/ Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. All over the world, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
But in Asia,
Thanks to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine's Day has emerged in China, Japan and Korea as a day on which women, and less commonly men, give chocolate or flowers. It has become an obligation for many women to give chocolates to all male co-workers. In Japan this is known as giri-choko (義理チョコ), from the words giri ("obligation") and choko, ("chocolate"). This contrasts with honmei-choko (本命チョコ); chocolate given to a loved one. Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as tomo-choko (友チョコ); from tomo meaning "friend". In China, the common situation is that the man gives chocolate, flowers or both to the woman that he loved. In chinese, Valentine's Day called 情人节 (hanyu pinyin: qing ren jie).
By a further marketing effort, a reciprocal day called White Day has emerged. On March 14, men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day. Originally, the return gift was supposed to be white chocolate or marshmallows; hence "White Day". However, lingerie and jewelry have become common gifts.
In South Korea, there is also Pepero Day, celebrated on November 11, when young couples give each other romantic gifts, in particular a long, chocolate cookie named Pepero, thus Pepero Day. The date '11/11' is intended to resemble the long shape of the cookie. There is an additional day for single people, Black Day, celebrated on April 14.
In Chinese culture, there is a counterpart to Valentine's Day, called "The Night of Sevens" (七夕). According to the legend, the Cowherd star and the Weaver Maid star are normally separated by the milky way (river) but are allowed to meet by crossing it on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. 七夕 is also remembered in Korea, where its association with romance has long faded.
In Japan, a slightly different version of 七夕 (called Tanabata, which is said to mean 棚機 a weaver for a god) is celebrated , on July 7th but on the solar calendar. However, it is never regarded that the celebration is even remotely related with the St. Valentine's Day or lovers giving gifts to each other.
And to end with it a poem to those lovers out there and along with singles as well~ Who by any chance drop by and read my post~ Hehehe~
Saying good bye
So soft
the brief touch of your lips
on my cheek.
Was I almost intruding?
"Look after yourself "
should have been
"I love you!"
Then the Jumbo flew over
my head
and I shouted my love
above the roar
and thundering thrust
. . . as if you'd hear.
Through the clouds in my eyes
I watched you fly away
and wished I'd been born with wings.
Happy valentine people~
/Hopped!
4:39 PM
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/ Sunday, February 10, 2008
Thank you for always being there,
To listen and understand me.
I appreciate all you did for me,
And all you still do.
Thank you for making me feel whole again,
For putting my pieces back together.
I appreciate you putting my life back together,
You saved my life.
You may not understand,
Why I do what I do.
But you never criticized,
You just helped my through.
I knew I could come to you when I was down,
'cause I knew you'd always be there
to pick me back up
and say everything will be ok.
/Hopped!
12:26 PM
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