White Day

In Japan, there is a lot less shame about turning Valentine's Day into a commercial "holiday" than there is in the West. Tradition is that women will give chocolate to the men in their lives on February 14th - whether the man is a true loved one (in which case he may receive homemade - also called 本命 - chocolate) or just a co-worker or friend (in which case he would receive a generic - also called 義理 - chocolate). Some women will give out chocolate to as many as 20 men - so it can be rather costly.

Then a month later, to add to the commercial shamelessness, the Japanese (and I believe the Koreans as well) have a day called White Day - a day on which men return the favour to the women that gave them chocolate. Traditionally they should give white chocolate, which is said to be sweeter and therefore more well-liked by women. Someone also told me that we are to give 3 times as much as we received! I don't know about that...

In any case, last month we had a Valentine's Day special dinner at the church... and last night we did a White Day dinner as well. It was wonderful - as always, the food was delicious! We have a lot of talented cooks in our fellowship! There were bands playing all night, little games/contests/door prizes as well, and a message about God's love, presented by Tom Cotton. It was a blessed night - perhaps my final potluck at Calvary Chapel Ginowan? Went out with a bang, anyways!