In Japan on March 14, exactly one month after Valentine's Day, 'White Day' is celebrated. On Valentine's Day women give gifts, usually of chocolate, to men and on White Day it's the men's turn to give to the women! This Japanese (and Korean) cultural event was started by confectionery companies in 1978, when they noticed that it was mostly men who bought chocolate on Valentine's day, and so women needed their own day to 'answer.' The Japanese use the expression 'sanbai gaeshi' meaning 'thrice the return' to describe the general rule that the return gift should be two to three times the cost of the Valentine's gift!
A difference between the two days is that Valentine's Day is thought to be to be a romantic time by people around the world; whereas, White Day is considered to be a social obligation.
Did you celebrate either Valentine's Day or White Day? Don't worry, if you don't have a 'special person' to share these days with - the Koreans celebrate 'Black Day' on April 14 for single people!!
Link: Culture Lesson 'East London''
Now match the key words to their definitions ('copy + paste' the bold words into the spaces below):
- Something you must do; to have no choice because of a rule or law:
- Something related to love:
- Sweets or candy:
- Three times:
- Compared with the fact that; but:
- Believed to be:
Comments
interesting
i really don't know about this date, it's a freak information...
i hope the 14 of april show the Black Day...xd
Realy it's new information
Realy it's new information about this day and new vocabulary
Italy
In my country (Italy) there is not "white day" but there is a "black day" just the day after "Valentine's day".
P.S.: This lesson brings me to 192 out of 487...I have to work a lot to achieve the 100% of the total lessons...I am terribly late!
:)
I had a very busy day cos I was trying to pass FCE but I can't go sleep without these lessons
I think that we don't have anything like White Day because in our country the Valentine's Day is celebrated a little bit calmer. People usually don't celebrate it.
thank u very much
have a nice day and "c u tmrw"
it's so interesting!now i
it's so interesting!now i know the Black Day
I heard this date last year,
I heard this date last year, but in my country our celebrated is Valentine's day so i will not prepare gift in White Day for my husband.....
i was dreem in a day like that
in fact i felt tierd from all that gifts which i have to get & all that words which i have to say(to my wife
but now
after that lesson
i guess that i have to ask her about my (white day)
+ i really learned 4 new words here
thanx a million
New vs. old or modern vs.traditional
In my country we celebrate Valentine's Day on the 14th of February, which is a American holiday from what I know, though we had our own tradition in celebrating this lovers' day, which we called 'DRAGOBETE' and celebrated on the 24th of February.
This tradition was almost lost. But when we started to celebrate Valentine's Day our tradition keepers came out and protested against importing this holiday since we already had it under a different name and on a different date.
I personally prefer our Dragobete, whom is resembling more to Eros or Cupid, being portrayed as a handsome, impetuous, young man, more like a match maker.
If you want to share your thoughts with us, I've started a new topic on the forum: http://learnenglish.ecenglish.com/node/529
Cheers!
Hi
I don't known nothing about white day, I must find some information in internet. Thanks you for new experience.
I have 100 %
nice
It is so intersting and it is very new updation in my mind because no only i came to know about white day, any way white day or valentine's day nothing speical in my life, because i have no special one..
this is a new information i
this is a new information
i loved the Black day lolzz
In Indonesia no term black
In Indonesia no term black day, every day is white day, we are always sharing the love...
thanks,
Bitterrsweet symphony
Very interesting lesson,
Very interesting lesson, I've known about new tradion and I learned new words. Thanks a lot.
Very interesting lesson,
Very interesting lesson, I've known about new tradion and I learned new words. Thanks a lot.
japanese culture
Wood has traditionally been used as the chief material in Japan, along with the traditional Japanese architectures. Statues are often lacquered, gilded, or brightly painted, although there are little traces on the surfaces. Bronze and other metals are also used. Other materials, such as stone and pottery, have had extremely important roles in the plebeian beliefs.
Nataly such interesting
Nataly
such interesting traditions, even single people are not forgotten but why is "black day"? In my country valentine's day is celebrated on the 14th of February, young people like this holyday, all children give presents and small valentine's postcards to each other not only boys, thank for interesting infofmation
White Day
So sweet!!! They have a special day for their men. In our Slavic culture we have a February, 23 as a "Man Day". Literally, it's a day of defender of fatherland, but our men usually get presents this day. March, 8 we consider as "Woman Day". Our men 'answer' us on March 8 for February, 23.
Hope, I didn't mess with grammar writing this.
The information is not correct...
It's the other way round... In Japan girls offer chocolates to guys on Valentine's Day (14 Feb) and the guys offer the girls in turn on White Day (14 March)
I created an account just to tell you this...