Here, first, the girls have to do some "work"! ^^
It is said that St. Valentine's Day was imported to Japan in 1958 by a Japanese confectionery company.
In Japan, it is only the women giving presents - mainly chocolate - to men, but not the other way around.
Men are supposed to return the favours received on Valentine's Day one month later on White Day, a Japanese creation.
White Day is believed to have been introduced by a marshmallow manufacturing company in the 1960s.
But today's entry is all about Valentine's Day! ^^
So, here are some different kinds of gifts for Valentine's Day, we girls have to prepare:
1) Chocolates that women give to their sweethearts to prove that their love is true. This type of chocolate - the kind that you give to someone you really like or love - is called
本命チョコ(=honmei choco = chocolate of love).
A handmade chocolate is usually preferred by the receiver, because it is a sign that the receiving male is the girl's "only one". ^^ If you're not good in cooking or baking, so you can buy expensive, exclusive chocolate, too...I think, you know, what to do. The receiver of this kind of chocolate should have definitely the feeling of being someone special to you! :)
2) Another type is chocolate that is given without any romantic feelings attached. This type of chocolate is called 義理チョコ（=giri choco). The literal translation is "obligatory chocolate" and it's true that this chocolate is given out of a feeling of obligation. Women usually give
義理チョコ(=giri choco)
to classmates, coworkers, bosses, teachers, or clients that they are not romantically interested in. This kind of chocolate doesn't have to be outstanding in price, gift wrap or quality. Nothing special, but nice. ^^
So on that day only women are supposed to give chocolates to men. And the men can't do anything but be passive and just wait to see whether they can get chocolates or not. Many high school boys compete to see who gets the most chocolates and use this as a way to measure their popularity.
Even if they know it is just giri choco, many men still feel loved by the number of chocolates they get. ^^
At the end of January, all the department store or sweet shops start to sell fancy chocolates for Valentine' day.
In the last years, women have started to wonder why only men can get all these delicious chocolates.....
Because of that, there's a trend called,
友チョコ(=tomo choco = chocolate for friends)
women give each other chocolate. This tomo choco doesn't have to be expensive, but it has to be definitely cute. You can buy normal chocolate and decorate it, until it's cute enough and let your lovely friend get a big smile. ^^
So are you prepared already?
But don't worry, there are some days left! ^^
And honestly...I am, too, not prepared...yet! :D
Waaaaah! :D
So let's give our best the next days and have much fun! ^^
By: Vanessa (Asakusa)
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