November is marked on the calendar as the month of Black Friday, the biggest shopping extravaganza of the year. But did you know that 11 November – or 11/11 – is Singles’ Day, and is also becoming a major shopping event? SINGLES’ DAY – WHAT IS IT? Strictly speaking, Singles’ Day is a term coined to celebrate the numeric play on the date – 11/11 – which looks like four ones, or four singles, standing together. The day was originally called Bachelor’s Day and originated in China as an “ unofficial holiday and shopping season that celebrates people who are not in relationships .
” According to reports, the term was coined in 1993 when a group of four single men from Nanjing University decided to celebrate their bachelorhood with special events and celebrations. The activities spread amongst the single community and, with social media, have become a widespread phenomenon. The day was initially helmed to celebrate the single demographic in the country – over 4000 couples got married on 11 November 2011 (11/11/11)! It has since been commercialised into a retail and online shopping day, like Black Friday.
MOVE OVER BLACK FRIDAY As with Black Friday – the colloquial term given to the Friday after the US celebration of Thanksgiving – Singles’ Day in South Africa is is becoming a significant shopping event on the calendar. Many online retailers in the country are offering enticing sales and offers to celebrate the day and “spoil yourself” as a single pe.
