Valentines Day in India and Japan
In India Valentines Day is a recent phenomen. Some people there think that it is a western holiday and do not want to celebrate it. But most young people love the beautiful and romantic festival because it is a time when they can express their affection for the people they love. In India as in other countries it is usual to exchange presents and cards.
In this county you can feel that the holiday is coming, even weeks ago. The shops and other public places are decorated with the typical Valentines Day symbols. You can see roses, hart shaped figures and cupids everywhere. In the shopping malls are organized different games for people in love. Most of the restaurants, disco clubs and pubs are extremely busy. Usually people in India express their love to their teachers, friends and relatives too. The most typical presents are flowers, chocolates and soft toys.
In Japan people celebrate Valentines Day on two different dates. Women present presents to their boyfriends on February 14, and the men return gifts to the ladies on March 14.On Valentines day it is a strong tradition the women to give chocolate as a gift to the man she choose. There are two popular types of chocolate for this day. Giri-choco is for close male friends, bosses and friends and it has no romantic association. The women buy these chocolates from the store and they have to buy for all their close male friends, because if a man doesn’t receive a chocolate he feels embarrassed.
The special chocolates for their boyfriends, husbands or lovers are called hon-mei.The girls think that it is not a true love if they buy this chocolate from the shop and most of them prepare it at home. If a man receive a hon-mei chocolate he feels lucky and is a prospective winner, which is the meaning of hon-mei.
On the White Day in Japan men supposed to return chocolates to the women who gave them on February 14.Because the name of the day the men usually choose white chocolate. They also buy flowers, small gifts and cards.