Blue Monday: a look at the weather on the 'most depressing day'

Blue Monday, commonly described as the most depressing day of the year, falls on the Monday of the final full week in January. First introduced in 2005 by a British psychologist, the term suggests that factors like unfulfilled New Year’s resolutions, the gloomy winter, and the long wait for summer holidays combine to create a day of widespread melancholy.

While the idea of Blue Monday has become a popular marketing tool, weather data reveals a more complex picture of its actual gloominess, weeronline reports.

Since 1906, the Netherlands has recorded 34 completely sunless Blue Mondays. The most recent one occurred in 2014, with earlier sunless instances recorded in 2013, 2008, and 2004. The 1980s saw several completely overcast Blue Mondays, including those in 1987, 1985, 1984, and 1982. During the 1990s, only 1990 was entirely sunless.

In the past 50 years, there have been just nine Blue Mondays that combined no sunshine with measurable rainfall. These occurred in 2014, 2013, 2008, 2004, 1990, 1987, 1985, 1984, and 1982. In 2014, the day saw 0.5 mm of rain under fully overcast skies, while 2013 had 2.1 mm of rainfall. Heavier rainfalls occurred in 2008, with 16 mm, and in 2004, with 20 mm.

Across all Blue Mondays, 72 percent have seen some level of precipitation. The wettest occurred in 1956, when 24 mm of rain fell, followed by 2004 with 20 mm and 2008 with 16 mm. However, in recent years, Blue Mondays have frequently been dry. No rain was recorded in 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2010, or 2006.

While rainfall is relatively common, fully sunless Blue Mondays are less frequent. The last entirely overcast and rainy Blue Monday in the Netherlands was in 2014.

Although originally framed as a scientific concept, Blue Monday has taken on a life of its own as a commercial phenomenon. Retailers now use the day to promote special offers, aiming to lift consumers' spirits during the darker days of January.

In Dutch, the phrase “Blue Monday” also refers to something brief or short-lived, further contributing to its usage in popular culture.