University culture 大学传统 (来源：专业英语学习网站 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

Singles Day was first celebrated at various universities in Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu Province during the 1990s. It got the name Singles Day because the date is comprised of four "ones". These college students have since graduated, and carried their university tradition into society. Singles Day is now a special day for all fashionable youths.

光棍节最先在90年代的江苏南京各大高校兴起。之所以叫“光棍节”是因为这一天的日子有四个光棍一样的“1”。大学生们毕业了，把这个传统带到了社会上，光棍节就成了时尚青年们的一个特殊节日。

The main way to celebrate Singles Day is to have dinner with your single friends, but it's important that each person pay their own way to show their independence. People also hold 'blind date' parties in an attempt to bid goodbye to their single lives.

主流的庆祝方式就是和光棍朋友们一起搓一顿，而且一定要实行AA制。为了脱离单身，人们也会举办相亲会，介绍单身男女认识。

Creative celebration 新奇庆祝

For breakfast on Singles Day, singles often eat four youtiao (deep-fried dough sticks) representing the four "ones" in "11.11" and one baozi (steamed stuffed buns) representing the middle dot.

光棍节的早上，单身青年们会吃四根油条，代表11.11的四个“1”，再吃一个包子，代表11和11之间的那个点。

Many singles also choose to say goodbye to their single lives on this day. Many attend 'blind date' parties and many people choose to marry on this day. In addition to meaning 'single' the four 'ones' of the date can also mean 'only one' as in 'the only one for me.' Some people will use this date and this meaning to tell their special someone that they are the only 'one' in their heart.

很多单身朋友选择在这一天告别单身，一些人参加相亲会，一些人则在今天结婚。四个“1”不仅可以代表单身，还可以代表“唯一”，这也成了一些人的爱情告白日。