In the United States, Valentine’s Day is a day for couples. It’s a day, mostly, when boyfriends shower their girlfriends with flowers and candies. Restaurants all over the country are fully booked on this romantic day. However, in East Asian countries, Valentine’s Day isn’t quite like it is in the United States.
On February 14th in East Asian countries, it is a day all about the guys. It’s a day where girls (whether you have a boyfriend or not) give chocolate to the boy they like. Usually the chocolates are all homemade, but it’s not a sin to buy the chocolate. Girls spend days in advance prepping for the big holiday. It is solely up to to boy whether or not he would accept or reject the chocolates. If the guy is really popular, it’s quite possible that he is given chocolate by a couple of different girls.
Now, you ask, when do the guys give the girls something? In East Asian ountries, a month right after Valentine’s Day, March 14th, is known as White Day. On White Day, the guys have to give the girls candy or flowers. Generally, the guy gives his gift to the girl who gave him chocolate on Valentine’s Day to show that he accepts her unspoken confession. And by the end of this, both parties are happy, unless someone gave an unaccepted present.
And if that is the case, fret not because there is a day for those single people too. A month after White Day is a holiday called Black Day, an informal tradition on April 14th in South Korea (not all East Asian Countries) when the singles go out and eat jajangmyeon. Jajangmyeon is a dish of white Korean noodles with black bean sauce, hence the name “Black Day”. It can be an empowering day to embrace the single life or a day to remind you that you are single and lonely. Whether you dread the day or not, it is still a day dedicated to you and your singleness.
So, how are you celebrating Valentine’s Day this year?
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