Barrie Summy: White Day

Happy Monday and Happy Valentine's Day!

I had a completely different My Town Monday post scheduled for today. However, when I got up this morning, I found the note below taped to the kitchen door.

A mysterious note from Child #4! What was she up to?

She had quietly gotten up early to make me a special Valentine's Day breakfast! For the non-discerning eye (that would be me at 7 am before my cup of tea!), the vegetable patty is cut in the shape of a heart.

Depending how long or how closely you've followed this blog, you may or may not know that we adopted Child #4 as a baby from Korea. As I stood in the kitchen, munching on my special breakfast and sipping my tea, I wondered what life would've been like on St. Valentine's Day if Child #4 (this child of mine who wrote out her class Valentine's cards a month ago, who dressed in pink and red this morning) were still in Korea.

So, I did a little internet research. It would seem the Koreans borrowed a savvy business idea from the Japanese which is to celebrate two Valentine's Days. In fact, the Koreans took this one step further: they have THREE Valentine's Days!

On February 14 (Valentine's Day), Korean females give chocolates or other small gifts to the significant males in their life.

On March 14 (White Day), Korean males give chocolates or other small gifts to the significant females in their life.

On April 14 (Black Day), friends who don't have a significant other and didn't celebrate Valentine's Day or White Day, get together and eat jajang noodles. These are either black noodles or noodles served with black bean paste. I'm not sure. Anyway, Black Day is not as popular as Valentine's Day and White Day. Hmpf! I can think of several times in my life when I would've been thrilled to celebrate Black Day!

Here is a picture of black noodles (from google images). I have never tried this dish, but now must!

So, Happy Valentine's Day wherever you are! May you receive a treat!

For links to more My Town Monday posts, please pop over to to the official My Town Monday blog.

sources:
http://www.topics-mag.com/internatl/holidays/valentines/celebrating_korea.htm
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2932205