The “Turkey Drop”: Why Breakups Spike Pre-Holidays (Even For Those Out Of College)
The term “turkey drop” refers to long-distance college couples breaking up when they come home for Thanksgiving break, but the trend is true for older adults too.
Most of us get through the gloomy weeks of November by looking forward to a finish line of pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. For many, though, there’s something less exciting on the menu: breaking it off with a long-term relationship. The colder months have many people thinking of “cuffing season,” and in many ways, they’re right. Data show that dating activity does increase in the cooler months, but breakups actually do too. November, in particular, is earning the reputation for being “breakup season,” often kicking off just before the turkey thaws. The term “turkey drop,” which has now even inspired a movie, has come to describe this predictable string of pre-holiday breakups, but why are they so common this time of year?