Christmas is the loneliest day for singles, survey reveals

NEW YORK — Christmas may be a time for family and happiness, but it’s a little different if you’re sitting at the singles table. A new survey of 1,500 single British adults finds Christmas actually beats out Valentine’s Day as their loneliest day of the year.

The survey, commissioned by dating app Plenty of Fish and conducted by OnePoll, also found that four in 10 people feel the holiday season shines a spotlight on their relationship status. Overall, 34 percent of singles say they spend more time at home alone during the winter months and 49 percent say they’d feel more excited for the holidays if they had a significant other.

Celebrating the single life?

Despite the holidays being a lonely time for many singles, the poll also finds 52 percent think they should actually be celebrating their single status during this time of year. One in three add they get great enjoyment out of having the opportunity to spend more time with their friends and family.

However, all this family time also means answering a bunch of sometimes annoying and uncomfortable questions from nosy relatives. In fact, 27 percent say their family always asks about their love life during the holidays. Another one in five get questions about when they plan to “settle down” and 17 percent say their family wants to know all about their dating schedule.

When it comes to what singles miss about having a romantic partner at Christmas, 44 percent say they miss cozy and festive nights at home together and 36 percent enjoy waking up next to their flame on Christmas day.

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Digital cuffing season?

It’s no secret that cuffing season — that time between the holidays and Valentine’s Day when singles find a short-term romance to fill the void — is in full swing. With that in mind, the survey finds more singles are searching for a partner online.

The biggest bonuses of using dating apps, according to respondents, includes meeting people they wouldn’t have otherwise (40%), overcoming the lack of confidence to meet people in real life (35%), being able to spend more time at home during COVID-19 (30%).

One in three dating app users say they’re just seeking a greater sense of community, which means both making new friends and finding dates.

“Although Christmas can be lonely for singles, it’s great to see that so many are using the festive period as a time to connect with new and old friends and see their single status as something to be celebrated rather than shied away from,” says resident dating expert at Plenty of Fish, Kate MacLean, in a statement.

“The digital space is playing a big part in that, with people increasingly turning to dating apps and social media as fun, engaging spaces to meet others with shared interests, strike conversation without any pressure, and perhaps even develop a spark.”

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