Dating is a challenge at any time of the year, but the holiday season seems to amplify the difficulties.
This could be due to the abundance of couples flaunting their matching Christmas sweaters or families showing off their immaculately decorated homes.
Moreover, the season often introduces a new, disheartening dating trend that individuals should be cautious of.
While many are familiar with terms like ghosting and zombied, the ‘Ben stage’ is also gaining traction.
However, there’s a specific dating trend associated with this festive season that can affect even those in seemingly stable relationships.
This phenomenon, known as ‘scrooging,’ is named after Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’s classic 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol.
In the spirit of the character, those who engage in this behavior exhibit some unsavory traits, especially a disdain for Christmas festivities.
Scrooging occurs when someone ends a relationship during the holiday season to avoid buying a Christmas gift.
While it may seem harsh, this could be a positive revelation, indicating that the partner wasn’t fully invested in the relationship.
Such individuals might also display other selfish behaviors, such as disregarding your feelings or avoiding interactions with your loved ones.
Sheela Mackintosh-Stewart, a former divorce lawyer, discussed with BBC Three that the issue goes beyond mere stinginess.
She elaborated: “Christmas ‘scrooging’ has become a convenient excuse to dump a partner when they don’t want to deal with the underlying issues and conflicts that are the real issues.
“Around this time of the year, people can become tired and exhausted, with the longer nights and shorter days making people spend more time together.”
She further noted that these circumstances might lead people to consider a break-up as they look for a fresh start in the new year.
A new year often inspires thoughts of change, including the possibility of finding a new partner.
Nonetheless, Sheela pointed out that modern technology has made breakups easier but less personal. She stated: “People generally avoid in-person confrontation if they can help it.
“Technology makes it easy for people to send not only angry, hurtful messages to their partners, but also provides a convenient but cowardly means to dump them.”
Additionally, she mentioned: “Matters are worsened due to the added temptations and distractions available to them from social media, which puts even greater pressure on relationships, requiring couples to work doubly hard to hold them together.”