Single's Day: What is it and why is it celebrated on November 11?

Single's Day, celebrated annually on November 11, has evolved into the world's largest shopping event. It began in the 1990s by students at Nanjing University in China as a 'playful counterweight' to Valentine's Day.

Today, its sales exceed $150 billion, surpassing Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined. The date 11/11 was chosen because the four ones resemble 'bare sticks', a Chinese slang for singles.

The increase in sales is due to changing household composition, women's independence, and the increasing number of singles. Businesses offer products and services specifically for singles, such as private karaoke, cinemas, and smartphone editions.

Even airlines offer discounts for solo travel, promoting independence as an experience.