Have you ever been single around this chilly time of year, looked around you, and suddenly realised that literally, everyone else has a partner?
“Cuffing season” has entered the cultural zeitgeist with full force over the last few years. It’s been in the social landscape since at least 2011 when Urban Dictionary defined it as a time period wherein we stop having rampant sex after a summer of lovin’ and settle down with one companion to wait out the cold fall and winter months.
During the spring and summer, we’re in our most feral, wild states. We want to be in shorts, tee shirts, and swimsuits. We’re in a partying, social mode. Having a partner can feel like a bit of a drag when there are so many people to meet and things to do.
But once winter hits, all you want to do is cozy up with someone, stay inside, watch Netflix, and never go outside until the end of winter. It’s easier to snatch a boyfriend or girlfriend before everyone goes into social hibernation—at least, this is the theory. It makes some sense when you think about it: We’re more lonely during the winter, and we seek companionship to ease that loneliness.
Here’s What to Know About Cuffing Season:
When Does It Start, Exactly?
The timeframe varies from person to person, from website to website, from article to article.
All we know is that once cold weather strikes and prolonged indoor activity is imminent, people seem to start pairing off into oblivion.
Some people think it begins right as all those fun, fall activities start. Who wants to go pumpkin picking or on a hayride alone? Others think the time to get cuffed starts closer to the Easter Holidays. (For some folks, the Easter Holidays can be pretty depressing and lonely as a single person. Besides, no one wants to be alone during the Easter long weekend).
READ MORE: See The MH Style Guide to Autumn/Winter 2023 Trends
When Does The Cuffing Season Officially End?
Again, while there’s no set date, it likely coincides with that first day of spring when it’s over 30 degrees, and everyone starts wearing shorts, sundresses, and sandals.
Will My Relationship Survive Once Spring Rolls Around?
Whether or not a relationship will survive cuffing season has a lot less to do with the weather and more to do with the relationship itself. If you have a healthy, happy relationship that started as the weather was getting cold, it doesn’t mean you’ll wake up and be like, “Hey, I am over it because it’s warm!” as soon as the sun comes out.
READ MORE: Yes, Fighting In A Relationship Is Normal—Here Are 8 Expert Rules For Healthy Arguing
What Does “Cuffing” Actually Mean?
To be honest, even definitions of “cuffing” vary widely, but the most popular answer by far is that it comes from “handcuff.” As in, you’ve handcuffed someone to yourself, figuratively, for the season.
It’s kind of cute, but also kind of creepy. We prefer to imagine that both people have consensually cuffed themselves to each other.
Should You Cuff Someone or Not?
It’s completely up to you. One strange part of the cuffing season phenomenon is how much people seem to buy into it.
Yes, winter can be a lonely time. It can be hard to be alone when everyone else seems settled. But there are positive aspects to singledom, too.
Winter is a great time for self-care. You have fewer social engagements to follow through on, so why not get a gym membership and work on getting healthy? Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, get some books and a meditation app to work on your head space.
READ MORE: Are You Having the Right Amount of Sex for Your Health?
If you want a partner, that’s great. If you don’t, that’s great, too. Don’t let cold weather be a determining factor in whether or not you want to settle down for a while. Good relationships are very rarely formed on the basis of simply not wanting to be alone.
The term cuffing season is pretty catchy, but that’s all it is: A catchy phrase.
Words by: Gigi Engle
*This article was originally published by Men’s Health US
