What does October 1st mean on TikTok? Relationship trend explained and how it relates to Girl In Red song

TikTok has officially declared October 1st an unofficial holiday celebrating love, relationships and the arrival of fall. The trend that has won millions of hearts is not new, but it has resurfaced this year. While its origins remain unknown, the trend revolves around Girl In Red's song. We fell in love in October.

In the song, the artist sings about falling in love with a girl and having a relationship with her. Since then, the song has become very popular, not only in the LGBTQ+ community, but in all types of relationships.

Read more about the unofficial holiday that has taken TikTok by storm

While the trend was initially a huge success in the WMW community, it has now become the go-to for all types of couples. Men use it for their girlfriends, fathers for their daughters, and so on. And so on October 1st, everyone takes to the platform to celebrate their loved ones. The lines that most often make it into TikTok videos are:

“You look so pretty and I love the sight / We fell in love in October / That’s why I love fall” and “My girl, my girl, my girl / You’ll be my girl.”

What's worth noting is that the trend isn't limited to couples. Singles also give their opinion on the audio clip and wish they had someone in time for the start of the official-unofficial holiday. Others use it to post clips or ideas for a date night they'd like to have someday.

Several factors can contribute to the holiday's popularity, such as the appeal of the upcoming season and the coziness that comes with it, but also more technical reasons, such as the social media culture itself and the use of hashtags like #1. October.

Much like February 14th, the holiday, and as if that wasn't enough, it is another day to celebrate all things happy and loving. The trend started in 2023 and it's safe to say that it has garnered a lot of reactions since then, including memes and jokes.

The trend has garnered over 50.5 million posts on TikTok and well over billion views. A user on TikTok posted a clip with the audio and the caption read:

“POV: You’re watching stories on October 1st” as they scrolled through TikTok.”

Another used the same audio for a video that received over a million views:

“I hope to be hired for October 1st.”

Marie Ulven, a Norwegian indie-pop artist who also performs under the stage name Girl in Red, is the singer behind the song that now dominates TikTok. Her other famous songs include: “I want to be your girlfriend” and “girls.”