Photo : Hanabi.
Today, Japanese people celebrate White Day! It is the answer to Valentine’s Day, the following month.
Valentine’s Day is very popular in Japan. During this day, the girls offer chocolates to their boyfriend or to a colleague. During White Day, the man to whom chocolates were offered has to answer with a present of a three times superior value. Because of that, boys sometimes refuse the chocolates.
When the present does not come from his girlfriend, the boy has to answer by obligation. He offers what is called a giri-chocolate. Giri means “obligation” in Japanese.
Traditionally, marshmallows were offered in answer to Valentine’s Day chocolates. That’s why White Day used to be called Marshmallow Day.
Another tradition consists in offering a white ribbon to the liked woman. This last one would knot the ribbon before the end of the day if she shares the boy’s feelings.