Valentine's and White Day in Japan

Valentine's, a universal love-filled season for the majority of the world, this is also celebrated in Japan on 14th February.

Women would express love for an person of affection by making chocolates(perhaps inclusive of other gifts such as cookies).

Chocolates are called "チョコレート", pronounced "Chokorēhtoh"


or usually shortened to "チョコ", pronounced "Choko"
(I believe "choko" sounds better than the English version of saying chocolates, the Japanese pronunciation has a higher pitch and makes it sound much livelier)

There are, however, three types of chocolates given out on that day;

Giri choco (obligatory chocolate) - this is for colleagues, family members or normal friends you simply want to thank.

Honmei choco (chocolate for the man the woman loves / is serious about)

Tomo choco (chocolate for the woman's female friends) - Giving one does NOT mean that you're a lesbian! But simply to thank


What is unique to Japan is White Day; Exactly a month after Valentine's, on March 14th, the males that have received chocolates on Valentine's to return the favor by either giving chocolate, something white, cookies or flowers back to the sender.


The two occasions can also be used as a subtle way of asking a guy for a relationship; if the guy returns Honmei chocolates, it would mean consent.

While returning Houmei chocolate with Giri chocolate or not returning gifts at all either signifies apology and wish of staying friends or rejection.

I believe these two occasions are sweet and they make both males and females give gifts to each other instead of the traditional Valentine's where majority of the time, the female side simply waits for the males to take action.

Also, people who are shy can use these occasions to express their interest in the other party or unromantically; friends and family members.

What do you think of White day? Or what if it was implemented in Singapore?

Happy new year!

(Note: Oops! Just realised that I saved this as draft instead of posting >.<)

Akemashite Omedettou! (ah-key-marsh-tey  oh-may-they-to)
Happy new year!~


A family eating at a Kotatsu
Retrieved from righthealth.com

 

In japan, January is still the winter season, leading the families to have reunion dinners in steamboat style(various vegetables and meat are added into the steamboat much like the Asian tradition) at a kotatsu.

A kotatsu is a low table with an electric heater fixed to the underside of it.

Eating reunion dinners at a kotatsu is undeniably a great family bonding session as the warm feeling of the heater under the kotatsu, of spending time with your family and home cooked food fills your body, melting away the cold from outside.

Also, the first visits or Hatsumōde to a shrine with families or friends are made. usually on mid-night on New Year's Eve to the first week in January. Most Japanese do not have work on these days, setting aside time for families and friends.



Torii(Gate) is usually seen at the start of the entrance of the shrines. It can be identified by its unique design of crossbeams.

Retrieved from http://nostrumeo.blogspot.com/2007_07_08_archive.html



The two major religions in Japan, Shinto and Buddhism. There are various shrines(Shinto) and temples(Buddhist) all over Japan where people may visit them.   

During this period, stalls will be set up in anticipation of the crowds, usually selling various festive goods and food. The usual souvenirs sold at shrines during the new year include: good luck charms, dolls, bells

There is a procedure of cleansing rite to be observed before stepping in the the shrine. Then you would like to try out some activities at a shrine if you ever visit one:

Praying/Making a wish:
Ringing the temple bell, throwing a few 5 yen coins into the slotted box below the bell
Bow twice
Clap twice
Close your eyes

And Bow again.

This practice varies slightly with difference regions and temple but usually this is generally acceptable.

 

Omikuji charms
Retrieved from corbisimages.com



Drawing your fortune:

You place about 20yen into a collection box and draw a strip of paper from a box(usually beside it). Your lot would usually be one of these types: Great misfortune, Small misfortune, Good luck or Great luck. Each charm would give advice on subjects such as heath, marriage, travel, business and study. After drawing your lot, you may bring it home or if you had drawn a 'misfortune lot' you may tie it on a rope of a wooden structure in hope of averting disaster.





Writing your wish:

You can write a wish on a piece of board and hang them onto a wooden structure allocated for such purposes.



                                                        

                                              

The following pictures are of priests and priestesses for reference's sake, these are not their only attire but the most recognized, they also have different outfits for different ceremonies they have to perform



Seijin-no-Hi or Coming of Age Day is celebrated all throughout Japan on the second Monday of January. Throughout the country, similar ceremonies and activities take place among those newly turned 20 such as the wearing of special kimono, going to shrines, attending speeches, and so on.

Here's a short clip of a Shinto Priest shooting the Kabura-ya (whistling arrow):