While Valentine’s Day may be the day to celebrate the love between those in relationships, Feb. 15 is meant to honor those who are single and can’t stand the day prior.
The day after Valentine’s Day is known as Singles Awareness Day, or SAD, and honors those who find love by being with themselves or other platonic relationships.
Dustin Barnes is credited with starting the holiday around 2001, after he decided to celebrate being single with his friends instead of being sad that he wasn’t in a relationship, according to National Today.
Four years later, while Barnes was at college, he received legal copyright protection for the holiday. Since then, it has expanded beyond his circle.
Several brands took to social media on Wednesday to help those who spent Tuesday by themselves celebrate. The NYPD reminded people that “love doesn’t cost a thing” while warning of romance scams and several others shared their support for those who spent Tuesday alone.
While the day of love may seem it has more of a following, with retailers promoting it shortly after Christmas, there are just as many single Americans as those dating, according to census data putting the number at 50%.
Single’s Awareness Day is now celebrated as a way to remember that love does not only come from a relationship, as it also comes from family, friends, and yourself.
As for the creator of the holiday, Barnes’ celebration eventually led him to a singles church group where he met his wife, showing that being happy with being single can pay off.
So far, #SinglesAwarenessDay has garnered over 55,000 posts on Instagram and even more on Twitter, as couples have been pushed aside, and singles get their time in the spotlight.
To celebrate the holiday, National Today says that those who are single will get themselves a gift, express their love to the person in their life most deserving, and wear either black or green, as the latter is the antithesis of red.
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