This post was written in 2011. There’s not much to say about Valentines Day in Dubai as it is the same as in other countries. Although it is worth mentioning that February 15 is an Islamic Holiday – Prophet Muhammad’s birthday so hotels are gearing up for a “dry night” starting from the night before. No music and alcohol on Valentines day.
Let’s talk about one weird Valentines Day tradition I know and lived to tell (ha ha). Valentines Day in Japan.
When you hear it, it’ll take some time to believe how Japan celebrates Valentines Day until your first February 14 there. It will take a bit more time to accept the strangeness and I haven’t been able to accept it still, even after spending 11 Valentines there.
It’s weird in Japan (at least for me) because the romantic (Valentines Day-like) date night is celebrated on Christmas Eve. On February 14th when lovers across the globe exchange gifts or at least the men give gifts, women are the ones giving the men chocolates in Japan.
Not your usual chocolates – they’ve got 2 types
- “Giri” chocolates are relatively from the shelf, common and inexquisite (inexpensive) because they are given by women to men they do not have special love for. Ouch.
Giri means “duty” or “obligation” – what a word to be used together with chocolates and Valentines Day! Giri chocolates are usually given out by female employees to their male bosses and co-workers.
- Honmei chocolate on the other hand, literally translates to “true feeling chocolate”.
It’s either a more expensive chocolate or a specially homemade one.
It’s funny that I had friends in the university who labor through the night before Valentines making chocolates and putting them in cute little boxes with notes. We are talking about girls here that do not even know how to turn the rice cooker on!
Something called “White Day”
When the Valentine dust settles and all the chocolates are given away, ladies start a countdown: 30 days to White Day. On March 14, Japanese men give back to the women. Men, who received giri choco or honmei chocolate on Valentine’s Day, are expected to return the favor by giving gifts to women.
Do you know of any weird Valentines Day tradition? What do you think of Japan’s way of celebrating Valentines?
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UPDATE: As pointed out by reader Krista, “Isn’t a birthday always on the same day? So why, if the Prophet’s birthday is on the 15th, isn’t every year a dry Valentine’s Day?”
Well, the Islamic Calendar moves 10 days earlier every year so Valentines day is not a dry day in Dubai every year. Last year’s Prophet’s birthday was on February 25, this year is on the 15th and next year will be on the 5th.
Finding Backroads 
wow! that’s a first! I don’t know any different way of celebration. It’s always the guys who give gifts 😉
Have a wonderful Vday!
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One of my daughters studies Japanesse and she can’t get over giri chocolate.
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Question: Isn’t a birthday always on the same day? So why, if the Prophet’s birthday is on the 15th, isn’t every year a dry Valentine’s Day?
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The Islamic Calendar moves 10 days earlier, every year!! So last years Prophet’s bday was Feb 25! This year is Feb 15 and next year is Feb 5!
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Every country has own culture. I found interesting the Japan culture and the way is celebrating Valentine’s Day. It’s right that the women and men are giving gifts each other.
Happy Valentine’ Day!
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Happy Valentine’s Day Grace! Do you celebrate Vday the Japanese way?
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Of course not! M and I are not big on V day. We take our wedding anniversary more seriously coz it’s like, “What? We’ve lasted another year!?” LOL
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I see that some cultures take V-day pretty serious. 🙂 We have an identical tradition on 24th of Feb. Women are suppose to give men bracelets made out of white and red threads which symbolize the arrival of Spring…and that’s pretty much it.
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i don’t think any other valentine tradition could ever beat Japan’s valentine tradition in terms of strangeness!
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They win the trophy of weirdness during Valentines!
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the video on Japanese valentines day says it all – obligation chocolate (who made that term up???)
http://www.japansugoi.com/wordpress/japansugoi-valentines-day/
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Thanks for posting the video link!
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Well then the Prophet has a lot of birthdays! But no music? Too bad!
My Valentines evening will be complete with playing music for the old folk’s singalong in the government old folks home..
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Two kinds of chocolate giving within different contextualizations? Ingenious! I wish that custom spreads, dating would be much easier!:)
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Post Valentines Greetings to us all! Yesterday I gave my loved ones some greetings, flowers and special chocolates.
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That is the coolest tradition {well, not for the gentlemen who receive the Giri chocolates o.O}-I think maybe I might try this next year or late this year just because I think it would be neat and fun to learn about 🙂
I hope you had a good Valentine’s Day!
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I don?t consider another valentine tradition could ever before defeat Japan?s valentine tradition in terms of strangeness!
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