It’s Singles Day. If You’re Single, Here’s How to Celebrate

In China, November 11 is a whole other holiday.

What’s the biggest shopping day of the year in the United States? That’s easy: Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. But what’s the biggest shopping day of the year in the world? Believe it or not, it’s today, November 11.
In Europe and the United States, November 11 commemorates the official end of World War I. In the U.S., it used to be called Armistice Day but was renamed as Veterans Day in 1954 so as to honor all veterans.

But in China, it’s something altogether different–Singles Day. Why is November 11 Singles Day? Depending on which explanation you believe, it’s either because the date consists of four ones (11/11) or because the number eleven resembles “bare sticks” which is Chinese slang for “bachelor.” Whatever the reason for the name, the holiday originated at Nanjing University in 1993 where some bachelors who were bored with being single decided to turn the day into a celebration with various events. In Chinese society, most people are expected to marry so then as now, a lot of Singles Day events are intended to end that single-hood. For example, blind dating, karaoke, etc. Ironically, Singles Day has also become a popular wedding date.

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By Minda Zetlin, Co-author, The Geek Gap