韓国では、バレンタインデーにチョコをもらえなかった人のための「ブラックデー」がある

韓国にはバレンタインデーを一人で過ごした人のために「ブラックデー」がある。ブラックデーとは傷心の独り者たちが暗い色の服を身にまとい、黒味噌を加えた麺を食べる韓国の非公式の記念日だ。
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バレンタインデーを一人で過ごした人も、韓国に行けばまだまだブラックデーを楽しむチャンスがある。

ブラックデーとは、傷心の独り者たちが暗い色の服を身にまとい、黒味噌を加えた麺を食べる韓国の非公式の記念日。この日に、自分と同じ不幸な仲間を求める者同士が集まって恋人のいない悲しみを分かち合うのだという。

ブラックデーは、2月14日のバレンタインデーと3月14日のホワイトデーの後の毎年4月14日に行われる。韓国ではバレンタインデーには女性が男性に愛の伝えるためにチョコレートを渡し、ホワイトデーに男性がお返しをする。これは日本と同じ習慣であり、欧米の伝統の上に独自の文化を加えたものだ。だが、ブラックデーは韓国独特の習慣で、バレンタインデーとホワイトデーに何ももらえず取り残された人たちが集まり、恋愛の現状についてじっくり考える日なのだ。

韓国ではここ数年、結婚仲介サービスや映画のチケット販売を手がける企業がブラックデーに狙いを定めて夜の合コン・パーティーといった企画を展開。K-POP業界もこの流れにのっていて、ガールズグループのPASCOLは「Merry Black Day」という曲を2014年にリリースしている。

PASCOL「Merry Black Day」

ブラックデーで、恋人がいない他の友達と会ったり黒い服を着たりすることに加えて欠かせないイベントが、黒豆からつくられた黒味噌を使った人気の麺料理「チャジャンミョン」を食べることだ。

ブラックデーについて詳しく紹介取り上げた「スミソニアン・マガジン」誌の記事によると、チャジャンミョンは傷心を慰めてくれる料理として韓国で人気が高く、また黒い色もブラックデーの美学に合っているという。

こういった説明を聞くと、ブラックデーは憂鬱な日で、韓国中でたくさんの人たちが閉店間際まで飲み屋で愚痴をこぼしているように思われるかもしれないが、実際のところはもっと楽しい記念日のようだ。ソウルに住むある人は、「フォーブス」誌に対して次のように語っている。「ブラックデーは深刻なイベントではありません。友達と集まって、一緒に食べたり楽しんだりして楽しい時間を過ごす日です」

この即席チャジャンミョンの作り方を紹介した動画を見ると、独り者の寂しさを味わうことができるかもしれない。

この記事はハフポストUS版に掲載されたものを翻訳しました。

[日本語版:佐藤卓/ガリレオ]

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