International Quirkyalone Day is Just Around the Bend

Are you wary of all the hype and contrived “romance” invoked by the arrival of Valentine's Day? If your immediate answer is yes, perhaps now is the perfect time to learn all about my favorite V-Day alternative holiday: International Quirkyalone Day.

Officially founded in 2003, International Quirkyalone Day is based on ideas posed by Sasha Cagen's book Quirkyalone: A Manifesto for Uncompromising Romantics. It's been described as a “do-it yourself celebration of romance, friendship, and independent spirit,” promoting individuality, freedom, and love in its most genuine forms.

Not to be mistaken for an anti-St. Valentine event, IDQ is simply a way for both singles and “quirkytogethers” to honor real world romance instead of the over-the-top Hallmark romance by which we're often bombarded this time of year. It takes Valentine's Day away from the greeting card companies and puts it back into the hands of people who truly appreciate love and its myriad faces.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate IDQ (which occurs alongside V-Day on February 14^th), from throwing parties with your closest friends to happily spending the evening going wherever the mood takes you. If you're interested in hosting a Quirkyalone event, check out Cagen's How To Host page complete with downloadable party pack.

Happy early IDQ, everybody! 

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org.