White Day is celebrated every year on March 14th, a month after Valentine’s Day, when men give gifts to women as an appreciation for what they received on Valentine’s Day. Although White Day is a popular holiday, did you know that this holiday wasn’t called “White Day” when it was first celebrated?
In 1977, Zengo Ishimura, the executive of a small candy shop thought of the idea of inventing a special day for men to give sweets to women. A year later, in 1978, White Day was first celebrated, but known as “Marshmallow Day”. Marshmallow Day was a celebration where men gave marshmallows with chocolate stuffed inside. But why did the name change to “White Day”? It changed to “White Day” as a reference to marshmallows, as well as white representing the purity of love!
On White Day, people give cookies, white chocolate, marshmallows, candy, purses, jewelry, clothes, or even travel to celebrate this holiday! White Day is an excellent opportunity for men to show love and gratitude to women.
White Day is celebrated in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China, but why isn’t it celebrated in other countries? To begin with, on Valentine’s Day in Japan, girls give gifts such as chocolate or flowers to boys and girls. Whereas in America and Europe, girls and boys exchange gifts with each other. Hence, it is unnecessary to have another holiday where boys give back gifts to girls.
Nowadays White Day is celebrated not only in Japan but in several countries and is considered an important holiday for all. So, let’s enjoy White Day and create unforgettable memories!
Sources:
Adelstein, Jake. “How Japan Created White Day, East Asia's Alternate Valentine's Day.” Forbes, March 13. 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/adelsteinjake/2018/03/13/how-japan-created-white-day-east-asias-alternate-valentines-day/?sh=4beb070c348b.
Lufkin, Bryan. “White Day: Japan’s reverse Valentine’s Day.” BBC, March 15. 2019, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190313-white-day-japans-reverse-valentines-day.
Mineta, Grace. “White Day: Affordable Ways to Return the Love.” Tokyocheapo, March 10. 2016, https://tokyocheapo.com/travel/holidays/white-day-affordable-ways-to-return-the-love/
“White Day in Japan: Gifting Traditions and Customs.” Japan based, Oct 31. 2022, https://japanbased.com/white-day.
“ホワイトデーの起源とは？” Quocard, March 4. 2022,