White Day is like Valentine’s Day, in a Sadie Hawkins way

When I was single I thought that Valentine’s Day for ladies not in a relationship meant that they were like a werewolf with a full moon.   “Well, if I’m not in a relationship, then I might as well talk to that cute, bald guy on the corner with 2 cats and 2 dogs”, all the single, slightly artsy ladies in Atlanta would say.  Shockingly, that never actually happened during my single years, or ever for that matter. 

My wife has always celebrated Valentine’s Day as a special day for the kids.  Now I’m part of a celebration that brings together all of the relatives, the kids open gifts, eat cake and far too much candy.  The children enjoy it immensely and it takes the pressure of getting a gift or going out to a fancy meal off of the table.

Really, now my wife and I just give each other a card for Valentine’s Day.  There is no box of candy, flowers at work, singing telegram or jewelry hidden under the front seat of her car.   When I read other guys get stressed about Valentine’s Day I’m incredibly grateful that my wife is so down to earth about these things.

In Asia they have a special day just for the fellas or ladies called White Day.  It depends on what country you’re in, but it works the opposite of Valentine’s Day.  To use a craps metaphor, it’s the “Don’t Pass” equivalent of Valentine’s Day.

When I lived in Japan Valentine’s Day was for the guys.  We’d receive boxes of chocolates or other sweets.  Personally I would’ve preferred a beer or trip to a local sushi place, but as a single dude in a foreign land I took what I could get.

However, on March 14 the shoe is on the other foot and the guys are expected to give the ladies who gave them something in return.  Their gift has a wide range of lingerie, candy, cookies or anything of value.  I read in some sources that on White Day guys should give something that was 2 to 3 times the value of the gift that they received.  I don’t recall that being the rule when I was there, however I do remember many of my western friends reminding me to purchase something for White Day.

White Day is all over Asia and varies country to country.  It started in Japan in 1978 by the National Confectionary Industry Association as an answer to Valentine’s Day.  Yes, Valentine’s Day needed a response apparently.  And I thought that a reciprocal, earnest “I Love you” was enough.