On March 14th, "White Day," the custom is for men to give gifts, typically chocolates, to women. This holiday originated as a reciprocal response to Valentine's Day. Giving gifts symbolizes what?

The origin of White Day

According to legend, the origin of White Day can be traced back to 1977 when a Japanese confectionery company called Ishimura Manseido first created this holiday.
This confectionery company was established in the 38th year of the Meiji era, which is in 1905 AD. One of Ishimura Manseido's most famous confections is a dessert called "Meigakura no Ko.

Initially, Ishimura Manseido primarily focused on producing "Keiran So-men," a traditional Japanese sweet which is one of Japan's three major sweets. It involves pouring egg yolks into boiling sugar syrup to create a dessert resembling thin noodles. However, due to the wastage of egg whites in this confection, the owner started considering how to utilize egg whites to make sweets.

As a result, they began using egg whites extensively to create a confection with a soft, marshmallow-like exterior and a creamy egg yolk filling, known as "Tsurunoko." This confection quickly gained widespread popularity and became the signature product of Ishimura Manseido.
In 1977, the third-generation successor of Ishimura Manseido took over the family business. To stimulate sales, he began contemplating how to create a new business opportunity. Around this time, he came across an article in a women's magazine mentioning that women wished to receive marshmallows as gifts on Valentine's Day.

This gave him an idea: to establish a dedicated gift-giving Valentine's Day. He decided to replace the egg yolk filling in Ishimura Manseido's signature product "Tsurunoko" with chocolate and paired it with the promotional slogan "From the chocolate you receive, I'll wrap it with my tenderness (marshmallow) and give it back to you." With the support of local department stores, they chose March 14th to hold this event, naming it "3/14 Valentine's Day."

The event was a tremendous success and quickly gained popularity in Japan. Initially known as "Marshmallow Day" or "Candy Gifting Day," it gradually evolved into the now well-known "White Day" as both marshmallows and sugar used in candy-making are white in color."

How is White Day celebrated?

White Day typically follows Japanese customs, primarily involving the exchange of chocolates, especially white chocolates or other white candies and sweets. This is because in Japan, during Valentine's Day, women give chocolates to those they like or to male friends as a social etiquette, known as "giri-choco" (obligation chocolate). Therefore, initially, White Day emphasized men giving gifts back to women. However, nowadays, if a man confesses his feelings on Valentine's Day, then White Day becomes the day for women to give their answer, also known as the "day for returning gifts." Additionally, in Japan, there was a trend where high school girls confessed to their crushes on February 14th, and boys gave their answer on March 14th. If they agreed to start dating, the boy would give the girl the second button from his coat as a token.

When returning gifts, it's essential to choose carefully to avoid misunderstandings. Here are some well-known gifts and their potential meanings:

Chocolate: As one of the return gifts for Valentine's Day, chocolate is often seen as a symbol of expressing affection. However, it's important to note that the color and style may carry different meanings. For example, white chocolate might signify pure friendship or innocent emotions.

Marshmallows: One origin of White Day is attributed to a marshmallow vendor who proposed a promotional concept. They suggested returning chocolate-flavored marshmallows as gifts, symbolizing "returning the sentiment (chocolate) unchanged," gently declining a girl's confession. Another explanation for the name "White Day" comes from the fact that the vendor who created this holiday sold "white marshmallows," hence the name.

Dessert Gift Box: In addition to chocolates, other desserts or dessert gift boxes are also a great choice, showcasing sweet sentiments towards the recipient.

Special Gifts: If you understand the recipient's preferences and interests, consider giving personalized gifts such as books, music CDs, collectibles, etc. These types of gifts are more thoughtful and special.

Sending essential oils and a diffuser represents the sender's feelings and emotions, as well as their desire for the recipient to experience more joy and comfort in life. Essential oils can bring delightful aromas that help relax the mind and uplift the mood, enhancing the quality of life. A diffuser is a tool that disperses the fragrance of essential oils into the surrounding environment, creating a pleasant atmosphere. Therefore, gifting essential oils and a diffuser can symbolize care and blessings for the recipient, wishing them a comfortable and joyful life.