Singles get chance to flaunt their status

For 31-year-old PR executive Joy Xu, being single is not a matter for celebration. "Singles' Day only reminds me of the fact that I'm still single and have to keep looking for Mr Right," she said yesterday. "Today is a sad day for me but I don't want to appear upset in public." Singles' Day, which falls on November 11, originated on Chinese campuses during the 1990s. The date is earmarked for singles because it comprises four "1s" (11-11), reminding people of the Chinese word for bachelors - "bare branches". Since then, it has often been an occasion for singles to get together and celebrate - and maybe look for a change in status. It has never been designated an official celebration but has become increasingly popular in recent years as the number of singles keeps rising. "I hope I am not single the next Singles' Day," Xu... [read full story]