Cuffing season generally begins in autumn when the weather turns colder.

Cuffing season is typically defined as the time of year when single people actively search for short-term romantic partners to spend the colder months with, typically (in Northern Hemisphere locations) from October through March, culminating with Valentine's Day.[1] The term "cuff" is slang that alludes to handcuffs and means metaphorically to attach oneself to another individual.[1]

Cuffing season usually commences at the start of autumn when the weather starts to become prohibitively cold for outdoor activities.[2] The lack of sunlight, outdoors, and warmth may lead some single people to become lonely and desperate.[1] In addition, being in a relationship in the winter months allows for companionship during holidays.[3][4] The rise of dating apps like Tinder further contributed to the phenomenon.[1] However, engaging in such a relationship with a superficial basis may lead to emotional drama for some people in the long term.[5]

There is no evidence that cuffing season has a biological basis, but psychological factors likely exist.[2] It is possible that there may be hormone changes during winter that relate to the phenomenon.[4][6] The colder temperatures and darker days may affect melatonin and serotonin levels which theoretically could affect one's mood in a way that leads to cuffing.[7] According to Facebook data, people often change their relationship status to "in a relationship" between October and February, and a significant number change it back to "single" in March.[2] One study from The Girls Chase found that two out of three cuffed partnerships end by June.[6]

Origins

The exact origins of the term "cuffing" is not entirely clear.[8] It is thought the term "cuff" originated from the African-American vernacular as a verb meaning to "hook up".[1] Urban Dictionary defined the term "cuffing season" in 2011.[2][9] Some sources suggest that it was first used by college newspapers in 2011.[1][8] In subsequent years, the term gained popularity on social media during the fall of 2013 and fall of 2016.[8] The term gained popularity in college jargon and was later used in the title of a 2013 song by rapper Fabolous, which helped introduce it to the general public.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "When Is 'Cuffing Season?'". Merriam-Webster. 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Brabaw, Kasandra (2018-09-26). "Why Short Relationships In Winter". Cuffing Season. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  3. ↑ Hafner, Josh (2017-11-13). "Cuffing season: Best places to spark a relationship built not to last". USA TODAY - Breaking News and Latest News Today. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  4. 1 2 "What Is Cuffing Season And When Does It Start? Experts Explain". Women's Health. 2022-10-11. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  5. ↑ Ewens, Hannah; Garland, Emma (2016-10-14). "The VICE Guide to Cuffing". VICE. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  6. 1 2 "Combination of High Winter Hormone Levels and Scarcity of Dates Make Cuffing Season Real: Girls Chase Study Uncovers Top Reasons Why 89% of Men Admit to Cuffing". ProQuest. 2021-10-11. ProQuest 2580701951. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  7. ↑ "8 Strategies For Dating During Cuffing Season". Cleveland Clinic. 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  8. 1 2 3 "Cuffing". What does cuffing mean?. 2021-12-28. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  9. ↑ "What Is Cuffing Season? Here's the Meaning of the Relationship Term". Men's Health. 2019-08-06. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
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