Monday, February 14, 2005

Alice in Valentine's Day Wonderland

If Alice had ventured through the looking glass on February 14th, I imagine she would have ended up somewhere in the Japanese archiapelago. Why you ask? In Japan Valentine's Day is the exact opposite of what you've come to know and love (or hate) in the west.

In this topsy-turvy world, where nothing is as it seems, it is the boys who are the beneficiaries of this chocolate-covered love fest, showered in eleganty wrapped packages (complete with pink ribbons an bows), of creatively-shaped chocolate-deliciousness by girlfriends, admirers, co-workers and friends. Ofcourse most of it is giri choco, obligation chocolate given out of a sense of duty, but every now and then a boy gets lucky with honmei choco, true love chocolate, usually painstakingly handmade by a girlfriend (or a girlfriend wannabe).

If all of this sounds just a bit one sided or sexist, consider this: In the past, it was considered extremely rude and forward for a girl to tell a boy that she had feelings for him. Thus Valentine's Day became a girl's one and only chance to make a move in a socially acceptable way.

But fear not fellow femmes! We are not forgotten!

In an attempt to ease the minds of the men forever indebted by this show of love and appreciation, White Day was born. Created by a marshmallow company (hence the White-ness)ready to capitalize on the Japanese culture of returning favors, White Day was originally sold as a chance for the lucky men who recieved chocolates on Valentine's Day to give marshmallowy delicious gifts to the women in their lives exactly one month later, on March 14th. Recently, however, chocolates and other candies have become more popular (imagine that), eclipsing marshmallow sales. Nothing says thanks, or I love you, like a nice fluffy marshmallow...Nice try marshmallow company!

So no, I didn't get anything for Valentine's Day, aside from my awesome blackboard valentine. The question then becomes...Did I give anything?

You better believe it! \(^-^)/

Whether or not I get anything on White Day is another question all together!

1 comment:

Lindizzy said...

Awww, that's sooo cute! I'm sure you'll get more than your share of chocolate on White Day!!