significant other. Instead, Valentine's Day in Japan is a day when women and girls buy or make small gifts or sweets for either their significant other, their crush, or their guy friends. It's not a two-way holiday like it is in America. Now before you cry foul, there is a second part to this chocolate/gift-giving. Any guy who receives chocolate or a gift on Valentine's Day has to return the favor a month later on March 14th, which is called White Day. In short, Valentine's Day is for the boys and White Day is for the girls.
And of course, as the times change, I'm sure the holiday in both countries will as well. Some people will get and give chocolates, while others will receive a vintage Japanese doll and a military survival manual (my fiance and I are a little weird...). But no matter how you celebrate it, despite being a commercial holiday, Valentine's Day is a good day to remind the important people in your life how much you love and appreciate them. But then again, so is every day.
Valentine's Day is that special day where you're expected to buy roses and champagne and chocolates for your sweetheart, have a nice dinner, and maybe exchange small gifts. It's a day when elementary schoolers bring bags of goodies for their classmates and teachers, and if you were really unlucky, all you would get were those heart-shaped candies that tasted like chalk. It's a day of red and pink gift bags, heart balloons, and a lot of "I love you"s to those you hold closest in your life. This is what Valentine's Day looks like in America.
In Japan, it's a little bit different. They don't do the typical gift exchange in elementary school or even encourage men to get sweets and flowers for their significant other. Instead, Valentine's Day in Japan is a day when women and girls buy or make small gifts or sweets for either their significant other, their crush, or their guy friends. It's not a two-way holiday like it is in America. Now before you cry foul, there is a second part to this chocolate/gift-giving. Any guy who receives chocolate or a gift on Valentine's Day has to return the favor a month later on March 14th, which is called White Day. In short, Valentine's Day is for the boys and White Day is for the girls.
And of course, as the times change, I'm sure the holiday in both countries will as well. Some people will get and give chocolates, while others will receive a vintage Japanese doll and a military survival manual (my fiance and I are a little weird...). But no matter how you celebrate it, despite being a commercial holiday, Valentine's Day is a good day to remind the important people in your life how much you love and appreciate them. But then again, so is every day.
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