KOREAN 101: White Day and other Korean Informal Holidays
It's March 14th!
Happy White Day Everyone!
Wait, What is 'White Day'?
White Day is one of the several informal holidays celebrated in Korea, White Day is observed in South Korea with the men paying back women who have given them chocolate on Valentine's Day with usually candy instead of chocolate, with an additional later (April 14th) Black Day observed for those sharing singleness.
White Day was first celebrated in 1978 in neighboring country Japan. It was started like an "answer day" to Valentine's Day on the grounds that men should pay back the women who gave them chocolate and other gifts on Valentine's Day. But all of this started in a marketing scheme made by a confectionery company in Japan (Nice Marketing guys! :thumbs up: )
Soon thereafter, men give both white and dark chocolate, as well as other edible and non-edible gifts, such as jewelry or objects of sentimental value, or white clothing like lingerie, to women from whom they received chocolate on Valentine's Day one month earlier.
Here are the other Informal Holidays Celebrated in Korea all throughout the year;
January 14th – Diary Day
Couples are meant to give each other a diaries or year planner books
and note down all the rest of these lovely gift-giving days.
February 14th – Valentine’s Day
In contrast to Western society, today is traditionally when women give
chocolates to their men and confess their love. yum!
April 14th – Black Day
A purely Korean day for those singles who did not received chocolate or candy on Valentines and White Day, they console and encourage themselves by eating jajangmyeon (짜장면).
May 14th – Rose Day / Yellow Day
Couples exchange roses, and those lonely hearts gather for curry and companionship.
Apparently dressing in yellow is also recommended.
June 14th – Kiss Day
The day when couples kiss each other.
Lovers confess their feelings to one another and kiss passionately
(If they can actually do it!).
July 14th – Silver Day
Couples can freely ask their friends to give them money to pay for a date!
Couples exchange gifts made of silver, and announce their relationship to their friends.
August 14th – Green Day
Couples are supposed to dress in green, and walk outside in the woods. Singles would drink a (green) bottle of soju to console themselves.
September 14th – Photo & Music Day
Couples take photographs together, go out with friends in the evening to Noraebangs (Karaoke) or night clubs, places with music in order to make their relationship public.
October 14th – Wine Day
Couples have wine on this day, because Autumn is Wine drinking season - nothing more.
October 24th – Apple Day
The Korean word for apple is called ‘Sa-gwa’ (사과), also means to apologize. On this day, friends, family and couples give an apple (as in fruits! Not those tech stuffs!) to each other to apologize for past mistakes.
November 11th – Pepero Day
The 11th day of the 11th month is specifically chosen as the number looks like a Pepero stick.
Students exchange the treats with one another (with the thought of growing tall and thin)
November 14th – Movie & Orange Day
Couples would watch a movie together while having some orange juice.
Yes, some of these holidays are that weird.
December 14th – Hug Day
Couples are meant to hug one another lovingly to stay warm in the cold winter months.
Another excuse to cuddle of course! :P
Wow that's a lot of Informal holidays eh?
Korean's Love this small celebrations just like us Pinoy's!
So, Whats Your Favorite Informal Korean Holiday? :)
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