Lonely Night on Singles' Day

This article was written on November 12, 2013

Author: Lü Jianfeng

If loneliness could speak, it might evaluate Singles' Day like this: Singles' Day is using the name of being single and loneliness to actually celebrate Valentine's Day. Real singles don't have dates; they watch two blockbusters, take a shower, complain a bit, and go to sleep under the covers.

When Singles' Day turned into a shopping festival, it tells singles to buy gifts for your lover and preferably shop online. Place an order on Taobao and fill in your lover's address as the recipient. Don't pay on delivery; pay in advance, or you might really end up celebrating your own holiday.

Combined, Singles' Day is about meeting up with your lover, shopping online massively, and doing things that singles don't do.

Real singles aren't afraid of loneliness; they fear that years of loneliness will continue. A doggerel I wrote in 2006 to mock myself still seems so apt and true now:

One person in, one person out
Single bed, single sleep
Singles' Day, singles' night
Alone sighing, alone tossing