Happy Valentine's Day!

From the Wikipedia entry on Valentine's Day:

In Japan, Morozoff Ltd. introduced the holiday for the first time in 1936, when it ran an advertisement aimed at foreigners. Later in 1953 it began promoting the giving of heart-shaped chocolates; other Japanese confectionery companies followed suit thereafter. In 1958 the Isetan department store ran a "Valentine sale". Further campaigns during the 1960s popularized the custom.^[54][55]
The custom that only women give chocolates to men appears to have originated from the typo of a chocolate-company executive during the initial campaigns.^[56] In particular, office ladies give chocolate to their co-workers. Unlike western countries, gifts such as greeting cards,^[56] candies, flowers, or dinner dates^[52] are uncommon, and most of the activity about the gifts is about giving the right amount of chocolate to each person.^[56] Japanese chocolate companies make half their annual sales during this time of the year.^[56]
Many women feel obliged to give chocolates to all male co-workers, except when the 14th falls on a Sunday, a holiday. This is known as giri-choko (義理チョコ), from giri ("obligation") and choko, ("chocolate"), with unpopular co-workers receiving only "ultra-obligatory" chō-giri choko cheap chocolate. This contrasts with honmei-choko (本命チョコ, Favorite chocolate); chocolate given to a loved one. Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as tomo-choko (友チョコ); from tomo meaning "friend".^[57]
In the 1980s the Japanese National Confectionery Industry Association launched a successful campaign to make March 14 a "reply day", where men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day, calling it White Day for the color of the chocolates being offered. A previous failed attempt to popularize this celebration had been done by a marshmallow manufacturer who wanted men to return marshmallows to women.^[54][55]
Men are expected to return gifts that are at least two or three times more valuable than the gifts received in Valentine's Day. Not returning the gift is perceived as the men placing himself in a position of superiority, even if excuses are given. Returning a present of equal value is considered as a way to say that you are cutting the relationship. Originally only chocolate was given, but now the gifts of jewelry, accessories, clothing and lingerie are usual. According to the official website of White Day, the color white was chosen because it's the color of purity, evoking "pure, sweet teen love", and because it's also the color of sugar. The initial name was "Ai ni Kotaeru White Day" (Answer Love on White Day).^[54][55]
In Japan, the romantic "date night" associated to Valentine's Day is celebrated in Christmas Eve.^[58]

Amazing how some things get lost in translation between Japan and the United States sometimes.

Hubby and I already did our Valentine's Day dinner last night since we weren't going to be able to do it tonight (he has class).  If you're going to the 99 restaurant, I highly recommend the Cupid's Combo.