{"id":6643,"date":"2017-01-13T06:00:11","date_gmt":"2017-01-13T11:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/?p=6643"},"modified":"2023-03-29T10:42:24","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T14:42:24","slug":"woo-him-with-japanese-valentines-day-traditions-and-heartfelt-homemade-gifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/13\/woo-him-with-japanese-valentines-day-traditions-and-heartfelt-homemade-gifts\/","title":{"rendered":"Woo Him with Japanese Valentine\u2019s Day Traditions and Heartfelt Homemade Gifts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My husband and I will be celebrating our sixth Valentine\u2019s Day together this year, so the traditional gestures of chocolates, flowers, and a card were beginning to feel a little trite and bland. Our love for each other, however, is not, and I wanted my gifts to reflect this. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a travel and culture enthusiast, I searched abroad for some international inspiration. Though I always thought of the holiday as an invention of Western culture, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/2017\/01\/06\/legendary-saint-love-honoring-history-traditions-valentines-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the roots of Valentine\u2019s Day<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> actually date back for centuries, and it\u2019s celebrated all over the world in countless ways\u2014but my new favorite traditions come from Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Elevate Chocolate to a New Level<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the early 50s, Japan was buzzing with delight over the arrival of chocolate candies brought over by American soldiers. Commercialized heart-shaped boxes may now be available in every grocery store in the country, but Japanese culture still emphasizes handmade food, especially chocolate. G<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">iri-choco<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, meaning &#8220;obligatory chocolates,&#8221; are given to friends and coworkers, while <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">honmei-choco <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are given to express a desire to be closer to a romantic partner, like this homemade chocolate bark:<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6648\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6648\" style=\"width: 364px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/4311930153_24d4d2e83a.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-6648\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/4311930153_24d4d2e83a-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"homemade chocolate bark\" width=\"364\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/4311930153_24d4d2e83a-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/4311930153_24d4d2e83a-360x270.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/4311930153_24d4d2e83a.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6648\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Handmade chocolate from the heart | Image courtesy flick\u2019r user Vegan Feast Catering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>The Ingredients:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00bd c. coconut oil <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00bd c. cocoa powder<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00bd tsp vanilla extract<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 tbs honey<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00bd c. chopped walnuts, almonds, or macadamia nuts<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>The How-To:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prepare a candy mold by lining a cookie sheet or baking dish with wax paper. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using a saucepan over low heat, melt the coconut oil. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whisk in the cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and honey. Stir until well blended and smooth. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stir in the chopped nuts and mix until evenly distributed. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pour the mixture into your prepared mold, spreading it until the candy layer is about \u00bc-inch thick.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Refrigerate the candy in the mold for 1 hour.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Break the bark apart into pieces. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Show your partner that you took the time to make something with his or her enjoyment in mind. You didn\u2019t take the easy route\u2014you made a delicious gift from the heart. You can also show off how well you know your lover\u2014try adding in chopped nuts, fresh orange zest, peanut butter, finely ground coffee, or cinnamon, depending on his favorite flavors.<\/p>\n<h4>Switch It Up<\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6650\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6650\" style=\"width: 224px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1116585387_pli1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-6650\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1116585387_pli1-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"i love you poster\" width=\"224\" height=\"179\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1116585387_pli1-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1116585387_pli1-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1116585387_pli1-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1116585387_pli1-338x270.jpg 338w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1116585387_pli1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6650\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">I love you from here to Japan | Image courtesy Etsy seller <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/listing\/90930753\/valentines-day-japan-travel-poster-i?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=japanese%20valentines%20day&amp;ref=sr_gallery_7&amp;source=aw&amp;awc=6220_1484252929_06505fb4884f5f40e320730bc54684ea&amp;utm_source=affiliate_window&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=us_location_buyer&amp;utm_content=256677\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HopSkipJumpPaper<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often seen as an opportunity for a man to woo the woman, in Japan Valentine\u2019s Day emerged as a popular holiday at the same time as the major women\u2019s liberation movement and so the two concepts of showing your love and respecting women became intertwined. Today, many Japanese couples celebrate Valentine\u2019s Day by trading gender-assigned responsibilities and experiencing life in the other person\u2019s shoes. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This year, make a swap. If you usually do the cooking while your man is accustomed to bringing home flowers, reverse the roles. Give him the opportunity to cook a romantic meal for two and bring him <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a special feel-good treat<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Experiencing something from the other person\u2019s perspective gives you a new appreciation for your partner.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>A Look to the Future and Room for Honesty<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valentine\u2019s Day is an opportunity for couples to sit down together, taking a moment to think about the journey they\u2019ve traveled together so far and to envision a bright future together ahead. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6649\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6649\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1065999458_dkup.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6649\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1065999458_dkup-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"honesty\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1065999458_dkup-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1065999458_dkup-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1065999458_dkup-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1065999458_dkup-270x270.jpg 270w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.1065999458_dkup.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6649\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Honesty | Image courtesy Etsy user <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/listing\/286624845\/honesty-fragrance-perfume-spray-body?ref=shop_home_active_93&amp;source=aw&amp;awc=6220_1482874781_6f268bddfb1427fcdc1cbfcf9161afdf&amp;utm_source=affiliate_window&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=us_location_buyer&amp;utm_content=256677&amp;source=aw&amp;awc=6220_1484253115_9d00bfdeefe509c6348443b61fac2423\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">somethinspecial<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every year seems to bring new challenges and unexpected turns, but the most successful relationships are able to bend and flow with the tides of life. Now is a good time to acknowledge how far you\u2019ve come\u2014and toast to where you want to go. Reflect back over what you\u2019ve done well together and ways that you can improve to prevent past mistakes from repeating themselves. Let go of past hurts and vow to work together to forge a smooth, stable path ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confession is an important Valentine\u2019s ritual in Japan. It\u2019s a time to be honest with your loved one and say all the things that never seemed to have a right place or right time before. Lovers use the holiday to confess their secrets to one another, to more fully understand each other. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start a new tradition with your partner of trading three truths each Valentine\u2019s Day. Confess your love, doubts, fears, and past experiences so that you come to appreciate one another for the complex beings you are. Give the gift of intimacy by allowing your partner into the inner secrets that make you unique.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Take the Next Step<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Japanese culture, Valentine\u2019s Day marks a rite of passage for a relationship. Couples make deliberate efforts to cultivate harmony, connect on a deeper level, and improve their communication. It\u2019s also a time to solidify their commitment to each other by taking a new step together. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6647\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6647\" style=\"width: 169px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/3193886965_523396d287-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-6647\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/3193886965_523396d287-1-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"cheers to the future\" width=\"169\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/3193886965_523396d287-1-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/3193886965_523396d287-1-214x270.jpg 214w, https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/3193886965_523396d287-1.jpg 396w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 169px) 100vw, 169px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6647\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Celebrate the past and the future | Image courtesy flick\u2019r user nImAdestiny<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For some couples, this means <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/listing\/238753494\/wooden-key-holder-with-keychain-love?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=girlfriend%27s%20house%20key&amp;ref=sr_gallery_4&amp;source=aw&amp;awc=6220_1482876949_42d0e9c1d15588619fe45685091bcd06&amp;utm_source=affiliate_window&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=us_location_buyer&amp;utm_content=256677\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trading house keys<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, saying, \u201cI want you to be more a part of my life.\u201d For others, it means planning a trip together or meeting each other\u2019s families. But, for all couples, it\u2019s a special time to do something meaningful together that resonates with how you feel about one another. Think about where you would like to be in your relationship in a year from now. What step can you take this holiday to work towards that bright future together?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the best gifts you\u2019ll ever receive can\u2019t be seen, like a confession of love or a gesture of devotion. Valentine\u2019s Day is a time for giving the gift of yourself. Show your dedication to your partner by honoring your relationship in a new way. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s easy to forget the true meaning of a holiday that has become so commercialized by candy, flower, and card companies. That\u2019s why I wanted to take a step back and look at the holiday through a new cultural lens. For people in other parts of the world, it\u2019s a landmark date that opens up a world of possibilities. Acknowledge what you\u2019ve done well together, make room for a little more equality in the relationship, clear the air with honesty, and take a step towards a more committed future together. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Want more ideas on how to make this Valentine\u2019s Day unforgettable? <\/i><\/b><b><i>Let the Elves help find <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/shop\/search\/?q=valentines%20day%20gifts\"><b><i>the perfect gift<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> or <\/i><\/b><a href=\"http:\/\/content.elfster.com\/free-downloadables\/elfster-valentines-day-coupons-2017-01.pdf\"><b><i>download our free printable coupons<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> to give straight from the heart.<\/i><\/b><b><i> Get even more ideas on our <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/elfster\/\"><b><i>Facebook<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i>, Instagram @Elfstergram, and Twitter @Elfster<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">My husband and I will be celebrating our sixth Valentine\u2019s Day together this year, so the traditional gestures of chocolates, flowers, and a card were beginning to feel a little trite and bland. Our love <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/13\/woo-him-with-japanese-valentines-day-traditions-and-heartfelt-homemade-gifts\/\" title=\"Woo Him with Japanese Valentine\u2019s Day Traditions and Heartfelt Homemade Gifts\">[read more]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2746,"featured_media":6651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[529,532,531],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6643","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy-and-handmade","8":"category-gift-giving","9":"category-holidays"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ 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content=\"https:\/\/blog.elfster.net\/blog\/2017\/01\/13\/woo-him-with-japanese-valentines-day-traditions-and-heartfelt-homemade-gifts\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Good Cheer | Elfster Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/elfster\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-01-13T11:00:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-03-29T14:42:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.elfster.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/featureil_fullxfull.1116585387_pli1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"320\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rai C.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@elfster\" \/>\n<meta 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