With many individuals swiping left on empty-handed ice-skating sessions and solo hot chocolate dates, the yearning to swipe right is higher than ever as the holiday season approaches. Dating apps thrive during the holiday season, with many individuals wanting to mingle with someone special beside a cozy fire, on a romantic walk through a winter wonderland or at a large family dinner table. But with the romantic aura of holly berries on the trees and the promise of snowflakes dancing in the night sky, is this seasonal search for love genuine, or is it just a short-lived response to holiday loneliness?
And are dating apps effective to satisfy your relationship needs?
Cuffing season– those chilly autumn and frigid winter months when it suddenly feels like everyone is pairing up– is a term that originated in African American vernacular and is officially defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “the cold autumn and winter months [that are] seen as a period when it is especially desirable to enter into a romantic relationship.” While the thought of cozy holiday dates is definitely a big draw, there is more to it than just hot cocoa and matching pajamas. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression linked to less sunlight, lowers serotonin (the feel-good hormone) and boosts melatonin (the sleep hormone), making people crave extra warmth– both emotional and physical.
It seems many people are on the hunt for some “extra warmth” during the colder months, as evidenced by the uptick in Tinder activity during the first two weeks of November. With the excitement of summer fading and the holidays just around the corner, people often seek emotional connection to counter the isolating effects of the colder, darker months. This search for a sense of closeness and stability during what some consider the more “depressing months” reflects a broader trend of seeking comfort and reassurance during challenging seasonal transitions.
However, all this being said, break-up season is also the most prominent at around this time as well, particularly a bit after the November surge. Hmm…
From late December to Valentines Day, couples find themselves in a prime position to break off their relationship. For those who turn to dating apps specifically to find a partner for the holiday season, the fading romantic atmosphere once the festivities are over can lead to a diminished desire– on one or both sides– to maintain the relationship. This phenomenon is referred to as “post-holiday breakup” season. With many people returning to the same-old schedule after the holiday season had ended and the abundant amount of joyful activities diminishing, relationship-related issues can not be swept under a festive “Welcome!” mat carpet anymore; these problems are now at the forefront of both partners minds.
Will long distance work once they go back home? Will we be able to see each other the same amount when school picks up again? New year, new me?
At the end of the day, or the cumulative sit-by-the-fireplace-matching-holiday-socks sessions, the answers to these questions differ from individual to individual. Where someone may hold contentment in their relationship depicts a person who feels a sense of security and alignment with the way their life is headed. For someone else, this contentment may be overshadowed with the uncertainty of where they want their life to be headed. This difference often hinges on the strength of the bond between the two individuals and perhaps even their initial intentions when entering the relationship.
Whether you are searching for someone to share your hot cocoa or just testing the waters with a playful “what’s your favorite holiday movie?” opener, one thing is for sure: dating during the holidays is as unpredictable as the weather. After all, the holidays may bring fleeting flings or lasting love, but either way, they leave us all with stories as unique as the season itself.