It's not Remembrance Day or Veteran's Day Here Today...

No, it's 빼빼로/ppe-ppe-ro Day! FYI Armistice Day is the original name for the commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918--thus ending WWI and setting the stage for WWII. The U.S. changed it to Veteran's Day (although Canada, the U.K. and other countries call it Remembrance Day) in 1934, in order to honor veterns of all wars.

Anyways, in Korea, as you know, things are different. 빼빼로 (flash thingy here, article here) is a cookie stick dipped in chocolate and other goodies; called Pocky in some places (like China) also. It's quite good, but perhaps not good enough to warrant a red-letter day. (No, it's not a day off, but it's widely celebrated by young lovers and such.)

How did it come about? They say someone dropped 4 빼빼로 sticks and saw that they made a '1 1 1 1' pattern. Hmmmm...how can we make some money out of this? Let's see: 1 111, 111 1, 1 1 11, 1 11 1...11 11...aha! Over here they don't call it November or any 'word' it's just 11월/weol (month). So, in addition to Valentine's Day (February 14th) when women buy stuff (cards, chocolates, stuffed animals!) for men and White Day (March 14th, another Korean-manufactured gift-giving day) when men give stuff to women there is also 빼빼로Day. Genius.

Since I don't have a girlfriend here (or anywhere else...hehe) I got a box of the things for my junior (Jo) in the office. (Over here no one thinks you're gay if you do this...they just think you're fond of someone.) Our office girl Jung-Mi saw them so I got one for her too.


Our officegirl proudly displays her 빼빼로 on her desk.

Ok, lunch is over...later.