You can imagine the shock and horror I experienced recently as I began to research potential topics for my upcoming contribution to Savvy Auntie, only to come across the National Holiday that has been reserved for June 4th.

Old Maid’s Day.

Excuse me, what? It’s 2014. Hasn’t the phrase “old maid” been outlawed yet?

“Wait, wait, wait, maybe I’m overreacting,” I thought to myself. “Maybe it’s a day of observation for enthusiasts of the card game.”

I read on only to discover that it is, in fact, a day to “celebrate” unmarried, childless women, and, seemingly, to thrust them into the spotlight in an effort to land their “soul mate.”  This ignited a fury within my inner feminist. I was raging not only for my own sake, but also for the sake of all of my fellow PANKs.

Back when this “holiday,” albeit an unofficial one, was started, World War II was ending and “our boys” were coming home. It was the chance for unmarried ladies to snag a man so they could live the American dream, complete with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids, lest they descend into the oblivion of spinsterhood. This is not how things work anymore.

Before I go any further, I feel that I need to insert a disclaimer that I am in no way putting down the pursuit of love. Love makes the world go ‘round. Love is a many-splendored thing, as it is said. Everyone deserves to find someone who sets their heart aflutter. Even I’m no stranger to OKCupid territory. However, the idea that a woman needs a significant other in order to be fulfilled is absurd.

In this day and age, women are perfectly capable of leading meaningful, gratifying, successful single lives. In fact, for many, leading a single existence is a choice rather than a sentence. More and more often, women are making the conscious decision to put the search for romance on the back-burner in order to focus their attention and energy on personal growth and endeavors. If someone comes along who piques their interest, wonderful! If not, it’s not the end of the world.

Of course, this all begs the question: How will you ever have children unless you find a partner and settle down? My first instinct is to respond with something snarky about every woman’s sole purpose being to ensure population growth. Fortunately, I’m not that cynical. The truth of the matter is that many women can’t deny their maternal instincts. This is where nieces and nephews are saving graces. Whether biological or otherwise, they fill that child-shaped void and in doing so, fill aunties’ lives with more love than they could have imagined.

What it comes down to is that Old Maid’s Day is archaic and insensitive. The title itself implies that there is something wrong with leading a single lifestyle. Whereas the websites that list Old Maid’s Day among their holidays encourage ladies to go out and get men to notice them, we as Savvy Aunties should make a concerted effort to turn our head on this day. Let’s make it a day that applauds the fact that you haven’t settled for a subpar partner who doesn’t meet your standards. We’re strong women who are selective about with whom we choose to spend our lives. Celebrate in a way that incorporates everything that makes your singlehood so awesome. Go get ice cream with your nieces and nephews. This way, everyone gets healthy doses of love and sugar. Then, after they’re sufficiently wound up and you’ve dropped them off to their parents, go get yourself a massage—because, as much as you love them, kids can be exhausting. And your fabulous single life affords you the luxury of whims.

Editor’s Note: Savvy Auntie founder, Melanie Notkin, established “Auntie’s Day” in 2009. It takes place on the fourth Sunday in July each year. The 6th Annual Auntie’s Day is Sunday, July 27, 2014. For more, click here

Photo: Rakka via Flickr cc
Published: June 3, 2014