All's fair in love and war

Do many of you celebrate Valentine's Day? I for one, don't.

I belong to the group of people who think Valentine's Day is over rated with its expensive gifts and restaurant set meals. If you're wondering why I am going on about Valentine's Day in April it's because I was talking to a friend in Japan and they celebrate White Day! White Day is celebrated one month after Valentine's Day in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China.

The usual ritual during Valentine's Day is for a guy to give a girl he likes gifts or bring her out for a nice fancy dinner. This day was originally observed by men and it was a day of their declaration of love for their partners. However, not all societies have become modern and many still believe it is taboo for the girl to make the first move, or to initiate things in a relationship. Thus, White Day was introduced.

White Day is practiced by Japanese ladies who present chocolate gifts (either store-bought or handmade), usually to a male, as an expression of love, courtesy or social obligation. However in South Korea, it is the opposite. Men are the ones paying back the women who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day with candy.

In such cultures, White Day is a day for reciprocation. Both men and women are given the chance to return that expression of love.
What about you, do you give back what your partner has given you? Or is our society still inclined to believe that only men should make the first move? Do you and your partner both exchange gifts during Valentine's Day? Or is it not important to reciprocate the other person's feelings?

I personally feel it is important to reciprocate. Call me a feminist, but that's how I see it. Both men and women should be given equal opportunity to express their feelings for one another. Didn't our parents teach us when we were kids, that if someone bought something for us, we would need to buy something back for them? I advocate White Day because I feel it gives people living in closed societies the freedom to express their feelings.

They are no long bound by tradition. I also believe that we are now in a world where women hold just as much power as men thus, I don't see why men think that there's no need for the woman to return the good favour.
All's fair in love and war. It's no longer about being deceitful to win the game, rather truly being fair.