Divorce parties more popular as an 'alternative milestone'
What do you do when you get a divorce? Why, throw a party of course!
Although divorce has historically been seen as something to be sad about, research shows there has been a recent rise in “divorce parties”, in which newly divorced people are celebrating the end of a marriage that was otherwise beset with unhappiness.
According to new data by online card and gift retailer Moonpig, Britons are celebrating 'alternative milestones' - life events beyond the usual birthdays, weddings, new jobs, and births.
Among these alternative milestones, divorce parties ranked second for the most popular life event to celebrate, just behind getting a dog.
Analysis by Moonpig found that there are 26,220 searches each month for 'divorce parties' from Brits looking to mark the occasion.
It comes after 113,505 divorces were granted in England and Wales in 2021, a huge 9.6% increase compared to 2020.
Meanwhile, 9 January has been dubbed Divorce Day among those in the legal profession, as this is when lawyers reportedly see a large increase in couples filing to end their marriages.
Last year, law firm Wright Hassall reported a major increase in divorce enquiries on average in January. It found that Google searches for 'divorce lawyer' were 36.08% higher in January 2021 than the average throughout the year, while searches for 'how to start a divorce' were 52.38% higher.
Other alternative - and rather unusual - milestones that are becoming more popular include redundancy celebrations and single parties, according to Moonpig.
Commenting on the research, Dr Paula Freedman from Humankind Psychological Services says: "The rise in celebrations of events like divorces or job losses might seem counterintuitive, but they hold significant psychological value.
"These celebrations can mark the end of a challenging phase and the beginning of a new chapter. They help in reframing a potentially negative experience into a positive one, emphasising personal strength and the ability to move on to something greater.
Watch: Divorce parties: Inside the trend that makes ending a marriage look fun
"Celebrating these moments can aid in the healing process, providing closure and a sense of empowerment."
The rise in alternative milestones could also be linked to 'milestone anxiety', which people may feel when they compare themselves to others.
Research by Relate Charity revealed that 'milestone anxiety' is common among millennials and Gen Z. The relationships charity published its findings in 2022 and found that 77% of millennials (25 to 39-year-olds) and 83% of Gen Z (16 to 24-year-olds) feel pressure to reach traditional milestones.
For people who feel anxious about not reaching milestones their parents achieved by the time they were the same age, alternative milestones offer an opportunity to celebrate everyday moments or turn a negative situation into a more positive one.
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