March

In Japan, the “Craziness of Valentine’s Day” falls mainly on women. In fact, unlike most countries of which I am aware, in Japan, the tradition calls for women to give chocolate to the person they’re dating, want to date, or is their father…sometimes brothers, and to add insult to injury, co-workers and good friends. All in, women must provide chocolate to probably 30% of the men they know. Of course, not all chocolates are created equal, and those for co-workers and non-romantic friends are “courtesy chocolates” or, more bluntly, “obligation chocolates,” which do not cost much. The more important the relationship, the better the chocolate given, culminating in the ultimate token of regard, the handmade chocolate. On the other hand, men are required to simply receive chocolate and remember who gave it to them because while Valentine’s Day’s burden falls on the women of Japan, the ladies get their payback on “White day.” White Day in Japan – March 14 Men are required to remember every chocolate they received on Valentine’s day and provide the woman who provided it an equal gift of chocolate on women’s own Valentine’s day, in March, called “White Day.” On White Day, men are the…