Singles Awareness Day
Enjoying the freedom to focus on personal goals, hobbies, and friendships without the compromise of a partner's preferences or schedule.
Position self-care, personal indulgence, and friendship-focused experiences as anti-Valentine's alternatives for singles seeking empowerment and celebration of independence.
- Treat yourself: discounted self-care bundles, spa packages, or premium chocolates marketed as 'for you, by you'
- Galentine's twist: celebrate friendships with group experiences (dining, travel, events) positioned as singles-friendly alternatives
- Wear your independence: green/black apparel or accessories as a statement of single pride
- Solo travel packages or staycation deals marketed to singles seeking freedom and personal adventure
For singles, on the other hand, Valentine’s day can be a simple and cruel reminder that they are alone. No pink stuffed animals for them, and no tacky heart-shaped boxes of poor quality chocolate, either, though one does tend to wonder whether that really makes them worse off in the first place.
Singles Awareness Day was started in 2001 by a high school student, Dustin Barnes, along with his friends, who wanted to celebrate singleness instead of feeling isolated.
They also sold discounted chocolates and other Valentine’s candy as a subversive form of protest. Barnes took the celebration with him into his college years at Mississippi State University and its popularity has continued to grow over the years.
Originally, some singles referred to February 15 as Single’s Awareness Day with the acronym: SAD) until it they realized that that was just depressing.
Choosing the day after Valentine’s Day allowed single people a chance to turn this into a celebration rather than a festival of self-pity.
There is no reason to be miserable that you are independent and unattached; on the contrary, there are many more people in relationships than you might think who rather wish they were in your shoes, with nobody to answer to but themselves.
This is the day that all of the single people can proudly stand up and show that it is okay to be single. Take that, Cupid!
Wear Green or Black
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.
Appreciate Your Single Friends
It is also important to make sure that all of your single friends and family members feel appreciated. You never know how someone is feeling. While some people embrace being single, there are others who feel incredibly down about their single status. 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. They may feel that no one wants them or that they are never going to be in a relationship. It is important to lift these people up and to let them know how incredible they are. Plus, it always feels good to be nice to others and make them feel better about themselves, doesn’t it?
Attend Singles Awareness Events
There are many different events that take place on this date. This includes gathering with friends and family members, as well as volunteering and traveling. On this day, single people will often get together in honor of their single status. Whether your love being single or you’re not so happy about it, Single Awareness Day is important because everyone can take a moment to realize that you do not need to be in a relationship in order to have a happy life.
Treat Yourself
The main way to celebrate Singles Awareness Day, though, is to treat yourself. After all, we all deserve a treat from time-to-time, don’t we? That’s what this day is about. So, if you have been wanting a certain pair of shoes for quite some time, today is the day to purchase them! Or, how about taking yourself out for a lovely meal? Treat yourself and appreciate how amazing you are.
Go to Brazil!
One increasingly popular activity is to travel to Brazil and witness the Brazilian Carnival that takes place during this period. The trip, coupled with the fact that Brazil doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14, but celebrates in June instead, provides a temporary getaway from the neon pink of the Valentine’s holiday in the Western culture. This can be substituting it with a different celebration.