Singles' Day, also known as Double 11 or Bachelors' Day, is a Chinese unofficial holiday observed on November 11th. The date, represented as 11/11, symbolizes singlehood with the numeral '1' resembling a 'bare stick,' signifying an unmarried man. Ironically, it has evolved into a popular day for celebrating relationships, with a surge in marriages on this day.
November 1918: Singles' Day Promotion in Belgium Faces Backlash
MediaMarkt's promotion of Singles' Day in Belgium faced criticism as November 11th holds significant historical weight as the anniversary of the Armistice of 1918, marking the end of World War I. The day is solemnly commemorated in Belgium as a day of remembrance for the war dead.
1993: Singles' Day Emerges from Nanjing University Dorm Culture
One widely accepted origin story suggests that Singles' Day emerged from Nanjing University's dorm culture in 1993, when four single male students decided to celebrate their singlehood on November 11th.
1993: Origin of Singles' Day at Nanjing University
Singles' Day originated at Nanjing University in 1993, with celebrations spreading to other universities in Nanjing throughout the 1990s. The date 11 November (11/11), consisting of four 1's, was chosen to represent four singles.
2009: Alibaba Launches Singles' Day Shopping Festival
In 2009, Alibaba's CEO Daniel Zhang initiated the transformation of Singles' Day into a 24-hour shopping extravaganza, featuring online discounts and offline entertainment.
2011: Singles' Day of the Century Sparks Marriage Surge in Hong Kong and Beijing
2011 was dubbed the "Singles' Day of the Century" due to the unique date format (11/11/11), featuring six "ones." This heightened significance led to a surge in marital celebrations in Hong Kong and Beijing on November 11th.
2011: Singles' Day Marriage Boom
Ironically, while Singles' Day celebrates singlehood, 2011 saw over 4,000 couples getting married in Beijing on November 11th, a significant increase from the daily average of 700 marriages.
November 2012: Businesses Capitalize on Singles' Day Spending Spree
As Singles' Day gained momentum, businesses, including restaurants, karaoke parlors, and online shopping malls, seized the opportunity to target younger consumers with tailored promotions and offerings. Notably, Taobao, a Chinese online shopping mall, generated 19 billion CNY (about US$3 billion) in sales on Singles' Day 2012.
December 2012: Alibaba Trademarks "Double 11"
Alibaba Group secured trademark registration for the term "Double 11" in China on December 28, 2012, under registration numbers 10136470 and 10136420.
2013: Alibaba's Singles' Day Sales Reach US$5.8 Billion
Alibaba's e-commerce platforms, Tmall and Taobao, generated US$5.8 billion in sales on Singles' Day 2013, marking a significant milestone in the event's growth.
October 2014: Alibaba Takes Legal Action to Protect "Double 11" Trademark
In October 2014, Alibaba took legal action against media outlets that ran advertisements from competitors using the trademarked term "Double 11."
2014: Alibaba's Singles' Day Sales Surge to US$9.3 Billion
Singles' Day 2014 saw Alibaba's sales skyrocket to US$9.3 billion, highlighting the event's rapidly expanding global reach.
2015: Alibaba's Singles' Day Sales Hit US$14.3 Billion
Alibaba continued its Singles' Day dominance in 2015, achieving a record-breaking US$14.3 billion in sales.
2016: Alibaba's Singles' Day Sales Reach US$17.8 Billion
Alibaba's Singles' Day sales reached an unprecedented US$17.8 billion in 2016, solidifying the event's position as a global shopping phenomenon.
2016: Elgiganten Launches Singles' Day Campaign in Norway
Swedish electronics retailer Elgiganten introduced a Singles' Day campaign in Norway in 2016, expanding it to other Nordic countries the following year.
2017: Nicole Kidman Appears at Alibaba's Singles' Day Gala
Alibaba hosted a grand Singles' Day gala in 2017, featuring global celebrity Nicole Kidman, underscoring the event's cultural significance.
2017: Alibaba's Alipay Sets Payment Transaction Record on Singles' Day
Alibaba's mobile wallet app, Alipay, processed a staggering 256,000 payment transactions per second during Singles' Day 2017, setting a new world record. Throughout the 24-hour event, Alipay processed a total of 1.48 billion transactions.
2017: Alibaba's Singles' Day Sales Exceed US$25.4 Billion, JD.com and Lazada Also Set Records
In 2017, Alibaba's Singles' Day sales surpassed US$25.4 billion. JD.com also achieved a sales record of US$19.1 billion, while Lazada generated US$123 million.
2017: Record-Breaking Sales on Singles' Day
Singles' Day 2017 witnessed a combined sales volume of US$44.5 billion in China, with Alibaba generating US$25.4 billion and JD.com reaching US$19.1 billion.
2017: Singles' Day Gains Traction in Southeast Asia
Singles' Day gained significant traction in Southeast Asia in 2017, with Lazada's Southeast Asian marketplaces receiving orders for 6.5 million items.
2018: Alibaba's Singles' Day Sales Exceed US$30 Billion
Alibaba shoppers spent over 213.5 billion yuan (US$30.7 billion) during Singles' Day 2018, showcasing the event's growing global impact.
2019: Alibaba's Singles' Day Sales Reach US$38.4 Billion
Alibaba reported a gross merchandise volume of 268.4 billion yuan (US$38.4 billion) for Singles' Day 2019, marking a 26% increase from the previous year.
2019: Taylor Swift Performs at Alibaba's Singles' Day Gala
In 2019, Alibaba's Singles' Day gala in Shanghai featured a performance by renowned singer Taylor Swift, further elevating the event's global profile.
2020: Katy Perry Performs in Livestream for Alibaba's Singles' Day
Katy Perry captivated audiences with a livestream performance during Alibaba's Singles' Day celebrations in 2020, showcasing the event's adaptability and reach in the digital age.
2021: Alibaba and JD.com Achieve Combined Sales of US$139 Billion
Alibaba and JD.com reached a new combined sales record of US$139 billion on Singles' Day 2021, solidifying the event's position as the largest shopping day globally.
2022: Alibaba and JD.com Withhold Singles' Day Sales Figures
In a departure from previous years, both Alibaba and JD.com refrained from disclosing their Singles' Day sales results for 2022, citing macroeconomic challenges and the impact of China's zero-Covid-19 policy.