Singles’ Day is trending everywhere including India and all you curious readers are here to know what it actually is. It means exactly what the name says, a day to celebrate the single, fabulous you, almost like what Valentine’s Day is for couples. But over the years, Singles’ Day has gotten bigger than just solo pride. Here’s how it started and what’s so different about this year.

What is Singles’ Day? How did Singles’ Day begin?

Singles’ Day, celebrated on November 11 every year, is a fun day that started out as a celebration for single people. It’s a day to celebrate being solo, independent, and, well, fabulous on your own, because why should couples have all the fun?

It originally began in China at Nanjing University in the 1990s. Students wanted to create a day to celebrate being single, and they picked 11/11 as it visually represents being “1” or alone. Singles’ Day was initially called Bachelors’ Day and was a low-key way for singles to gather, have fun, and just embrace their independence.

But things changed big time in 2009. The Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba saw an opportunity and turned Singles’ Day into a large shopping event. What started as a quirky single pride day transformed into a massive retail bonanza. Companies like JD.com, Amazon and more started giving lavish discounts for single people to treat themselves. Fast forward to now, and 11/11 has turned into a huge shopping day not just in China but globally. We’re talking massive discounts, flash sales, and deals that rival the Black Friday sales in the US.

In India, Singles’ Day is not as mainstream as Black Friday, but companies like Flipkart and Amazon have started to hop on the sale bandwagon. Since this day falls close to Diwali and wedding season, it’s the perfect timing for people who want to get some extra deals. 

Why is this year’s 11/11 not so extravagant?

Here’s where this year’s 11/11 looks a bit different. Usually, shopping platforms in China announce their festival sales a week before Singles’ Day to draw in a large number of consumers. But China’s economy has been going through a slower period due to a real estate crisis and deflation. This has put a damper on the typically massive celebrations and sky-high spending. 

Economic challenges have led people to spend more cautiously, and companies are focusing on sustainable growth rather than record-breaking sales. The shopping holiday is still a huge event, but the emphasis has shifted to affordable deals rather than over-the-top luxury splurges. 

India might not go all-out with sales and discounts, but you can celebrate yourself nevertheless. So, shopping or no shopping, take the day to treat yourself, because you deserve it.

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