Single Awareness Day 2018

It’s a humorous holiday to celebrate being single, to share with single friends, to send each other presents or even order yourself some flowers. On this day many people wear green, as it is the complementary opposite of red. Another popular option is an absence of color (black), to symbolize an absence of celebration. One increasingly popular activity is to travel to Brazil and witness the Brazilian Carnival.

The trip, coupled with the fact that Brazil doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14, but in June, provides a temporary getaway from the neon pink of the Valentine’s holiday in the Western culture, by simply substituting it with another celebration. Some who celebrate Singles Awareness Day just want to remind romantic couples that they don’t need to be in a relationship to celebrate life, and that the key to being happy is being able to be happy with yourself.

“Singles Awareness (or Appreciation) Day” (S.A.D.) is a holiday celebrated by single people. It serves as a complement to Valentine’s Day for people who are single, that is, not involved in a romantic relationship. It is a celebration of love in all forms recognising the love between friends and family, and loving yourself. ^[1] Some people who observe S.A.D. do so out of spite for Valentine’s Day, as a Hallmark holiday, or for other reasons.^[2] SAD is also celebrated as National Singles Day. In the US, National Singles Day is celebrated on the 22 September, in China on 11th November and the 11th March in the United Kingdom^[3].

On Singles Days, single people gather to celebrate or to commiserate in their single status. Some want to remind romantic couples that they don’t need to be in a relationship to celebrate life. ^[4][5] In China Alibaba provides discounts for retail, in the UK the Dating Industry Professionals Network (DIPN) organise a Dating Fair, and the US encourage various singles events.

Brazil celebrates Valentine’s Day not in February, but in June. Another similar option is to celebrate Mardi Gras instead, which occurs around the same time as Valentine’s Day.

Contrary to popular misconceptions, Singles Awareness Day is not about self-pity but rather a chance to announce to the world that you are single and happy to be so.

For more information visit Singles Awareness Day