A warning has been issued by experts about the 'winter-coating' dating trend taking over Gen Z and Millennials this Christmas that you really don't want to fall victim to.
Alright guys, we already know all about 'cuffing season', 'snowmanning' and 'tinselling' but there's another festive-themed dating trend you're going to want to stay well clear of in the run-up to the big day.
But, before we get into all the dangers surrounding 'winter-coating' - let's discuss what on earth it actually means first and foremost.
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What is 'winter-coating'?
Terri DiMatteo, a licensed professional couples counsellor, explains that winter-coating is a incredibly seasonally-specific phenomenon in which a former flame reaches out to reconnect for a single season - the cold wintery months - only to exit your life once again when the weather warms up once again.
Sort of like when you get your winter coat out of seasonal storage, only to pop it back up a few weeks later when the snow melts and the flowers of spring bloom.
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Why does 'winter-coating' happen?
Explaining the trend some more, Thalia Ouimet, a matchmaker and dating coach, told TODAY.com: "During winter I've noticed that people tend to come out of the woodwork because of loneliness and the holidays are right around the corner.
"Families tend to ask a lot of questions like 'Do you have a boyfriend' or 'Do you have a girlfriend', so people tend to get really stressed about not having a partner and will reach out to an ex-flame to try to rekindle things before the holidays."
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According to Parade.com, there's also a sense of familiarity with 'winter-coating' - given that they are already familiar with you, your family and your financial situation, so there's no stress on their part.
What are the warning signs of 'winter-coating'?
Luckily for any singletons out there, there are some warning signs to bear in mind.
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According to Thalia, it's a pretty major red flag if your festive fling has previously 'ghosted' you in the past.
"If someone from your past reaches out to you and they typically have 'ghosted' you before, like they would never check in on you and it's out of nowhere I would make sure you are alert of what their intentions are," she says.
The experts also warn against anyone who only shows up when the weather chills up.
Terri says: "Are they talking about the loneliness of the holidays? The extra expenses? Or that they find the winter months depressing.
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"There may be clues that they are reaching out for reasons other than genuinely wanting to reconnect with you."
While it can temporarily fill a hole, Terri warns that 'winter-coating' is someone taking advantage of your 'openness and receptivity', therefore it's better to not jump in too quickly - or else, face starting your New Year with a breakup.
Well, the more you know - eh?
Topics: Advice, Dating, Gen Z, Life, Sex and Relationships, Dating trends
Rhiannon Ingle