In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day

While it is usually men who give chocolates to women on Valentine’s Day, in Japan, it’s the other way around.

According to Kuya Kim on “24 Oras,” there are two kinds of chocolates for girls to choose from. One is the “giri choco,” or obligation chocolates, which is for their friends and colleagues including men, while “honmei choco” is for the person they have feelings for.

The tradition of giving chocolates on the Day of Hearts started in the 1860s in Great Britain, with the sweets packaged in heart-shaped boxes with a Cupid on it.

Chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao tree, which has the scientific name Theobroma cacao. The first is a Greek word that means “Food of the Gods.”

Whether or not you received chocolates today, Happy Valentine’s Day, Kapuso! — Franchesca Viernes/BM, GMA News