In the News: Orange Day, April 14th

I was reading the japanese news online, which I do daily, and I discovered a new holiday that will be celebrated tomorrow. It's a good idea to let everyone know just how crazy busy I will be tomorrow as a result of the holiday. But first some history; Valentine's Day is celebrated almost as normal here on February 14th, except that anything remotely religious has been sucked out of it. Instead the day is dedicated for women to get men gifts. Next month on March 14th brings White Day - perhaps slightly more consumerist in nature - was created more recently by department stores and chocolate companies. This day is for men to reciprocate the gifts they received.

Orange day was created ten years ago and its purposes are two fold; So lovers have an opportunity "to confirm their affections in April", and also Partner Day, to recognize gender equally. Both are expressed by exchanging gifts, preferably something orange, or better yet, oranges. The impetus for the day is thinly veiled; the article goes on to state, "Orange Day was hit upon by a group of citrus fruit growers [in Japan]... For this year's Orange Day celebrations, Hankyu Department Stores Inc. of Osaka city is selling cakes using oranges, and Sunkist Growers Inc., a U.S. group of citrus fruit shippers, will distribute oranges and a recipe book on April 14 in Tokyo."

The Japanese news site I use allows commenting and the Orange Day story was one of the hottest discussions of the day. All commenting is done by foreigners and the backlash was quite strong. Calls for an "Orange Day Boycott to start right here on this thread!" rose to a near revolutionary pitch. The comment below was cut and pasted from the discussion and satirically expresses the feelings toward this holiday. The quote features a factious discussion between a Japanese and a foreignor about Orange Day.

Japanese overseas: Hey, happy Orange Day!
Person native to that country: What?
Japanese: We have the tradition of celebrating Orange Day every April 14th. It's a wonderful holiday.
Native: I see, what's the history behind it?
Japanese: Hmmm... I'm not sure, we were just told to celebrate it. Young people give each other something orange, and married couples feel refreshed with each other.
Native: What the hell does that have to do with 'orange'? or love, for that matter?
Japanese:... Ummm... well, we give each other precious $40 oranges that they gift rap for us at department stores.
Native: $40s in oranges?!?
Japanese: Ummm, no, a $40 orange...

Also experienced while writing this piece; quite a large jolt from an earthquake.