| St. Valentine’s Day falls on February 14, and is the traditional day
on which lovers in certain cultures let each other know about their
love, commonly by sending Valentine’s cards, which are often anonymous.
In Japan and Korea Valentine’s Day has emerged, thanks to a
concentrated marketing effort, as a day on which women, and less
commonly men, give candy, chocolate or flowers to people they like.
Rather than being voluntary however, this has become for many women
– especially those who work in offices – an obligation, and they give
chocolates to all their male co-workers, sometimes at significant
personal expense. This chocolate is known as giri-choko (義理チョコ), in
Japan, from the words giri (obligation) and choko, a common short
version of chokorēto (チョコレート), meaning chocolate. This is opposed to
honmei-choko, which is given to a person that someone loves or has a
strong relationship with. Friends (usually girls) exchange chocolate
that is referred to as tomo-choko.
By a further marketing effort, a reciprocal day, called White Day
has emerged. On this day (March 14), men are supposed to return the
favour by giving something to those who gave them chocolates on
Valentine’s Day. Many men, however, give only to their girlfriends.
Originally the return gift was supposed to be white chocolate or
marshmallows (hence the name “White Day”). However, more recently men
have taken the name to a different meaning, thus lingerie is quite a
common gift.  Commentary: To say Valentine's Day will not spread, but to all in favor of the enriching of businesses with the holidays, say "Ay!". And you wonder where those Japanese minds have gone in the naming of "White Day". Kind of selfish don't you think, where it starts off as the women giving the guys, but who can refuse? 
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