Pepero Day: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Annual observance in South Korea}} |
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'''Pepero Day''' is held annually on [[November 11]], and is an observance in [[South Korea]] similar to [[Valentine's Day]]. It is the biggest annual day-marketing event in South Korea, and involves the gifting or exchange of [[Pepero]] snacks, a line of [[chocolate]]-dipped [[cookie]] sticks, with the intention of displaying affection for friends and loved ones. It is held on this day due to the resemblance of Pepero sticks to the shortened date of 11/11.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2014/11/511_167943.html|title=Pepero Day: Eight things you should know|date=2014-11-11|work=[[The Korea Times]]|access-date=2018-10-30|language=en|author-last1=Lee|author-first=Ji-hye}}</ref> |
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There's a similar [[Pocky & Pretz Day]] in Japan. |
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Surprisingly, Pepero Day started in Korea before Pocky Day in Japan. |
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Pepero Day has gained huge advertising effects and commercial results by using this observance. |
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The Japanese company belatedly copied it and made [[Pocky & Pretz Day]], and it was promoted through it. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:Pepero |
[[File:Pepero Almond Sticks (cropped).jpg|thumb|Pepero snacks]] |
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The exact origins of this day are unknown.<ref name="About Day">{{cite web |last=Imatome-Yun |first=Naomi |title=November 11th is Pepero Day |url=http://koreanfood.about.com/od/holidaysandoccasions/a/November-11th-Is-Pepero-Day.htm |publisher=About.com |accessdate=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111232425/http://koreanfood.about.com/od/holidaysandoccasions/a/November-11th-Is-Pepero-Day.htm |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The origins are usually traced to a news story set in 1983. In the story, two female [[middle school]] students in the [[Yeongnam]] region exchanged Pepero wishing that they would both become tall and thin.<ref name="Dict Day">{{cite web |url=http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=68928&cid=386&categoryId=386 |script-title=ko:빼빼로데이 |publisher=Parkmungak |accessdate=November 11, 2013 |language=Korean |trans-title=Pepero Day}}</ref> However, there is some doubt about this story.<ref name="DJC Day">{{cite news |last=Gale |first=Alastair |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/11/11/on-pepero-day-a-japanese-rival-lurks/ |title=On Pepero Day, a Japanese Rival Lurks |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |url-access=subscription |date=November 11, 2013 |accessdate=November 11, 2013}}</ref> Some argue that the origin was due to the shape of |
The exact origins of this day are unknown.<ref name="About Day">{{cite web |last=Imatome-Yun |first=Naomi |title=November 11th is Pepero Day |url=http://koreanfood.about.com/od/holidaysandoccasions/a/November-11th-Is-Pepero-Day.htm |publisher=About.com |accessdate=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111232425/http://koreanfood.about.com/od/holidaysandoccasions/a/November-11th-Is-Pepero-Day.htm |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The origins are usually traced to a news story set in 1983. In the story, two female [[middle school]] students in the [[Yeongnam]] region exchanged Pepero wishing that they would both become tall and thin.<ref name="Dict Day">{{cite web |url=http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=68928&cid=386&categoryId=386 |script-title=ko:빼빼로데이 |publisher=Parkmungak |accessdate=November 11, 2013 |language=Korean |trans-title=Pepero Day}}</ref> However, there is some doubt about this story.<ref name="DJC Day">{{cite news |last=Gale |first=Alastair |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/11/11/on-pepero-day-a-japanese-rival-lurks/ |title=On Pepero Day, a Japanese Rival Lurks |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |url-access=subscription |date=November 11, 2013 |accessdate=November 11, 2013}}</ref> Some argue that the origin was due to the shape of 1's in the date (November 11 – 11/11) resembling Pepero sticks,<ref name="About Day" /> while some others attribute the similarity of shapes as factors that attributed to the popularity but not its origin.<ref name="Dict Day" /><ref name="DJC Day" /> |
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The fad spread with the idea that, for maximum effectiveness for height and thinness, one must eat 11 packets of Pepero on November 11, 11:11{{nbsp}}am and 11:11{{nbsp}}pm |
The fad spread with the idea that, for maximum effectiveness for height and thinness, one must eat 11 packets of Pepero on November 11, 11:11{{nbsp}}am and 11:11{{nbsp}}pm at 11 seconds exactly. From 1997, [[Lotte (conglomerate)|Lotte]] started to use the aforementioned school story to successfully promote Pepero Day. The trend led to other companies creating similarly shaped snacks to participate on Pepero Day.<ref name="Dict Day" /> {{As of|2012}}, [[Lotte (conglomerate)|Lotte]] was making 50% of its annual sales on Pepero Day.<ref name="DJC Day" /> {{As of|2013}}, several [[department store]]s including [[Hyundai Department Store]], [[Shinsegae]], and [[Lotte Department Store]] were benefiting for people celebrating the day while stores such as [[E-mart]] and [[Homeplus]] were specially displaying and selling peperos on the day.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.sportsseoul.com/read/economy/1268607.htm |title= [SS현장] '빼빼로 데이' 일부 소비자 "과소비 조장"…롯데마트 "안 사면 그만" |publisher=Sportsseoul.com |date=November 11, 2013 |language=Korean |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111232204/http://news.sportsseoul.com/read/economy/1268607.htm |archivedate=2013-11-11 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 11, 2013}}</ref> |
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==Controversy== |
==Controversy== |
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[[File:Korean.food-teok-01.jpg|thumb|right|Garaettok, a type of Korean rice cake, has been proposed as more healthy and less commercial alternative for the foodstuff promoted on November 11 (which is also Farmers' Day in South Korea)]] |
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Pepero Day has been criticized for being a business tool of certain [[company|companies]] and for having high [[calorie]]s which is contradictory to its original meaning. Alternatives include "Garaetteok Day", which promotes Farmer’s Day through exchanges of [[garaetteok]] (sticks of white [[tteok]]).<ref name="Dict Day" /> |
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Pepero Day has been criticized as a business tool and marketing strategy of certain companies, as well as for promoting unhealthy, [[calorie|fattening]] food that contradicts its original meaning (about becoming tall and thin). In addition, some say the day is an insult to hardworking farmers as [[Farmers' Day]], enacted in Korea in 1996 to promote farming, also falls on November 11. |
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Thus the alternative "Garaetteok Day" has been proposed to promote the exchange of [[garaetteok]] (sticks of white [[tteok]], a type of Korean [[rice cake]], which unlike pepero are commonly made and sold by smaller businesses).<ref name="Dict Day" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=빼빼로데이|url=https://terms.naver.com/entry.naver?cid=43667&docId=68928&categoryId=43667|access-date=2021-04-24|website=terms.naver.com|language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=조|first=은정|date=November 11, 2008|title=[TV] ''빼빼로 데이'' 얄팍한 상술|work=[[No Cut News]]|location=South Korea|url=https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/517520|access-date=April 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=김|first=동철|date=November 11, 2005|title="농사꾼은 빼빼로 과자보다 못한 존재"|work=새전북신문|location=South Korea|url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=101&oid=143&aid=0000002316|access-date=April 24, 2021}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Pepero]] |
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* [[Pocky & Pretz Day]] – a similar celebration in Japan, also held on 11 November |
* [[Pocky & Pretz Day]] – a similar celebration in Japan, also held on 11 November |
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* [[Singles' Day]] – a somewhat similar celebration in China, also held on 11 November |
* [[Singles' Day]] – a somewhat similar celebration in China, also held on 11 November |
Latest revision as of 16:46, 11 November 2024
Pepero Day is held annually on November 11, and is an observance in South Korea similar to Valentine's Day. It is the biggest annual day-marketing event in South Korea, and involves the gifting or exchange of Pepero snacks, a line of chocolate-dipped cookie sticks, with the intention of displaying affection for friends and loved ones. It is held on this day due to the resemblance of Pepero sticks to the shortened date of 11/11.[1]
There's a similar Pocky & Pretz Day in Japan. Surprisingly, Pepero Day started in Korea before Pocky Day in Japan. Pepero Day has gained huge advertising effects and commercial results by using this observance. The Japanese company belatedly copied it and made Pocky & Pretz Day, and it was promoted through it.
History
[edit]The exact origins of this day are unknown.[2] The origins are usually traced to a news story set in 1983. In the story, two female middle school students in the Yeongnam region exchanged Pepero wishing that they would both become tall and thin.[3] However, there is some doubt about this story.[4] Some argue that the origin was due to the shape of 1's in the date (November 11 – 11/11) resembling Pepero sticks,[2] while some others attribute the similarity of shapes as factors that attributed to the popularity but not its origin.[3][4]
The fad spread with the idea that, for maximum effectiveness for height and thinness, one must eat 11 packets of Pepero on November 11, 11:11 am and 11:11 pm at 11 seconds exactly. From 1997, Lotte started to use the aforementioned school story to successfully promote Pepero Day. The trend led to other companies creating similarly shaped snacks to participate on Pepero Day.[3] As of 2012[update], Lotte was making 50% of its annual sales on Pepero Day.[4] As of 2013[update], several department stores including Hyundai Department Store, Shinsegae, and Lotte Department Store were benefiting for people celebrating the day while stores such as E-mart and Homeplus were specially displaying and selling peperos on the day.[5]
Controversy
[edit]Pepero Day has been criticized as a business tool and marketing strategy of certain companies, as well as for promoting unhealthy, fattening food that contradicts its original meaning (about becoming tall and thin). In addition, some say the day is an insult to hardworking farmers as Farmers' Day, enacted in Korea in 1996 to promote farming, also falls on November 11.
Thus the alternative "Garaetteok Day" has been proposed to promote the exchange of garaetteok (sticks of white tteok, a type of Korean rice cake, which unlike pepero are commonly made and sold by smaller businesses).[3][6][7][8]
See also
[edit]- Pocky & Pretz Day – a similar celebration in Japan, also held on 11 November
- Singles' Day – a somewhat similar celebration in China, also held on 11 November
References
[edit]- ^ Lee, Ji-hye (2014-11-11). "Pepero Day: Eight things you should know". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
- ^ a b Imatome-Yun, Naomi. "November 11th is Pepero Day". About.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ a b c d 빼빼로데이 [Pepero Day] (in Korean). Parkmungak. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ a b c Gale, Alastair (November 11, 2013). "On Pepero Day, a Japanese Rival Lurks". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "[SS현장] '빼빼로 데이' 일부 소비자 "과소비 조장"…롯데마트 "안 사면 그만"" (in Korean). Sportsseoul.com. November 11, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-11-11. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "빼빼로데이". terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-04-24.
- ^ 조, 은정 (November 11, 2008). "[TV] 빼빼로 데이 얄팍한 상술". No Cut News. South Korea. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- ^ 김, 동철 (November 11, 2005). ""농사꾼은 빼빼로 과자보다 못한 존재"". 새전북신문. South Korea. Retrieved April 24, 2021.