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We all know how the end of year madness turns some hearts into blank screens for projecting holiday rom-com’s, so it was only a matter of time before holiday desperation linked up with 21st Century technology. Now, rather than stomaching the potential discomfort of going stag at holiday parties, people are posting ads for the sole purpose of having a date to the season’s bevy of social events. And hence, ‘holidating’ is born.
YourTango presented a run-down of some choice Craigslist postings for this season’s most unabashed singles. And it’s both guys and girls who are feeling the pinch of being alone this time of year. One woman even offered compensation to the lucky(?) applicant/date who accompanies her to a party where her ex-fiance will be in attendance. Besides the rubberband effect I imagine this move will have on her pride, I’m wondering if all this woman actually needs is an amazing hairstylist. Maybe a spray tan? A new dress? Just some ideas.
Two girls who’ve really latched onto the whole ‘holidating’ trend took their Craigslist ad one step further, turning their single-girl predicament into a Tumblr called “2 Girls, 1 Season”.
While I give props to the clever branding, this is where the gourmet cheese ball has got to drop, folks. Is it really so difficult to navigate a holiday party single? These events are notorious sh*t shows to begin with; no one will even remember that you arrived – or left – dateless. And who cares if they do? You’re telling me that hiring a guy to kiss under the mistletoe is going to make you feel better?
I get that all the jingle bells and twinkle lights make the thought of romance extra appealing this time of year. So then go on a date-date, without the temporary ‘holi-” prefix attached to the front of it. The world doesn’t need a wave of holidating breakup stories before we’ve even had a chance to tackle the Valentine’s Day drama.
Holidating sounds like a quick fix to a bigger problem with committing to something – or someone – long enough for a holiday party invite to happen naturally. That, or it’s the storyline for Sarah Jessica Parker’s character in New Year’s Eve. Either way, I hope this trend goes the way of Tickle Me Elmo, before we start seeing “Hannuka-husbands”.
