By now, we’re sure you must have seen hundreds of ‘Singles’ Day’ sale signboards and ads, but what exactly is this celebration? Observed every November 11, Singles’ Day began in China as a fun way for single people to embrace their independence. Over the years, it has grown from a student-led event into the world’s largest shopping extravaganza, and here’s all you need to know about it.
Singles’ Day History
According to Reuters, Singles’ Day dates back to 1993, when China’s Nanjing University first celebrated it as “Bachelor’s Day.” On this day, singles would treat themselves to gifts, attend social gatherings, and host parties to celebrate their independence. In many ways, it can be seen as a counterpoint to Valentine’s Day. The idea around this day is to celebrate their self-worth. People indulge in solo travel, host gatherings, and of course, shop to their heart’s content.
Why was November 11 chosen as Singles’ Day then? Well, the date, written as 11/11, visually symbolises four “1”s that resemble bare sticks. This resembles a Chinese slang term (guānggùn) for single men. In simple words, the repeating ones represent the community of single people, making it a fitting day to celebrate singlehood.
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How A Chinese Celebration Turned Into A Shopping Extravaganza
The big question is how did this Chinese tradition become a global shopping phenomenon? As per reports, in 2009, Alibaba’s CEO Daniel Zhang took a bold step by turning the day into a 24-hour shopping festival, offering online discounts and offline entertainment. And as they say, the rest is history!
According to News18, in 2025, Singles’ Day recorded $150 billion in global sales. People shopped for electronics, fashion, beauty, and home appliances–all because of amazing offers offered by big brands. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that now Singles’ Day eclipses grand shopping extravaganzas like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
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From a student-led celebration of singlehood in China to the world’s biggest shopping extravaganza, Singles’ Day now celebrates independence, self-love, and global retail in one go!
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