Pepero Day is an observance in South Korea similar to Valentine's Day. It is named after the Korean snack Pepero and held on November 11, since the date "11/11" resembles four sticks of Pepero.[3][4] The holiday is observed mostly by young people and couples, who exchange Pepero sticks, other candies, and romantic gifts. Lotte denies starting the holiday and instead states that they noticed a bump in Pepero sales around November 11th and after continued popularity they decided to then encourage the holiday with special gift boxes and other promotions.[2] Some consider it to be a contrived holiday and some teachers have encouraged children to exchange healthy snacks to help combat obesity. An alternative "Garaetteok Day" - sticks of white tteok - has been proposed in its stead.[5]
According to one story, Pepero Day was started in 1994 by students at a girls' middle school in Busan, where they exchanged Pepero sticks as gifts to wish one another to grow "as tall and slender as a Pepero".[6]
In Japan, a similar Pocky Day was started however it has failed to gain traction.[2]
Flavors
As of 2007, it was sold in 10 different flavors:
* Regular or Chocolate
* Strawberry-flavored
* Almond Chocolate
* Nude (chocolate in the center)
* Nude Lemon Cheese
* Cocoa
* Soft
* Cheese
* "Woman in White" and "Man in Black" are slightly more "classy" brands of Pepero, and both have chocolate cookie bits scattered throughout the chocolate dip.
* Topic, a style similar to Japanese Toppo, also manufactured by Lotte.
