What is singles day and what does it mean to you?

I had no idea what this was!

I kept seeing business reports for 'singles day' and was a bit confused as to what it was. It was yesterday in China.

Singles day is 11th of November and it is a day to celebrate single people.

This is awesome. A single's Valentines day!

The date is meaningful as well because the 1 1 is chosen to represent the space between the numbers and the literal translation of the Chinese Guanggun Jie means bare sticks holidays. Which 1 1 kinda looks like....well...enough anyway.

This has another meaning as well.

It has become the largest shopping day in the world.

Online site Alibaba's takings on singles day alone topped what Facebook made in total for all of last year. Chinese shoppers bought $1.43 billion pounds worth of goods on Alibaba on November 11th. That is insane! Also, it doesn't take into account the goods bought on competitor websites.

Incase anyone was wondering, Facebook took 12.5 billion last year.

This figure of spending on the 11th is expected to get even higher by 2018 though. Quartz.com are predicting it will rise to $1 trillion. I cannot even understand that as a figure to be honest.

Although this is primarily a Chinese day which doesn't translate to other countries. I had no idea what it was despite following the business reports on the spending expectations on BOF yesterday. CNBC are reporting that Americans were confused by the day as well despite some American retailers trying to cash in on it. Cough Walmart Cough. Mind you, if you look at how the English have adapted to Black Friday, will singles day be long coming to the UK?

I hope so. I cannot bear Black Friday and if this is all the singles day is about -shopping - then the Chinese can keep it. However, if we want to celebrate single people and keep the tradition of meeting up, sharing and being awesome then thats cool and welcome by me!