Happy Pepero Day!

On November 11^th, in the US, veterans are respectfully remembered for Veteran’s Day, and in Canada, they honor all troops for Remembrance Day. In Korea, however, this is a happy day where they buy thin, chocolate covered biscuit treats to give out as gifts to friends, teachers, coworkers and loved ones. The treats are called Pepero here, but I know them back home as the Asian snack called Pocky. 
A few days ago, every corner store started to fill itself with a variety of candies, colorful and fluffy gift baskets, and mounds of different kinds of Pepero. All of a sudden the stores were packed with the brightly colored packaging of these sundries. Pepero day was coming. This is a “holiday” made by a manufacturing company called Lotte as a ploy to sell more Pepero snacks. Now, although it seems that every Korean is aware that this is the sole reason that this day exists, they all still participate whole-heartedly, especially the kids. Some say it's almost worse than Valentines Day. The kids give Pepero out to their friends, and it’s a big deal as to who gets some and who does not, and from whom you got it, etc. Koreans also give to their coworkers, teachers, boyfriends, girlfriends, favorite shop-keepers, and whomever else they feel deserves it. Pepero day is on November 11th each year because the date looks like Pepero sticks (11/11). 
Hope you got a wrinkle in your brain from this little tidbit of info! :)