cuffing season

{{Short description|Cultural trend}}

File:Couple walking in Paris.jpg

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.{{cite web | title=When Is 'Cuffing Season?' | website=Merriam-Webster | date=2020-02-11 | url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/cuffing-season-meaning-origin | access-date=2023-04-17}} The term "cuff" is slang that alludes to handcuffs and means metaphorically to attach oneself to another individual.

Cuffing season usually commences at the start of autumn when the weather starts to become prohibitively cold for outdoor activities.{{cite web |last=Brabaw |first=Kasandra |date=2018-09-26 |title=Why Short Relationships In Winter |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/what-is-cuffing-season |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=Cuffing Season}} The lack of sunlight, outdoors, and warmth may lead some single people to become lonely and desperate. In addition, being in a relationship in the winter months allows for companionship during holidays.{{cite web |last=Hafner |first=Josh |date=2017-11-13 |title=Cuffing season: Best places to spark a relationship built not to last |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/11/13/netflix-and-chilly-its-cuffing-season-time-relationships-built-not-last/858816001/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=USA TODAY - Breaking News and Latest News Today}}{{cite web |date=2022-10-11 |title=What Is Cuffing Season And When Does It Start? Experts Explain |url=https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a19959037/cuffing-season/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=Women's Health}} The rise of dating apps like Tinder further contributed to the phenomenon. However, engaging in such a relationship with a superficial basis may lead to emotional drama for some people in the long term.{{cite web | last1=Ewens | first1=Hannah | last2=Garland | first2=Emma | title=The VICE Guide to Cuffing | website=VICE | date=2016-10-14 | url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/gqk5xb/the-vice-guide-to-cuffing | access-date=2023-04-17}}

There is no evidence that cuffing season has a biological basis, but psychological factors likely exist. It is possible that there may be hormone changes during winter that relate to the phenomenon.{{cite web |date=2021-10-11 |title=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 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2580701951 |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=ProQuest|id={{ProQuest|2580701951}} }} 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.{{cite web |date=2022-10-17 |title=8 Strategies For Dating During Cuffing Season |url=https://health.clevelandclinic.org/cuffing-season/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=Cleveland Clinic}} 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. One study from The Girls Chase found that two out of three cuffed partnerships end by June.