[Masup story] What day is Valentine's Day in Korea?

 What day is Valentine's Day in Korea?

 Valentine's Day falls on February 14th every year, and it's a day when people typically exchange gifts with their loved ones. Particularly, it's common for women to give chocolates or other presents to men.

 Since the 1990s, there's been a trend among teenagers to celebrate the 14th of every month, known as "fourteen day." Among these, Valentine's Day on February 14th is considered the most significant. Additionally, White Day on March 14th and Black Day on April 14th are also regarded as important.

What day is Valentine's Day in Korea?

 Black Day, observed on April 14th, is when people who didn't receive gifts on Valentine's Day or White Day eat Jajangmyeon, a black bean paste noodle dish, as a way of consoling themselves. It's a day to comfort oneself while dining alone.

The following month, on May 14th, is Rose Day, where couples exchange roses as a symbol of love. This monthly celebration of the 14th, known as "fourteen day," is enjoyed by young people.

 On Valentine's Day, a woman confesses to a man she likes as a chocolate gift, but in Korea, there is a culture that not only cares about her lover but also cares about men around her. Of course, in this case, I will prepare a nice chocolate for the man I really like, but I will give a simple chocolate to the other man.

 If a daughter doesn't give chocolate to her father on Valentine's Day in Korea, the father tends to be a little upset. From this perspective, Valentine's Day can be said to be a bonding anniversary between all opposite sexes, not lovers, for Koreans.

Origin of Valentine's Day

 The origins of Valentine's Day date back to the 3rd century during the Roman era when marriages required the emperor's permission. However, a priest named Valentine defied the emperor's orders and secretly married young couples in love, leading to his martyrdom.

 Since then, this day has been commemorated as a celebration of love and affection. Traditionally, it was mainly women confessing their love to men and giving chocolates as gifts. However, nowadays, various gifts are exchanged, and Valentine's Day has also become a day to express gratitude.

 In the past, Korea had traditional days to honor lovers before Valentine's Day. It's around March 6th in the solar calendar, which is known as Gyeongchip Day. On this day, people ate Eunbaekhwa, a sweet rice cake, to enhance their love and confirm each other's feelings.

 

Also, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, called Chilseok, there were folk traditions where lovers compared their skills or made wishes through the making of rice cakes. While these traditions have evolved into modern Valentine's Day celebrations, the traditional Korean days of honoring lovers have largely been forgotten by people.

 

🟪 Content Summary

 Valentine's Day in Korea is different from other countries in several ways. First, there is a strong tradition in Korea where women give chocolate to men. This was influenced by Japan, where men give gifts to women, while Korea has developed into a women-led culture. Second, White Day exists on March 14 in Korea along with Valentine's Day, which is set as a day when men give gifts to women in return. The fact that the two days are connected in a row is a unique culture of Korea. Third, it is considered important in relationships with friends as well as lovers, as people tend to exchange small gifts among friends. These differences reflect the Korean love culture and social context.