Wikipedia

White Day

For the 2001 video game, seeWhite Day: A Labyrinth Named School.For the 2015 video game remake, seeWhite Day: A Labyrinth Named School (2015 video game).For the 2019 Icelandic film, seeA White, White Day.

White Dayis celebrated annually on March 14, one month afterValentine's Day,when people give reciprocal gifts to those who gave them gifts on Valentine's Day. It began inJapanin 1978; its observance has spread to several otherEast Asiannations likeChina,Taiwan,South Koreaand countries worldwide.

White Day
White Day cake
Observed byJapan, Countries in East and Southeast Asia
DateMarch 14
Next timeMarch 14, 2025(2025-03-14)
FrequencyAnnual
Related toValentine's Day
White Day
Chinese name
Traditional ChineseBạch sắc tình nhân tiết
Simplified ChineseBạch sắc tình nhân tiết
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinBáisè qíngrén jié
Burmese name
Burmeseအဖြူနေ့
Vietnamese name
VietnameseNgày Valentine Trắng
Korean name
Hangul화이트데이
Transcriptions
Revised RomanizationHwaiteu dei
Japanese name
Katakanaホワイトデー
Transcriptions
RomanizationHowaito Dē
Khmer name
Khmerថ្ងៃពណ៌ស

Origin

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Though Valentine's Day was first attempted to be celebrated inJapanin 1936, it did not begin to be popularly celebrated until the 1970s, giving the day a different observation from in the West.[1]It was primarily an opportunity for girls to show that they like a boy.[1]In 1977, aFukuoka-based confectionery company,Ishimuramanseido[ja],marketedmarshmallowsto men on March 14, calling it Marshmallow Day(マシュマロデー,Mashumaro Dē).[2]White Day was first celebrated in 1978 in Japan.[2]The National Confectionery Industry Association started it as an "answer day" to Valentine's Day on the grounds that men should pay back the women who gave themchocolateand other gifts onValentine's Day.[2]

Soon thereafter, confectionery companies began marketingwhite chocolate.Flowers and other gifts are also given on this day.[3]

Observation

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White Day is celebrated one month afterValentine's Day,on March 14. With countries that observe White Day, typically Valentine's Day is celebrated by women and girls presenting chocolate gifts (either store-bought or handmade), usually to the other men and boys, as an expression of love, courtesy, or social obligation.[4]

On White Day, the reverse happens: men who received ahonmei-choco(Bổn mệnh チョコ,'chocolate of love')orgiri-choco(Nghĩa lý チョコ,'courtesy chocolate')[5]on Valentine's Day are expected to return the favor by giving gifts to the women.[6]Gift exchanges happen between romantic partners, friends, and coworkers.[7]Traditionally, popular White Day gifts include food like white chocolate, marshmallows, candy, cookies, and other "white" accessories like jewelry, bags, lotions, and lingerie.[8][9]

Sometimes the termsanbai gaeshi(Tam bội phản し,'triple the return')is used to describe the generally recited rule for men that the return gift should be two to three times the worth of the Valentine's gift they received.[2]

In the latter half of the 2010s, sales figures indicated a decline in the popularity of the observation. It was seen as a result of reduced sales of obligation chocolates on Valentine's Day. Another reason given for the reduction of popularity is the changinggender roles within Japanese culture.[10]

International observation

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Outside of Japan, the practice of giving response gifts one month after Valentine's Day has spread internationally. In those cultures, White Day is, for the most part, observed similarly. Some places where this occurs include China,[11][12]South Korea,[13][11][14]Taiwan,[13][11]and Vietnam.[11][14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abGordenker, Alice (March 21, 2006)."White Day".Japan Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2020.RetrievedMarch 24,2020.
  2. ^abcdホワイトデー[White Day] (in Japanese), Japanese Culture Iroha Dictionary,archivedfrom the original on March 28, 2012,retrievedFebruary 23,2008
  3. ^Horiuchi, Junko (March 11, 2020)."Florists promoting flower power as coronavirus sees celebrations canceled".Kyodo News.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2020.RetrievedMarch 14,2020.
  4. ^"Valentine's Day and White Day".Nippon.com.The Nippon Communications Foundation. February 13, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2020.RetrievedMarch 14,2020.
  5. ^"Valentine's Day & White Day in Japan".Japan National Tourism Organization.Archived fromthe originalon May 4, 2014.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
  6. ^"White Day (March 14)".Cross Currents.University of Hawaii.Archivedfrom the original on October 25, 2011.RetrievedMarch 13,2013.
  7. ^Tatiana, Garcia (April 2016). Okamoto, Yoshiko (ed.)."A Study of Japan's Valentine's and White Day Markets"(PDF).U.S. Commercial Service.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on May 14, 2017.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
  8. ^"Valentine's day",Culture,Japan 101, February 13, 2024,archivedfrom the original on January 3, 2010,retrievedNovember 25,2009.
  9. ^Mineta, Grace (March 10, 2016)."White Day: Affordable Ways to Return the Love | Tokyo Cheapo".Tokyo Cheapo.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2020.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
  10. ^Lufkin, Bryan (March 14, 2019)."White Day: Japan's reverse Valentine's Day".United Kingdom: BBC.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2020.RetrievedMarch 13,2020.
  11. ^abcdManalaysay, Bae Kirstein T. (March 14, 2019)."Valentine's Day Part II: Filipinos and White Day".Philippine Canadian Inquirer.Canada. Archived fromthe originalon December 6, 2020.RetrievedMarch 14,2020.Nope, this is not a day solely dedicated to honor the color white or something like that, but it is directly related to Valentine's Day, that originated in Japan and is practiced in its neighboring countries such as China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Vietnam.
  12. ^"White Day Triggers Consumption Enthusiasm".china.org.cn.China Internet Information Center.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2020.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
  13. ^abAdelstein, Jake (March 13, 2018)."How Japan Created White Day, East Asia's Alternate Valentine's Day".Forbes.United States.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2020.RetrievedMarch 13,2020.
  14. ^abGoto, Rei; Thompson, Ashley (February 13, 2020)."Valentine's Day Traditions Around the World".Voice of America.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2020.RetrievedMarch 14,2020.
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