A competition named "Crazy Kiss" kicks off at a department store in Shanghai to celebrate the White Valentine's Day on March 14, 2007. Ten pairs of lovers joined the competition to win 10,000 yuan prize. [China Foto Press]

What's the meaning of this event? White Day, March 14, as opposed to Valentine's Day, is a completely Japanese event. While women give gifts to men on Valentine's Day in Japan, on White Day, men should return the favor and give gifts to women from whom they received gifts or chocolate, or to women in whom they are romantically interested.

Are there objects associated with this event? Although White Day is not as big as St. Valentine's Day, many people still send various gifts. For White Day, cookies, candies or white chocolates are common instead of regular chocolates. There is a superstition among some young people that if someone gives you cookies, that means "I love you" candies mean "I like you," and white chocolate means "Let's be friends." Other gifts usually given along with food are jewelry, handbags, shoes, wallets, scarves, handkerchiefs, and stuffed animals. Some men, just as in America, give lingerie to their girlfriends.

What do people do on this day? As on St. Valentine's Day, on the day of or before White Day, we can see many couples enjoying going out together around town. They often go shopping, see movies, or dine at fancy restaurants.

In spite of the popularity of St. Valentine's Day among children, boys rarely return gifts to girls on White Day. Therefore, mothers whose boys are in elementary schools or kindergartens buy cookies or candies, and give them to the girls who gave chocolates to their boys.

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