There’s a new dating trend that will (probably) affect you this Christmas

Have you be Marleyed?

We've seen ghosting, breadcrumbing, cushioning and phubbing break many hearts across the dating world. And just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, it turns out there's a new trend that singletons need to keep an eye out for. It's called Marleying - and it's all about the ghosts of Christmas (and relationships) past. The trend, named after Ebenezer Scrooge's ghostly business partner Jacob Marley who appears out of the blue on Christmas Eve after disappearing for years, is mostly driven by people heading back to their hometowns for the festive season, or feeling lonely over Christmastime. A study by eHarmony found that 11 per cent of singletons have been Marleyed, while 8 per cent of people have admitted to reaching out to a former flame over the festive break. According to The Sun, Rachael Lloyd at eHarmony said:

"Just because you are at home visiting your old haunts, it doesn't necessarily mean you should feel compelled to haunt a former partner. "Though some people are happy to reconnect with an ex over Christmas, it's important to ensure you are both on the same page to avoid confusion or hurt. "Often relationships end for valid reasons such as a lack of compatibility. "If this sounds familiar, rather than revisiting a relationship where the same issues could arise all over again, we would suggest spending time with family and friends and enjoying a well-earned break. “Going backwards only decreases the odds of finding a new, long-lasting relationship."