What to give other than chocolate this Valentine's Day
February 14th is Valentine's Day, the day when women express their love to men in Japan.
In Japan, Chocolate is the standard Valentine's Day gift. However, there are no doubt people who feel that "Just getting chocolate is still lonely" or "My partner doesn't like chocolate...".
Therefore, in this blog I'd like to offer some suggestions for what else you could give instead of (or even as well as!) chocolate. I hope you find it helpful!
Also Read: Ultimate Guide to Valentine's Day in Japan
The Origin of Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is now a standard annual event, but do you know when and where it began? Valentine's Day originated in the ancient Roman Empire!
On February 14th, 1207, a Christian priest named Valentino was executed for breaking the law. The law he broke? "Don't get married." At that time, the Emperor Claudius feared that if soldiers got married and had families, their morale would drop and decrease their fighting strength. To avoid this weakening of Rome's martial prowess, he created a law forbidding marriage for his soldiers.
The priest Valentino felt pity for the soldiers, believing it was too cruel that young couples in love couldn't get married.
However, the Emperor was informed of Valentino's sentiment, and had him executed. February 14th became known as Valentine's Day, named after Valentino.
Did you know there was such a sad story behind the modern "day of love"? Thankfully, Valentine's Day today is a time when you can freely convey love. In Japan, chocolates are the customary gift, but overseas, things are a little different. What kind of gifts are given other than chocolate?
Valentine's Gifts Other Than Chocolate 1: Alcohol
Our first alternative Valentine's Gift suggestion is: Alcohol.
Of course, this suggestion is limited to people who drink alcohol, but the main point is that two people can drink together! You can enjoy it in various ways, like drinking together at home while eating, or taking it out to enjoy over a romantic meal.
Premium Beer
For those who like beer the most out of all the various types of alcoholic beverage, we recommend a premium beer with characteristics you wouldn't or couldn't normally buy.
Some brands make premium beer specifically for Valentine's Day, so you can check out some of the limited edition Valentine's Day releases. There are also various gift sets available, so it might be interesting to compare a few of them.
Buy Premium Beer for Valentine's Day!
Red Wine
If you want to give a gift in combination with chocolate, why not pair it with our next recommendation, a red wine? Giving an extravagant wine that goes well with chocolate, in a price range they wouldn't normally buy, would be a great gift. There are many wines released with heart labels specifically for Valentine's Day, so there are plenty of options to check out to find your favorite!
Buy Wine For Your Valentine
Sparkling Wine
For those who want to spice up their Valentine's Day, sparkling wine is our next recommendation since it looks stylish and gives you a special feeling!
Giving a pair of champagne glasses along with sparkling wine will make the gift even more attractive. Plus, the glasses can be kept, washed and reused! Regular sparkling wine is good, but rosé sparkling wine has a bright pink color and is perfect for creating a Valentine's atmosphere.
Buy Valentine's Sparkling Wine
Drinking alcohol under the age of 20 is prohibited by law in Japan; other countries may vary.
Also, alcohol may be prohibited in some countries and regions, so please check before purchasing, and follow local laws & regulations.
The shipping of alcohol is also limited only to certain coutnries / regions.
Some countries, such as the United States of America, can ship alcohol provided the recipient has the relevant licenses / permits.
Please be sure to check all local shipping and import restrictions for your country prior to purchase.
Valentine's Gifts Other Than Chocolate 2: Sweets
Our next alternative Valentine's Gift suggestion is: Sweets.
In Japan, it's customary to give chocolates on Valentine's Day, but wouldn't be nice to receive sweets other than chocolate, too?
For example, for those who are concerned about calories, who are avoiding sugar, and those who don't really have a sweet tooth, choosing sweets that match their tastes will make the celebration even more enjoyable.
Savory Cookies/Baked Sweets
For those who don't like sweets, we recommend savory cookies and baked goods made with cheese, vegetables, and spices!
Salty cookies are perfect as a side dish for alcohol or appetizers. It's one option that is easy to give to people who don't generally eat sweets, or to older partners.
Shop Savory Valentine's Snacks
Traditional Japanese Confectionery
Even if you don't like Western-style sweets like chocolate, you might be able to enjoy sweets made with Japanese ingredients, since they're not too sweet. How about gifting Japanese sweets such as manju (steamed buns), castella (Japanese chiffon/sponge cake), cookies, etc. that use Japanese ingredients such as matcha green tea, adzuki beans, and kinako (roasted soybean flour) this year?
Purchase Traditional Japanese Confectionery
Homemade Confectionery
For those of you who still prefer chocolate for Valentine's Day, we recommend homemade confectionery!
If you have time, it might be interesting to try making your own chocolate cake from scratch. Why not surprise your partner with a special hand-made gift?
Shop Confectionery Ingredients
Valentine's Gifts Other Than Chocolate 3: Message Cards
Our third and final non-chocolate recommendation is: Message Cards.
Words of love and adoration that you can't normally say might be easier to convey through cards on Valentine's Day. Even if you can't make time for each other due to work, wouldn't it be romantic to convey your feelings with a message card?
Compared with average, run-of-the-mill e-mails and LINE chats, a hand-written message card that can convey more of your feelings will surely be appreciated and treasured for years to come.
Buy Valentine's Message Cards
Conclusion
We have introduced some non-chocolate gifts that you might like to give on Valentine's Day. What do you think?
Japan's main Valentine's tradition is giving chocolates, but this year, why not try preparing a more unique gift that is perfect for your partner and suitable for both of you?
Valentine's Day is a celebration to appreciate important encounters and confirm love. We hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day that you will remember for many years to come!
