It was a Black Day for love in South Korea on Monday with lonely hearts trying to ease their pain by diving head first into bowls of noodles.
 
It was a Black Day for love in South Korea on Monday with lonely hearts trying to ease their pain by diving head first into bowls of noodles.

South Korea celebrates Valentine's Day, where local custom dictates¹ women give gifts to men. It has taken on a popular event born in Japan but sweeping² Asia known as White Day on March 14 when men return the favour with gifts for women.

But Black Day, on April 14, is a South Korean original. It is marked by people who have not found love dressing³ in dark colours and commiserating⁴ over meals of black food, with the dish of choice being Chinese-style noodles topped with a thick sauce of black bean paste.

"I had a miserable⁵ time on Valentine's Day, felt even lonelier on White Day and now I'm crying over a bowl of black noodles," said a young woman.

"Things better be different next year."

At universities across the country on Monday, students without lunch dates ordered black noodles, dined with other lonely hearts and searched for companionship.

South Korea marketers have hatched special days(click for more) for the 14th of each month to create a calendar laden⁶ with love.

Some days have gained traction⁷ such as Black Day, while others such as Green Day in August, when couples are supposed to drink cheap liquor that comes in green bottles and walk in the woods, have yet to attract much of a following.

Black Day events have snowballed, with a major matchmaking service this year providing an evening of speed dating where the dish of choice is sushi blackened by squid ink.

An on-line company for movie tickets sponsored a speed eating competition of black noodles for those who bought single tickets for the latest films.

"It is depressing enough going to the movies by yourself," said Shin Youn-joo of the company called Max Movie.

"We just wanted to spread a little joy to the 'with-outs'."

昨天是韩国的“黑色情人节”，孤单寂寞的单身人士纷纷在这一天大吃几碗面条，来排遣心中的愁苦。

按照韩国的习俗，在（2月14日）西方情人节这天，女士应送礼物给男士，到了3月14日的“白色情人节”，男士则应回赠女士。“白色情人节”起源于日本，但现在已风靡亚洲很多地区。

4月14日的“黑色情人节”是韩国原创的节日。在这一天，尚未找到心上人的单身人士通常会穿上深色衣服，大吃“黑色食品”给自己解闷，这种“黑色食品”通常是中式豆酱面。

一位年轻女士说：“情人节我过得很郁闷，白色情人节更是孤单，今天我独自吃着一碗黑面条，黯然神伤。”

“但愿明年会不一样。”

昨天，韩国各地大学校园的“节日气氛”也颇为浓厚，没有恋人的学生也纷纷为自己买上一碗黑面条聚在一起吃，并趁机寻找发展恋情的机会。

韩国商家将每月的14日都定为爱情节日（查看），简直是打造了一个“爱的日历”。

其中一些节日已开始流行，比如黑色情人节；而其它一些类似“绿色情人节”的节日则还未形成气候。在8月14日的“绿色情人节”，情侣们要喝便宜的绿色瓶装酒，并要去树林里散步。

“黑色情人节”的各种庆祝活动如滚雪球般越来越多。韩国一家知名婚介所今年推出了一项“速配之夜”活动，并特为客人们准备了墨鱼汁黑寿司。

一家电影票务在线服务公司专为购买单人电影票的顾客举办了一场吃黑面条比赛。

这家“马克斯电影公司”的员工申勇柱说：“一个人看电影肯定很郁闷。我们只是希望借此给他们带来些快乐。”