Singles' Day
Posted November 20th, 2009 by
Many Chinese students at Zhejiang University celebrated “Singles Day” this past Wednesday. Being the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the date was marked by four sets of the number one.
Before I came to China, the closest thing that I’ve seen to this was a movement to rename Valentine’s Day into Singles Awareness Day, because the romantic outings of couples would remind all singles of their dating status. Now, I was never a big proponent of Singles Awareness Day in America, but I think that the Chinese Singles’ Day is a much better idea. Instead of trying to steal the thunder of Valentine’s day, it works to build up a new day for those who can’t find a date, or choose not to date.
I didn’t celebrate Singles Day, but I did talk to a number of Chinese students who did. A student who lives on Zhejiang University’s Zijingang campus told me that someone yelled “Happy Singles Day!!” when the clock hit midnight. Another told me that many friends enjoy going out to dinner as a group, and splitting the bill evenly as a way to reinforce their single status.
The most interesting was in the clothes marketed for this day. I didn’t see any myself, but one student told me that special clothes are designed specifically for Singles Day. These clothes have the Chinese word for “single” across both the front and the back, as well as many other words relating to single life. The reason given for these clothes? Well, many people wear matching clothes specifically Valentine’s Day, so why shouldn’t Singles’ Day have its own wardrobe?
