Valentine’s Day may need to adjust to the times
情人節或許該與時俱進
Changing dating habits mean fewer couples
約會習慣的改變，使得情侶數量逐漸減少
Feb 13th 2025
It is supposed to be the most romantic day of the year. On Valentine’s Day you typically take your partner by the hand through a crowded restaurant, then do your best to maintain loving eye contact across a table while ignoring the other couple sitting uncomfortably close to you. You try to enjoy an overpriced meal on Cupid’s busiest night.
情人節被視為一年中最浪漫的日子：你通常會牽著伴侶的手，穿過人潮擁擠的餐廳，努力在餐桌上維持深情的眼神交流，同時忽略緊挨著你們的另一對情侶。在愛神最忙碌的夜晚，你試圖享受一頓價格不菲的晚餐。
Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day has become deeply entrenched as a celebration for couples in Britain and beyond. Last year, according to a survey by YouGov, a pollster, nearly half of adults in Britain marked the day in some way. Yet the ways they do so are changing.
無論你愛它或恨它，情人節已成為英國，乃至全球情侶慶祝的固定節日。根據民調機構 YouGov 的調查，去年有近半數的英國成年人慶祝情人節。然而，他們的慶祝方式正在悄悄改變。
Some traditions, it is true, remain firmly in place. Sections of stores become a sea of pink. Giving a card to a loved one is still common (43% of Britons who celebrate Valentine’s Day did so last year, according to YouGov), as are gifts of chocolates (25%) and flowers (20%). But perhaps surprisingly, given the reputation of a romantic meal as a core part of the ritual, last year only 6% of Britons went out for a Valentine’s dinner with their partner or date. Instead, many more opted for a quiet night in with a home-cooked meal or a takeaway.
不可否認，一些情人節傳統依然不變：商店的某些區域被粉紅色淹沒，送卡片給心愛的人仍很普遍（根據 YouGov 的數據，去年有 43%的英國人這麼做），巧克力（25%）和鮮花（20%）也是常見的禮物。但令人意外的是，儘管浪漫晚餐被視為情人節的重點，去年卻只有 6%的英國人選擇與伴侶或約會對象外出共進晚餐。更多人選擇在家享用自製晚餐或叫外賣，與伴侶度過一個寧靜的夜晚。
Social changes are bound to affect a day dedicated to romance. In 2023 almost 40% of the adult population in England and Wales were reported to be single, up from 30% in 2001. Of course, that need not stop people from celebrating on February 14th: some women may choose to indulge in “Galentine’s Day”, a term coined some years ago to describe a version of the occasion focused on enjoying it with friends rather than lovers.
社會變遷必然會影響這個浪漫的節日。2023 年，英格蘭和威爾斯的成年人口中，約有 40%的人為單身，高於 2001 年的 30%。當然，這並不妨礙人們在 2 月 14 日慶祝。一些女性可能會選擇享受「閨蜜情人節」，這個詞在幾年前出現，指的是與朋友而非戀人共度情人節。
For others, the challenge is not the lack of a partner but rather the number of them. Alternative forms of romantic connections are becoming increasingly popular, including polyamorous ones in which individuals have more than one partner at any given time. YouGov’s latest tracker poll suggests that 3% of adults have been in polyamorous relationships.
對某些人來說，情人節的挑戰不在於還是單身狗，而在於伴侶的數量。非傳統的浪漫關係形式正變得越來越流行，包括多角戀，即個人在同一時間內擁有多個伴侶。YouGov 的最新追蹤調查顯示，3%的成年人曾處於多角戀關係中。
The user base of Feeld, an online app for “alternative dating”, has been growing in leaps and bounds in recent years. The platform caters to “open-minded individuals” seeking multiple partners, without stigma. As more young adults appear to be using their 20s and 30s to focus on themselves, their careers and their identities, the expectation of exclusivity and commitment in relationships may be less important than it used to be.
近年來，專注於「另類約會」的線上應用 Feeld 用戶數量迅速增長。該平台服務於尋求多個伴侶的「開放思維者」，且不受社會偏見影響。隨著越來越多年輕人將 20 多歲和 30 多歲的時間用於關注自我、職業發展和身份認同，關係中的排他性和承諾可能已不如過去那般重要。
It is not clear how durable these trends will prove. But the dating game is becoming more fluid in Britain. If restaurants want to keep up their Valentine’s Day trade, they may want to start offering more tables for three.
這些趨勢能持續多久尚不明確。但在英國，約會文化正變得更加靈活。如果餐廳想維持情人節的生意，或許該考慮增加三人桌的數量了。
摘要
Valentine’s Day, once a hallmark of romantic exclusivity, is evolving in response to shifting social norms. Traditional celebrations, such as dining out and exchanging gifts, are being replaced by quieter, more personal gestures. Meanwhile, the rise of singlehood and alternative relationship models, like polyamory, is reshaping how love is celebrated. Dating apps like Feeld, catering to open-minded individuals, are thriving, reflecting a broader trend towards fluidity in relationships. For businesses, adapting to these changes—such as offering more diverse dining options—may be key to staying relevant on Cupid’s busiest day.
情人節，這一曾經象徵浪漫專屬的節日，正隨著社會規範的變化而演變。傳統的慶祝方式，如外出用餐和交換禮物，正被更安靜、更個人化的舉措所取代。與此同時，單身人口的增加以及多角戀等非傳統關係模式的興起，正在重塑人們慶祝愛情的方式。像 Feeld 這樣服務於開放思維人士的約會應用程序蓬勃發展，反映了關係中流動性增強的廣泛趨勢。對企業而言，適應這些變化——例如提供更多元化的用餐選擇——或許是保持情人節商機的關鍵。
本文為個人翻譯，若有疏漏之處，敬請指教－
