V-Day

Ahh Valentine’s Day- the day where squealing girls everywhere grow extra smug and speak of their bounty to all whom will hear. Restaurants become packed, overpriced chocolates fly off the shelves and it is all in the name of a cleric who died over a thousand years ago.

As many sources teach, Valentine’s Day was a pagan holiday (yes, just like Christmas and Easter) that supposedly stemmed from the ancient roman festival of Lapercalis- a fertility festival celebrated on Feb 15. Long story short, the rise of Christianity in Europe saw this holiday also adopted and changed to a day earlier when Valentine was executed for performing secret marriage ceremonies. Though, the Christians had trouble converting it to a true religious holiday and it has long since been over powered by consumerism.

But enough of the history lesson- while these squealing girls in some countries wait with baited breath to see if their admirer will out-do their friends this year, in Japan it is different…

What did I get… Nada!

No this wasn’t some sort of social faux pas made by Senior Lukington; we have just decided to do things that Japanese way while we are living in Japan. You see, Valentine’s Day is all about the girl giving gifts. Before all the feminists out there get up in arms, the guys do have an entire day to reciprocate next month, which is kind of a good thing if you are a man. After all, it does mean that you have an early reminder (in case the stores filled with chocolate and cards are not enough). And for the girls it is not such a bad thing, as the man should be spending 3 times the amount that you spent on him- $Kaching$!

The cute Japanese girls may send three different types of Valentines- My favourite is Giri Chocolate, which is obligation chocolate. It's the "I don't care about you, but cultural politeness requires me to buy a gift" option for your co-workers. There is the more romatic Honmei Chocolate (Chocolate for the one you love) and of course Tomo Chocolate (for your friends). Some girls over here take the Giri option quite far and will buy a little chocolate for every man in their office. Mind you, it would suck to be a girl in a Toyota factory at this time of year.....

So, while I patiently wait until ‘white day’ on March 14 (When I get my chocolate, nom nom nom) I will sit at home with Alfort and secretly hope all the girls in Senior Lukington’s office feel the cultural obligation to shower him with enough chocolate that he can bring home to feed his hungry wife. Nom Nom Nom...

And to all my friends out there- 幸せなバレンタインデー (Happy Valentine’s day)