Nowadays it seems that any significant date has to have a colour attached to it. We have Blue Monday for the most depressing day of the year (3rd Monday in January), Black Friday for pre-Christmas sales (the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the USA), and Pink Wednesday to recognise International Anti-Bullying Day (last Wednesday in February). We can now add Red Tuesday to this list, as it is apparently the most “popular” day in the year to break up with a partner.
Red Tuesday falls closest to Valentine’s Day on February 14th and has been so-designated following research carried out by illicitencounters.com, the UK’s leading dating website for married people. The study questioned 2,000 of their users, with 36% of respondents admitting to ending a relationship in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day. Of these, 2 out of 3 (67%) had broken up with their partner on a Tuesday, leading to the naming of the big day for break ups as Red Tuesday. A further 28% of people ditched their lover on other days during the week leading up to Valentine’s Day, and a particularly heartless 5% of respondents actually ended things on the big day itself.
Other things to emerge from the study were that the most common way of ending a relationship was by text message (32%), closely followed by a telephone call (24%). Just 20% of people were honourable enough to break the news in person. Conversely, 16% were so insensitive as to dump their partner over social media, and 6% didn’t even bother to pass on the news themselves, opting to get a friend or relative to do the deed instead. The final 2% of people did it the old-fashioned way, by post.
Unsurprisingly, covid-19 has had an impact on many relationships over the last year, with another poll by illicitencounters.com revealing that out of 1,500 married people who contacted their website 82% said their relationship with their spouse had been damaged by the pandemic restrictions.
Commenting on the findings, psychologist Lucy Redford said: “For a lot of couples, February 14th brings them closer together…for others it’s a reminder of cracks in their relationship. Staying when it’s not working can be a lot more toxic in the long run than going your separate ways.”
It can be stressful and complicated when relationships break down. Bretherton Law’s experienced Family and Child Law Solicitors have been helping people with changes in their circumstances for over 50 years. We are members of Resolution and Accredited in Family Law by the Law Society. For honest, sympathetic advice call Atifha Aftab on 01727 869293, or make an appointment via the contact form below.
*Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday, Rolling Stones, 1967.
