Happy Singles Awareness Days! (No. Really.)

If I told you I've been busy on dates would you forgive me for not posting a blog last week? Actually, my dates are what prompted this week's entry! No, you're not going to get any of the details here (that's what Skype and e-mail is for, muahahaha!). Korea has about three times as many love holidays as we do in the States, so let's talk about them

April 14th is Black Day here in Korea, which is basically Singles Awareness Day. If you're single on April 14th you go out and eat 짜장면 (Jjajangmyeon). 짜장면 is a noodle dish with a black sauce- hence the name Black Day. I went out with a guy friend today in search of some of the noodles (explain celebrating a single's day with a guy, anyone? haha) in the celebratory spirit except we couldn't find any. We settled on some spicy udon with some seafood mixed in instead with a side of california rolls, which honestly probably tasted a lot better than black bean sauce and noodles would.

 Our Black Day feast! Thanks for the good company and good food, Moonsung!










Working backwards, the lover's holiday before Black Day is called White Day. On White Day (March 14th) boys will give candy to the special ladies in their lives. Since I'm a teacher, all I've seen of White Day is the standard "bring some for everyone in the class" kind of celebration, but I assume it can be made a little bit special for couples, right? I believe I posted about the White Day candy I was given by one of my students last month.

Then of course there is Valentine's Day, February 14th. Valentine's Day is the typical consumerist propaganda, chocolate and card company money scheme that we know and love back in the States- but there's one difference. Valentine's Day is only for girls to give chocolates to boys. It's a good way for 12-year-old girls to confess their little crushes on classmates, but I haven't heard of adults celebrating it with any seriousness.

I suppose lover's holidays are such a big deal in South Korea because they're a socially sanctioned escape from the general conservatism that frowns on PDA. I'm almost certain he was joking, but someone explained to me that it works like this: On Valentine's Day a girl gives a boy chocolates. He doesn't like her so on White Day he doesn't return the favor. Then she's so upset about it she goes out and eats 짜장면 (a whole month later, riiiiiight).

Happy Singles Awareness Days, everyone!