Chances are you might have experienced the latest texting trend this last weekend.
Researchers from dating site eharmony recently coined a new term called Marleyed a word used to describe a scenario in which you receive a text from your ex during the holiday season.
As Mashable explained, the act of Marleying is when you are haunted by former flames over the holidays.
Named after Jacob Marley, the ghost of Scrooge's former business partner in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Marleying is basically when an ex gets back in touch over Christmas after a long period without contact, according to Mashable.
As Refinery29 reported, eharmony surveyed 4,000 British adults to learn more about the trend, asking whether or not respondents received a text from an ex over the holidays.
About 11 percent of people said they had been Marleyed. Another 8 percent said they contacted an ex.
Experts told Bustle that the trend fits the holiday season's air of nostalgia.
"The end of the year makes many people feel introspective," Erika Martinez, a licensed psychologist, told Bustle. "It's not unusual for exes to reach out since they've been reminiscing and feeling nostalgic. This is especially true when there's more possibility of connecting as people return home for the holidays."
Rachael Lloyd from eharmony told Mashable that you dont have to engage with your ex just because they contacted you.
Just because you are at home visiting your old haunts doesnt necessarily mean you should feel compelled to haunt a former partner," Lloyd said. "Though some people are happy to reconnect with an ex over Christmas, its important to ensure you are both on the same page to avoid confusion or hurt."
Marleying joins a list of other cell phone-based texting trends affecting people in the digital age. As the Deseret News reported earlier this month, experts found that some couples experience phubbing the act of focusing on your phone instead of the person in front of you often have weaker relationships.
Back in 2015, The New York Times revealed the latest trend in texting, called ghosting, where people would drop all communication with a significant other altogether to avoid having difficult breakup conversations.
Researchers from dating site eharmony recently coined a new term called Marleyed a word used to describe a scenario in which you receive a text from your ex during the holiday season.
As Mashable explained, the act of Marleying is when you are haunted by former flames over the holidays.
Named after Jacob Marley, the ghost of Scrooge's former business partner in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Marleying is basically when an ex gets back in touch over Christmas after a long period without contact, according to Mashable.
As Refinery29 reported, eharmony surveyed 4,000 British adults to learn more about the trend, asking whether or not respondents received a text from an ex over the holidays.
About 11 percent of people said they had been Marleyed. Another 8 percent said they contacted an ex.
Experts told Bustle that the trend fits the holiday season's air of nostalgia.
"The end of the year makes many people feel introspective," Erika Martinez, a licensed psychologist, told Bustle. "It's not unusual for exes to reach out since they've been reminiscing and feeling nostalgic. This is especially true when there's more possibility of connecting as people return home for the holidays."
Rachael Lloyd from eharmony told Mashable that you dont have to engage with your ex just because they contacted you.
Just because you are at home visiting your old haunts doesnt necessarily mean you should feel compelled to haunt a former partner," Lloyd said. "Though some people are happy to reconnect with an ex over Christmas, its important to ensure you are both on the same page to avoid confusion or hurt."
Marleying joins a list of other cell phone-based texting trends affecting people in the digital age. As the Deseret News reported earlier this month, experts found that some couples experience phubbing the act of focusing on your phone instead of the person in front of you often have weaker relationships.
Back in 2015, The New York Times revealed the latest trend in texting, called ghosting, where people would drop all communication with a significant other altogether to avoid having difficult breakup conversations.
