Chocolates for your Valentine!
Today is February 14 and we had to talk about Valentine’s Day, the Japanese way!
Valentine’s Day arrived in Japan in the 50s-60s and since then has settled for good, and no woman give it a miss nowadays. Yes, on Feb. 14, only women offer presents to men. Then men have pride of honor, as well as chocolate shops since mainly chocolate are offered on that day. And it’s not only for your Valentine but for all men: friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and bosses. Be careful not to forget anyone!
Valentine’s Day chocolates, giri choko, are worthy of their name: they are the “obligation chocolates.” There are several types of them, depending of the importance of the men.
- Regular giri choko: polite chocolates, for all male colleagues, or friends. They are quite good chocolates.
- Chô-giri choko: the same but… cheaper. For colleagues you don’t like much.
- Honmei choko: chocolates to show your feelings, offered by women to their husbands, boyfriend or someone they really like. Most often home made or at least very good quality.
- Tomo choko: friendship chocolates. Girls even offer them to their female friends, to cheer up! Those are quite recent.
- Sewa choko: to thank someone. Home made or very good quality.
Then women will have to wait until White Day on March 14 to get presents back. They receive white chocolates, jewels, or white, of a higher value than that of the chocolates they offered.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
No comment