Valentine Day

I went to my son' school to volunteer for helping the Valantine Day party. Every class has its own party for about half and an hour, respectively. Three or four moms per each calss came to volunteerly help for the party.

Our class painted a picture of the dessert which had been the best ever. Students used the colors with jello mix, so their painting all smelled of fruit jelly. After drawing, they took the refreshment that were donated from students' home. During having snacks, they gave and took the chocolates, candies, and cards one another. However, almost all of their chocholates were low in price;they were worth $1.00, or nearly all less than $1.00. In the United States, regardless of gender, they seem to exchange their chocolates.

Anyway, it is pleasant to compare the difference on a topic. We, Koreans, also celebrate the Valentine Day, yet quiet different. Generally speaking, in Korea, women present the chocolate to their lovers or husbands on Valentine Day;men are just presented the chocolate. Moreover, we spend much money on buying the chocolate. Undoubtedly, the lower grade students could buy a little bit cheaper ones. But, on the whole, we pay more money than the U.S. because we have been too concerned with appearance, form, or our reputation. Most of all, schools do not hold parties officially to celebrate the Valentine Day whereas the U.S. school consider the Valentine parties as a kind of official function.

Ah! Then, when Korean women get the chocolate from their boy friends? It is unfair, isn't it? Fortunately, women can take the gift, mostly candies, from their steadies on 14th March, which is called the "White Day". I do not know where this day comes from. The U.S. does not have this day either offically, or not. But among the youth and many people in Korea, this day is also, so to speak, a kind of the event to confirm their love.