2月（がつ）14日（っか）は、バレンタインデーでしたね！
日本（にほん）のバレンタインデーは、アメリカのバレンタインデーと、ちょっと 違（ちが）います。(= Valentine's day in Japan is a bit different from American one.)
1) How do Japanese people celebrate Valentine's day? 
Valentine's Day (February 14) in Japan is basically the day for women to give men chocolates or gifts. This is how Valentine's Day is celebrated in Japan and attractively packaged chocolates are widely sold at stores in Japan before Valentine's Day. Women are expressing love to men by giving chocolates on Valentine's Day. But it's also common for women to give chocolates to men who they don't actually love, such as co-workers and friends. This kind of chocolates are called giri-choco which mean chocolates given because of obligations. Japanese women commonly buy many giri-choco.
Men who received chocolates or gifts on Valentine's Day are supposed to give gifts back to the women on March 14th called White Day. Gifts for White Day vary but they are usually sweets, such as candies and cookies.
(from: http://gojapan.about.com/cs/japaneseholidays/a/valentineday.htm)
2) Vocabulary
- バレンタインデー = Valentine's day
- ホワイトデー = White day
- 本命（ほんめい）チョコ = Honmei choco ("true feeling chocolate")
- 義理（ぎり）チョコ = Giri choco ("obligation chocolate")
3) Animation about Valentine's day
- アンパンマン「ドキンちゃんのバレンタインデー」
4) Famous love song in Japan
- "Love Love Love" by Dreams Come True (You Tube)
Please enjoy them!
