Comments on: White Day http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/ Living and writing in rural Japan Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:01:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: jean http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/#comment-446 jean Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:04:00 +0000 http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/#comment-446 Interesting reading about the Korean celebrations and also Jennifer's positive take on White Day. Valentine's Day was such a bummer when I first came here -- you mean I don't get any flowers or a romantic dinner or even chocolate?? And instead I get these pastel-colored hard candies in March?? Thanks but no thanks.<br/><br/>I was holding my breath there for your daughter. So glad everyone (or almost everyone!) remembered for her. Interesting reading about the Korean celebrations and also Jennifer’s positive take on White Day. Valentine’s Day was such a bummer when I first came here — you mean I don’t get any flowers or a romantic dinner or even chocolate?? And instead I get these pastel-colored hard candies in March?? Thanks but no thanks.

I was holding my breath there for your daughter. So glad everyone (or almost everyone!) remembered for her.

]]> By: Gaijin Mama http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/#comment-445 Gaijin Mama Fri, 16 Mar 2007 06:13:56 +0000 http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/#comment-445 Well, I guess I'll be eating noodles and black beans next month because I gave my husband chocolate, but he totally forgot about White Day. My daughter gave him chocolate, too. Well, I guess I’ll be eating noodles and black beans next month because I gave my husband chocolate, but he totally forgot about White Day. My daughter gave him chocolate, too.

]]> By: Liz http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/#comment-444 Liz Fri, 16 Mar 2007 06:01:41 +0000 http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/#comment-444 My issue with Valentine's Day and White Day is that it's always the women who have to send or give the first treat. I remember many a painful moment for the high school girls I taught in Hokkaido when they didn't receive anything in return on White Day. Not that Valentine's Day is perfect in any light, but the White Day idea seems a bit male-centric to me. My issue with Valentine’s Day and White Day is that it’s always the women who have to send or give the first treat. I remember many a painful moment for the high school girls I taught in Hokkaido when they didn’t receive anything in return on White Day. Not that Valentine’s Day is perfect in any light, but the White Day idea seems a bit male-centric to me.

]]> By: Sandra http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/#comment-443 Sandra Fri, 16 Mar 2007 03:57:37 +0000 http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/#comment-443 We have this same holiday in Korea. I didn't realize they have it in Japan, too. Next month is Black Day, for people who didn't receive any candy on Valentine's or White Day. On Black Day, those lovelorn souls are supposed to eat a big bowl of jjajjangmyun (sp?) a Chinese-Korean dish of noodles topped with black bean sauce. We have this same holiday in Korea. I didn’t realize they have it in Japan, too. Next month is Black Day, for people who didn’t receive any candy on Valentine’s or White Day. On Black Day, those lovelorn souls are supposed to eat a big bowl of jjajjangmyun (sp?) a Chinese-Korean dish of noodles topped with black bean sauce.

]]> By: jennifer http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/#comment-442 jennifer Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:18:26 +0000 http://gaijinmama.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/white-day/#comment-442 While I agree that chocolate "takes" marshmallows any day, I still love this concept! To me, it reinforces the idea of obligation to each other, and to repayment of kindnesses...which I believe and value. I think kids focus easily on what they GET, having a day to focus on what you must GIVE makes it all much more reciprocal. In theory, anyway. I wonder if it works this way, in practice? While I agree that chocolate “takes” marshmallows any day, I still love this concept! To me, it reinforces the idea of obligation to each other, and to repayment of kindnesses…which I believe and value. I think kids focus easily on what they GET, having a day to focus on what you must GIVE makes it all much more reciprocal. In theory, anyway. I wonder if it works this way, in practice?

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