Finding Love with Pineapples
It is said that a unique way of expressing one’s intention to go on dates with pineapples is popular in Spain. Let’s think about the way of meeting people in modern society by looking at how to meet a lover through pineapples!
You’ve probably heard people say that you’ll easily meet a boyfriend/girlfriend when you go to college. Practically speaking, finding someone who truly connects with you is often more difficult than expected. Many people wonder where to find a boyfriend/girlfriend. Recently, the popularity of dating applications has grown, with more people using them to find love. The desire for dating is a shared interest not just in Korea, but all over the world.
In Spain, a unique trend has emerged where people use pineapples to send romantic signals. Large supermarkets have become popular places for meeting potential partners, especially between 7 P.M. to 8 P.M. Many young people visit the supermarket franchise Mercadona during these hours. They express their interest in meeting someone by placing a pineapple upside down in their shopping cart. After picking up an upside-down pineapple from the fruit section, they head to the wine aisle. If someone carrying a pineapple in the same manner catches their eye, they bump carts as a sign of affection.
Placing a pineapple upside down means that the person is open to chatting with someone. If their cart contains snacks or chocolates, it signals that they are looking for a short-term relationship. On the other hand, if they have vegetables in their cart, it indicates that they are seeking something more serious
This trend gained momentum after a famous broadcaster, Vivy Lin, posted a video attempting to meet people at a Mercadona outlet, claiming there is a ‘flirting time’ at the supermarket. The video went viral, and this quirky dating game gained widespread attention.
In Spain, a new term, ‘Tinderdona,’ has even been coined. It combines the name of the world’s largest dating app, Tinder, with the supermarket brand Mercadona. Due to the Tinderdona craze, some stores have even experienced pineapple shortages. The trend has spread to Spain’s famous department store, El Corte Inglés, where it’s common to see people looking for a date in the perfume section between 2 P.M. to 3 P.M.
Alicia López Rosantos, the CEO of the matchmaking company, Lazos, stated in an interview with France Info, “This is proof that many young people today don’t know how to start a romantic relationship,” adding that “loneliness has become the epidemic of the 21st century.” This change reflects the complexity of human relationships in modern society, and is a fascinating development in the evolution of how people socialize.
Jo Hee (ST Reporter)
joheesoongsil@soongsil.ac.kr