Happy Pepero Day!!!

While most of North America knows November 11th as a time to remember those who bravely fought for our country, things are a bit different here.

South Korea has unofficially adopted Pepero (빼빼로) Day. Pepero is a cookie stick, dipped in
chocolate syrup, manufactured by Lotte Confectionary (The Lotte brand is basically the high-end Walmart of S. Korea). Rumor has it, a few years ago people started giving gifts of Pepero sticks on 11/11 because it looks like four sticks lined up. Now it has begun a massive Pepero buying frenzy (extra large pepero sticks, pepero boxes shaped like a heart, pepero gift boxes, etc) around this time each year. Sort of like a Valentines Day, except only one company stands to profit!

Every year, 55% of the annual Pepero sales are made for this November 11th "holiday". While the company denies starting the annual event, it DEFINITELY promotes it.

I have no complaints. Arriving at school, I immediately received two boxes of Pepero, one box of ferro rocher chocolates, and a cookie/chocolate from my students.

So from me to you, Happy Pepero Day!