Culture
In Japan, single men now don't have to worry too much about being left out on Valentine's Day thanks to a new service — Valentine's Day Insurance!
Valentine's Day is the most romantic day of the year. Many people are going to make important confessions on this day, preparing pleasant surprises and gifts for their lovers. However, what should the rest of us do who does not have someone who would like to give a gift or receive a surprise on this day?
For single people, a pleasant and romantic day turns into a real torture, as everyone around them is having fun, rejoicing and enjoying the happiness of communicating with loved ones, and they are forced to while away the time in alone or with friends who are just as lonely.
An unusual Valentine's Day gift from yourself
Thanks to the new Internet service, all single and suffering men can get a little “insurance” on Valentine's Day. The service works quite simply: to do this, you need to go to the website of the insurance company Valentine's Day Insurance and buy an insurance policy there for 500 Japanese yen (165 rubles). You must also leave the address where the gift will be delivered on Valentine's Day.
The main page of the site does not look particularly attractive, but there are many people who want to insure themselves
Once all the formalities are settled, a person is guaranteed to receive a box of chocolates with a valentine and a romantic confession from a beautiful lady named Rico on February 14.
You might think it sounds naive to “order” gifts for yourself, but for some Japanese it's better than getting nothing at all! What about single women? Can't they get that kind of insurance too?
Chocolate gifts for men
The fact is that in the Land of the Rising Sun, it is customary for women to give gifts to men on Valentine's Day, usually in the form of chocolates and postcards. It is interesting that in the weeks before the holiday, so much chocolate is sold in Japan that some Japanese companies manage to generate revenue six months in advance.
In Japan, Valentine's Day is a true chocolate festival
In fact, the tradition of giving chocolate on February 14 appeared not so long ago and was provoked by Japanese chocolate producers who used European Valentine's Day to their advantage and have developed their own marketing strategy. Men give gifts in return to women on March 14, White Day. It's kind of like our March 8th.
Interesting facts about Valentine's Day
In the world, Valentine's Day is considered the most expensive day of the year, as so many gifts, surprises, and food are not bought on any other day of the year, and at the same time in a huge number of countries.
Men spend twice as much on Valentine's Day gifts as women.
About one-third of men prefer to be left without a gift at all, although less than one-fourth of women do so.
Millions of pet owners buy gifts for their pets on Valentine's Day.
During holidays, flower prices soar many times compared to the usual “winter” prices.
Women buy more pregnancy tests in March than in any other month.
According to Durex, a condom manufacturer, sales soar by 20-30 percent before Valentine's Day.
Teachers receive the most valentines, followed in descending order by children, mothers, wives, and only then lovers!
About 50 percent of Valentine's cards are bought a couple of days before the holiday, with 85 percent of cards for lovers bought by women and only 15 percent by men.
The roots of Valentine's Day can be traced back to ancient Rome, where the Fertility Festival, Lupercalia, was popular. This festival was held annually from February 13 to 14. The young man was supposed to draw in the lottery the name of a young woman who would become his mistress for a year.
The Roman Catholic Church keeps the stories of three different Saint Valentines, whose lives can be read about in the biographies of the martyrs.
The Catholic Church removed February 14 from the calendar of official church holidays in 1969.