For many, the red heart-filled celebrations of Valentine’s Day are already a month old. As February 14 is famous for being the festival of love, March 14 in Japan shares similar vibe across the country. Popularly known as White Day, this festival also upholds the celebration of love, much like Valentines Day. The only difference is about who you give gifts. Yes, there is a close connection between the two. Where on Valentine’s Day, couples give beautiful presents to each other; in Japanese culture, women present chocolates to men as gifts on February 14. One month later, men who received the chocolate of love are expected to return the favour by giving gifts to the love of their life. There are a variant history and significance associated with the celebration of White Day 2019. Romantic WhatsApp Stickers, GIF Images, Love Quotes, SMS to Send Your Partner. 

White Day 2019 officially falls on March 14, and it is also observed in South Korea and Taiwan. It has been around for 40 years, but it has turned into a big-spending event recently and has even filtered into other East Asian countries like China and South Korea.

White Day 2019: History & Significance

White Day was first celebrated in 1978 in Japan, and it was started by the National Confectionery Industry Association as an “answer day” to Valentine’s Day on the grounds that men must pay back to women who gave them chocolate and other gifts. Gradually, this practices spread to the neighbouring East Asian countries of Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Vietnam. The initial name for White Day was “Ai ni Kotaeru White Day,” (Answer Love on White Day). 5 Reasons Why You Are Depressed on the Day of Love and It’s NOT Your Fault!

White Day 2019: How is it Connected to Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 A.D. to honour Christian martyr Saint Valentine. The sending of Valentine’s greeting cards was a fashion in the nineteenth century in Great Britain. Gradually, it became a worldwide celebration with people expressing their feelings to their loved ones. On the other hand, White Day is comparatively a new phenomenon which is created by the confectionery industry in Japan. White Day was celebrated in 1978 for the first time in Japan. White Day is considered as an “answer day” or “reply day” to Valentine’s Day urging men to return the favour to women who gave them chocolates on February 14. The colour white was chosen because it is the colour of purity, evoking, and also because it is the colour of sugar.

Those who have not received any gifts a month earlier, will not give out any on White Day 2019. For the singles, you have only got a month to go before you can celebrate Black Day on April 14 to go out and eat jajangmyeon (Chinese Korean noodle dish) to celebrate singlehood. Till then, enjoy White Day!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 14, 2019 02:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).