Thanks for your further comment and I found there was a big misunderstanding! Christmas in Japan has no religious or historical meaning and really just “imported” for commercial purposes, and I never knew or thought of the roots of the event, except it’s a birth day of Jesus. In fact, Saint Nicholas was the first thing to hear in my life.

I learned that not all the European celebrate Christmas in the same way. Very interesting!

I don’t like White Day for obligation (giri) purposes, but I think it’s OK for romantic relationships. But I just don’t like tooo much ad, campaign, sales promotion, and any movement in the society that are focused on commercial things. In Japan, this continues since very next day of Valentine’s Day for 1 month, and I’m sick of it, when I experience that every year.

Kirin, I said ‘ Father Christmas ‘ aka Santa Claus , has been imported from America.
Look it up on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

It’s massively interesting

Christmas is a christian holiday, that’s been around since around 354 A.D.
Sinterklaas is a feast that celebrates the holy Saint Nicholas (280-342), patron saint of children and is a big thing on 6th december in Belgium and Holland.
Father Christmas has been around since 1400 AD.
Santa Claus has been invented by a German in 1800 something in USA, etc..
The real commercialization of Xmas started around 1800.

I thought you didn’t like white day because it’s purely commercial ? like giri chocolate ?

So this practice is far from something romantic (I’m talking about the “obligation” one) and so, I just shop something for return very businesslikely for him, only while I shop something for myself. It’s not even a matter for him to go out all the way to buy it for his female co-workers.

…well “Christmas” or what we call ‘Jul’ Is very old here, probably more than 1000 years old. Jul[Yule] was Christianized during the Christianizing of northern Europe…and I don’t think that native Americans celebrated “Christmas” before the Europeans came to America during the 16:th century^^;; so “Christmas” isn’t of American origin…We actually celebrate Dec. 24:th here not the 25:th…I didn’t know it was imported from America to Belgium though^^; (a “history lesson” there )

「White day」seems a bit weird^^; also here「Valentines day」usually is about romantic relationships, so that make it weird that he got it from someone else anyway, can’t he buy the thing by himself

Thanks for your comment. I think bridal shower is a good way to send gifts that the couple really wants. We have no such custom and I have no idea what to do with things we were given but are against out interior taste.
However, only 1 drink & small snack is too bad! We normally have wedding party, which is exactly like you mentioned as Chinese way. We usually give enveloped money to join the party, which also sounds similar to Chinese way, huh?
(Our way is not red-colored envelope though.)

The Dutch custom you mention really sounds confusing. I’d feel the same way as you do.
I don’t come up with good examples, but for instance, people come back home from funeral have to salt themselves before entering the house. You may understand the background of this because you’re asian. Yes, that is to ward off evils.

Talking such cultural difference is sometimes fun.

As for Bento, yes. There are not less people who bring Bento for lunch, even at the office. My hubby was asked by colleagues why he buys Bento outside instead of bringing the one his wife made for him. Because his wife (me!) is not kind enough to make one. Actually, I don’t like to cook many kinds of bento ingredients with small portion for each, besides breakfast. But it’s pretty fun for someone who likes cooking and crafting, because Bento can be an art. Let me add this too, that I also dislike to wash the empty bento-box 12-14 hours later, especially at summer season! It’s not comfortable to open up the box, throw away leftover (if any) & wash while smelling it. I’d rather work for the bento that can be purchased under 500 yen (US$5 or so), all things above considered.

My in-laws made it clear when I joined the family that they r not going to be a part of all the commercialisation of each public holiday. Hence, I never had the joy of knowing how it feels to receive gifts on St. Nicholas (as mentioned by Walter) n Xmas. Mother’s Day/Father’s Day r never celebrated which is a pity. We do make a nice day of it for our parents in Singapore. Birthdays r the highlights of the year – with gifts n a tea party. The next shopping spree here will be for Easter in April. Chocolates in big n small egg shapes r now filling the displays in supermarkets n special sweet shops. They r either solid milk chocolates or filled with pralines, cappuccino or coffee cream. Hubby loves those with crunchy bits of nogat in the fllings. I’m surprising him with a 15mm buck-toothed rabbit (hollow on the inside). Last year he had a big hollow egg wrapped in gold n the year b4, it was a rooster, so I pretty much hv tried all the types available for the occasion. I dont like chocolates at all, so we will be getting a whipped cream cake to make up for it

Like u, spending out of a combined purse did take the fun out of shopping for presents for one another. We hv simplified the special occasions with a meal at home.

However, events like chinese new year, babies being borned, plus the 30th day celebration, weddings n birthdays of family members in my family, red envelops with a substantial amount is the norm. I also wished to be freed of such obligations but I doubt it will ever happen.

I hv attended a few dutch weddings n the gift is pre-selected by the couple in the gift shop, with a hefty price tag. In return, I only get 1 drink n a little snack at the reception, unlike the 8-10 course dinners served at chinese weddings. I never enjoyed the meet-n-greet reception which is limited to 2 hours, as the couple will be leaving for a private dinner with their immediate family n close friends. I always think that the exlcusion of other guests is very crude. I would treat my guests with a night to remember, with good food n dancing till dawn !

Other strange dutch events r the display of signs outside their front doors for new borns (with a pink stork) , 25th anniversaries, 50th birthdays n lots of balloons for weddings. I wonder if I’m obliged to bring them a gift (we did not receive invitations, so it’s confusing to me) since the display is an announcement. Hubby said to ignore them but I feel kinda bad if they r not receiving well-wishes as they hv hoped ? It ‘s a culture shock to me

R there things like that in Japan that foreigners r not aware of ?

I think that many of us are rather enjoying the social event without thinking too much. I may belong to minority.
I know I’m a little weird.

Christmas is imported in Belgium? Halloween, too?
OMG! American events are so influential!