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FOCUS-FEBRUARY201417JAPAN-wherewomengivechocolatestomenDuringFeb.14traditionholdsthatwomengivementhegiftofchocolate.Howeverthetypeofchocolategivendependsgreatlyonthenatureoftherelationship.Thesechocolatesareveryspecialbecausetheyarehandmadebythewomenthemselves.OnemonthlateronWhiteDayMar.14menareexpectedtoreturngiftsthatareatleasttwoorthreetimesmorevaluablethanthegiftsreceivedonValentinesDay.Notreturningthegiftisperceivedasthemanplacinghimselfinapositionofsuperiority.Returningapresentofequalvalueisconsideredasawaytosaythatyouareendingtherelationship.SOUTHKOREA-wherepeoplemournbeingsingleInSouthKoreaValentinesDayisalsocelebratedonFeb.14butitdoesntendthere.OnValentinesDaywomenmustpresentthemenintheirliveswithchocolate.OnMar.14onemonthlaterthemenmustrepaythewomenwhogavethemchocolatebygivingthemcandyinstead.ThisiscalledWhiteDay.ThenonApr.14BlackDayiscelebrated.Thisisadaywhensinglesmusttakethetimetomourntheirsinglelives.InadditiontohavingseparatesimilarholidaysthroughouttheyearSouthKoreansgivetheirlovedonesseveralboxesofchocolateratheroneboxalone.WALES-whereaspoonsignifiesloveThoughunusualbytodaysstandardsmeninWalesgivetheirspecialladiesawoodenspoonforValentinesDay.Thistraditionthatdatesbacktoatleastthe1600sdictatesthatamanshouldhand-carveawoodenspoonandpresentittohisloveinterest.Ifsheisinterestedinthemanshewillaccepthisgift.ThoughnoonehandcarvestheirownspoonsanymoreorusesthemasameanstodeterminewhetherornottheirloveinterestwantstopursuearelationshipthecustomDENMARK-whereloveisanonymousInthiscountrythedayofloveistakenveryseriouslywithsomepeopleeventakingthedayoffworktocelebrateit.Oftenlavishpartiesarethrowntocelebratetheholiday.DanishmenalsowritefunnyValentinesDaycardscalledGaekkebrevandsignthemanonymously.IftherecipientisabletofigureoutwhothesecretnotecamefromshewillbegivenanEasteregginthespring.AndwhileDanishpeoplenowexchangebunchesofredrosestheoriginaltraditioninDenmarkwastoexchangewhiteflowerscalledsnowdrops.TAIWAN-whereitscelebratedtwiceInTaiwantheholidayofloveiscelebratedtwiceduringtheyear.OnceonFeb.14andonceonJuly7whichaccordingtotheChineseLunarCalendarisFeb.14.Onthesetwospecialdaysoftheyearmensendtheirlovedonesredrosesbutnottheusualdozen.InfactthenumberofrosesisverysignificantinTaiwaneseculture.Oneredrosemeansyourpartnerviewsyouashisoneandonlylove11rosesmeansyouarehisfavourite99rosesmeanshisloveisforeverand100redrosesisamarriageproposal.GREATBRITAIN-whereissnotjustforloversIntheU.K.ValentinesDayisntjustadayforlovers.Itsadaycelebratedbychildrenacrossthecountryaswell.Thechildrensingspecialsongsdevotedtotheoccasion.Theyoungsterssometimesgofromdoortodoorcarolling.Inexchangefortheirsingingtheyareusuallygivenverygeneroustreatslikehotcrossbunsplumsandothersweets.249QueenStreetPortPerry905-982-8778www.dbsilversmithdesigns.comHandCraftedJewellery905-982-888188WaterSt.PortPerrywww.cakesbystephanie.netCakesByStephanieOrderforValentinestodayCakesCupcakesCheesecakesChocolateCoveredStrawberrySpecial6for5.ChocolateCoveredStrawberrySpecial6for5.SLOVENIA-whereitsthedaytoresumeworkinthefieldsSt.ValentineisoneofthesaintsofspringinSloveniaanditissaidthatplantsandflowersstarttogrowonthisday.Oftenitisthefirstdayoftheyearwhenworkstartsonvineyardsandinthefields.AccordingtotraditionStValentinecomesonFeb.14thtobringkeystoalltherootsmeaningthatnaturebeginstoawaken.Itisalsoastronglyheldtraditionthatthebirdsofthefieldsproposetotheirlovedonesonthisdayandmarry.TheannualdayoflovecelebratedinSloveniaactuallyfallsonMar.12SaintGregorysDay.