Wednesday 14 February, 2007
Chocolate Dragon
Living in Vancouver is fun.
Yesterday as I was strolling down the Robson street, all the chocolate shops were filled to brim with chocolate shoppers, thanks to the impending Valentines day. The funny things was, all the shops had pretty much even split of guys and girls. Namely, half of the customers were white males, while the other half were Japanese ladies -I learned that in Japan it is customary for the women to give men chocolate on Valentines day, and not the other way around.
I feel blessed to live in such an international city, you learn something new about other cultures every day!
Posted by Dragon at 14 February 21:59, 2007:) Fotunately, the men here are required to give women chocolate on a "White Day", one month after Valentine's day. Somewhat special here is that the women "have to" give Valentine day chocolate not only to their special one, but to practically all male work collagues they meet on that day. If a woman wants to signal that the recipient is somehow special, she will give either extra-expensive or self-made chocolate. (The shops are filled with easy-to-make chocolate confectionary kits...)
So, on White day, a man is supposed to give chocolate (some say it should be white chocolate, some say it should be cakes or gifts, don't know for sure) to all the women who gave her the obligatory chocolate ("giri-choco") - carefully matched to the level of cost and effort of what was received on Valentine's. In case he'd like to signal that next year he'd like to receive something more than just giri-choco, he should give something significantly more expensive or special.
It goes without saying that the White Day was entirely designed and marketed by large chocolate-selling companies, but who'd say no to extra chocolate? :)
# 2 - Dragon (on February 15, 2007 12:39 AM):
Yes, I learned about the White Day, too. How about you? were you hit by a Chocolate bill, or did you get away by being a gaijin?
One thing is for sure: Chocolate companies will inherit the Earth.
# 3 - yoe (on February 15, 2007 11:31 PM):
Sure, I brought a box of Fazer's Geisha-chocolates to the lab:) But, I was corrected today by my japanese teacher: the guys are supposed to give double the value of chocolate on White day, and if they wish to "make a difference" - man, you need a truckload:D
(Actually, the girls in my lab gave chocolate to everyone, including me and the other females, with the note "you are not a boy but..." and I am left wondering, am I expected to give them chocolate next month :)