25 Cuffing Season Facts to Keep You Warm This Winter

Published On: September 6, 2024|Categories: Dating Tips|5 min read|

Cuffing season refers to the search for someone to date exclusively during the holidays and colder winter months. It involves a shift from casual dating to more exclusive, committed relationships.

However, these relationships are often short-lived, not lasting much longer than the snow on the ground. The term comes from the desire to enjoy a cuddle buddy rather than venture out into the cold.

Intimidated by the idea of heading into cuffing season? Let us give you peace of mind with these 25 cuffing season facts.

When Is Cuffing Season?

Cuffing season happens during the Fall and Winter months. During this time of year, the idea of being alone in bed all winter with nobody to cuddle leads singles to kick their relationship pursuits into high gear.

Fact 1: September is considered the “Drafting” phase of cuffing season. This is when cuffers start looking for their potential winter fling. Think of this as the pre-season.

Fact 2: October is when the season kicks off in earnest. This is the “Tryout” phase of cuffing season. During tryouts, cuffers decide if the partner they’ve chosen has what it takes to go the distance—or at least to make it until February.

Who is Getting Cuffed?

There’s no age limit to cuffing season. However, there are some trends in who is getting cuffed and who would rather go it alone for the winter.

Fact 3: Cuffing season is mostly associated with younger daters, and for good reason. 52% of Millennials believe in cuffing season. Fewer older Americans feel the same.

Fact 4: Maybe it’s because 47% of Americans under 30 are single. This is more than any other age group.

Fact 5: Adults aged 30-49, however, are the most likely to be partnered, with only 21% reporting singlehood. Maybe it’s cuffing season success? (Eh, maybe not.)

Fact 6: Regardless of age, 36% of Americans believe that “cuffing season” is a real phenomenon. That’s more than one in three!

Fact 7: When it comes to gender, there’s an interesting split, as well. Men (48%) are more likely than women (35%) to believe in cuffing season.

Fact 8: Overall, 16% of Americans say they have personally felt the urge to find a winter relationship.

Dating Apps are a Cuffing Season Staple

When the urge for companionship gets strong, many singles turn to the most convenient option to help them search for a potential cuffing season partner.

Fact 9: Among dating app users surveyed, 44% say their purpose was to find a long-term relationship, while 40% were there to date casually.

Fact 10: In the winter, app users have another reason to swipe right. Of those surveyed by Dating.com, 60% said they’ve turned to dating apps as a fix for their winter loneliness.

Fact 11: This checks out. The same study found a 30% uptick in dating app activity during the colder months.

Fact 12: A 2013 study also found there is a reliable increase in searches related to online dating in winter, especially in January. There’s a summer spike as well, which suggests cuffing season might actually happen biannually.

Why Does Cuffing Season Happen?

The drive to get cuffed is based on a deep, natural human need for connection, especially during cold and dark winter months.

Fact 13: Around one-third (31%) think cuffing season is about staying warm in the winter.

Fact 14: However, more people (45%) believe that cuffing season is driven by the desire to avoid loneliness.

Fact 15: Both groups have a point, but it appears the latter are most correct. 51% of those who participate in cuffing season do so because of the desire for companionship during colder weather.

Fact 16: According to licensed clinical social worker and women’s health expert Kiana Shelton, cuffing season doesn’t produce relationships at all, but instead a specific type of situationship.

Why is Winter so Lonely?

Dating apps and online options help singles cut through the winter loneliness. But what is it about the cold weather that makes us more likely to feel blue?

Fact 17: Around 5% of Americans experience seasonal depression during the winter months.

Fact 18: The cold weather makes us less likely to go outdoors, causing us to miss out on feel-good hormones like oxytocin and serotonin.

Fact 19: This coincides with an increase in men’s testosterone production, some studies have found.

Fact 20: The weather isn’t the only factor that brings singles together during the winter. Anxiety over holiday family events and social gatherings can prime people to seek romantic connections.

Fact 21: Cuffing season lasts from October through March. This time frame encompasses some crucial dates. The following holidays all fall comfortably within cuffing season: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s Day.

Can Cuffing Season Love Last til Spring?

The cold weather is a time for snuggling up close to one another and sharing intimate moments. The world feels quieter with a chill in the air, so it’s not surprising that the season is multifaceted when talking about relationship outcomes.

Fact 22: Winter isn’t just about short-term flings. The season has another nickname—Engagement Season! That’s because nearly 40% of couples get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day.

Fact 23: In fact, 20% of engagements happen in December alone.

Fact 24: December 24th and 25th are the busiest proposal days, but December 11th is apparently the most popular day for breakups.

Fact 25: January has been dubbed National Breakup Month, with the first Monday of the year affectionately-or unaffectionately-known as Divorce Day.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re planning to participate or stay single through the colder months, cuffing season is a fascinating dating phenomenon. While these winter relationships might not always last, they offer a cozy reprieve from winter’s chill. And who knows? Maybe your winter fling could turn into something more lasting.