Today is Blue Monday , the “ saddest day of the year ”.

Now known by all by this name, it falls on the third Monday of January . However, there would be no scientific or rational explanation behind it: the much feared anniversary would in fact arise from fake news .

The hoax was allegedly invented in 2005 by Cliff Arnall , professor of psychology at Cardiff University . The idea is nothing more than a (lucky) marketing gimmick for travel site Sky Travel . The intent was to encourage people to buy a trip when they felt saddest. The scholar, according to the story, would have identified the day thanks to a complex equation that takes into account various factors: the climate, mood after the holidays and Christmas expenses.

Today the anniversary is picked up by newspapers and the media but the University has never confirmed the study and has distanced itself from Arnall, specifying that the scholar would only work for the University for a short period and as a tutor.

(Unioneonline/vf)

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