Here in Korea the 14th of every month is reserved as an affectionate holiday.  Since is the US we typically think of only February being a ‘love holiday’ I thought this was a good time to tell you how much love is spread all over Korea.  And the Korean are so affectionate, I guess when there are so many holidays to show your appreciation how could there not be.

January 14th is Diary Day where couples should give each other a diary or planner with all the love-holidays circled in red; along with Birthdays, anniversary’s, weddings, couples vacations… ya know ‘special days’

This month is obviously Valentines Day but here it is only for women to give gifts, usually chocolates, to their loved ones.  A month later there is White Day when the men return the generosity and give gifts to women.  Then on April 14th there is Black day for people who are celebrating being single, it’s traditional to eating ja jang-myun, a black noodle soup or other black foods.

May 14th is Rose Day/Yellow Day where couples exchange roses and the single peeps hangout with friends, eat curry, and dress in yellow.  If you met someone on Black Day while all the singles ‘were out’ you would exchange yellow roses as well.  I’m excited to see if people actually dress in these colors.  Kiss Day in June is pretty lame is my book, it’s just a day where lovers confess their feelings and “kiss passionately”

Silver day is at the top of my list… couples can ask their friends/family to give
them money to pay for a date :) They exchange gifts made of silver and announce their relationship to their friends.  As if the matching couples clothes didn’t already give it away ;)  Another chance to dress the same is Green Day- August 14th, where people are supposed to wear green and have an outdoorsy day.

Getting sick of all the love?  By the time September 14th rolls around the fake holiday makers were getting lazy, Photo & Music Day.  Couples take photographs together in matching outfits and then in go out with friends to noraebangs and night clubs. Ha Ha.  Apple Day is pretty cool, it’s actually October 24th and it’s a where friends, family and couples give apples to each other to apologize for past mistakes.  :)  How Sweet right?  The reason behind this is because the Korean word for apple, sa-kwa, which also is the formal way to say “I’m sorry”

Pepero Day, Nov 11th is the first affectionate holiday I was here for It is basically a day for everyone, from teachers -to the post man -to your girlfriend to give chocolate bread sticks.  Pepero Day is a very commercial holiday but there is another on the 14th- Movie and Orange Day which doesn’t get much attention because of Pepero Day.  No surprise, you eat oranges and watch movies on this day ;)

Lastly, December 14th- Hug Day, to give hugs and cuddle.  That was a bit exhausting! As much as I’d like to celebrate all this affection it might just be too much.  Where There is Love There is No Darkness