SINGLES AWARENESS DAY
On February 15th, Singles Awareness Day reminds us that there’s nothing wrong with being single. In fact, the day after Valentine’s Day points out all the ways that singledom benefits our communities and more.
#SinglesAwarenessDay
There are several benefits to being unattached. Singles can come and go as they please with no regard to a partner’s schedule, wants or needs. Career opportunity? A single doesn’t need to consult a spouse before accepting an offer. It’s also easier for a single to keep up healthy habits. There isn’t anyone to sabotage their efforts to work out and eat healthily. Singles also tend to be more self-reliant and involved in their communities.
Singles come in all ages, too. Whether they’re single by choice or happenstance, recently single or pursuing singledom for the long haul, they tend to lead independent lives. However, that doesn’t mean they are alone. Singles may be raising a child or grandchild. They may be caring for a parent or sibling.
Despite the images of a spinster, a partying bachelor, a single’s lifestyle can take on quite a different look. They may take on many roles from a professional to a community leader, caregiver, and volunteer.
HOW TO OBSERVE SINGLES AWARENESS DAY
- Celebrate your singleness.
- Join other singles for coffee, dinner, or other events.
- If you aren’t single, don’t overlook the singles in your life. Include them in your activities. They may not be seeking a life partner, but they do like to be included.
- Recognize the contributions singles make in the organizations, communities, and schools around you.
- Read books like How to be Single and Happy by Jennifer L Taitz or Single on Purpose by John Kim.
- Use #SinglesAwarenessDay to post on social media.
SINGLES AWARENESS DAY HISTORY
Our research has found that Singles Awareness Day has been around since 1999. In a blog post dated February 11, 2005, Mississippi State University student, Dustin Barnes lays claim to the creation of the day. According to his article, Barnes and his high school friends invented it “back in the day.” The earliest record we could find of the day in print is 1999. Another celebration has been taking place in the United Kingdom for some time. Some of the articles we found references to the celebration in the UK while others make no reference at all. Whether the observance was created in the US or crossed the pond and grew from there, we can’t be sure.
Related Observances
Singles FAQ
Q. Is this day just for single people?
A. No. It’s also a day for those in relationships to recognize their friends who are single. Sometimes people who are single choose to be single. Other times, it’s the circumstance. Either way, there’s nothing wrong with being single.
Q. I’m single and I love it. How can I get my friends to stop setting me up on dates?
A. First, have you told your friends that you’re happy being single? If not, tell them. Secondly, tell them WHY you’re happy being single. It may be the freedom to travel, the ability to put work first, or just a general feeling of being fulfilled and happy. Whatever the reason, express it to your friends. They are your friends after all. Finally, if they still continue to set you up on dates, flat out refuse to meet this new person. They will eventually get the message.
Q. I’m single but I really wish I wasn’t. How do I meet someone who has similar interests?
A. There are several ways to meet new people. Some of them work best if you go into it interested in the experience more than meeting someone. Try these:
- Take a class. It may be art, cooking, woodworking, dog training, or any variety of things.
- Volunteer. When you volunteer for a cause you feel strongly about you are bound to meet people with similar interests.
- Attend to your spiritual nature. Whether it’s through a church, meditation class, or a retreat, you will expand your circle spiritually.
- Travel. Yes, travel alone or with other friends. You might meet someone who loves to travel, too.
- Ask your friends about their other single friends. Our friends may be terrible match-makers, but this does allow you to meet new people.
- Host a party. Invite friends to bring other singles.
- Try speed dating or a dating app.
February 15th Celebrated History
1903
Morris and Rose Michtom create the first Teddy Bear inspired by a cartoon printed in the Washington Post depicting President Roosevelt sparing an orphaned bear cub.
1943
J. Howard Miller’s “We Can Do It!” poster is displayed in Westinghouse factories. The image depicting a woman with a red and white bandana, her sleeves rolled up and making a fist served as the iconic emblem of all the women who stepped into the roles of Rosie the Riveters and war jobs like those.
1950
Walt Disney’s animated film Cinderella opens in theaters.
1965
Canada officially inaugurates its Maple Leaf flag in a public ceremony.
February 15th Celebrated Birthdays
Cyrus McCormick – 1809
The American blacksmith is best known for inventing the mechanical reaper in 1831 and ushering in modern agricultural practices.
Susan B. Anthony – 1820
The American Quaker led a wave of reform for women’s suffrage and rights. Anthony was integral to the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and though she never lived to see its passage, the amendment was named in her honor.
Harold Arlen – 1905
The prolific American composer produced some of stage and film’s most beloved tunes. His songs were both catchy and memorable. Some of his most popular included “That Old Black Magic,” “The Man That Got Away,” “Stormy Weather,” “Over the Rainbow,” and “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive.”
Caroline Robinson Jones – 1942
In 1986, the advertising executive founded her own ad company and soon was one of the most successful women in advertising. Her campaigns included marketing for Goodyear, KFC, McDonald’s, and many more.
Matt Groening – 1954
The American cartoonist has developed several animated television series including The Simpsons, Futurama, and Disenchantment.
Notable Mentions
Charles Lewis Tiffany – 1812
Ernest Shackleton – 1874
Jane Seymour – 1951
Chris Farley – 1964
Gary Clark Jr – 1984
