There are lots of different types of love. But the main categories tend to be romantic, familial and friendship. And while mums and dads have their respective holidays and couples have Valentine’s Day (obv), up until recently there has been very little opportunity to celebrate friendship, which just seems plain wrong.
But thankfully, this all changed with the invention of Galentine’s Day. Suddenly, heart-laden cocktails and pink dress codes dominated happy hours across cities on February 13. Cards emblazoned with ‘to my bestie’ and ‘thanks for always listening’ multiplied in stationary shops as women began gifting each other presents of platonic love.
What is Galentine’s day and where did it come from?
Galentine’s Day was invented by the Parks and Recreation character Leslie Knope. In an episode from season two of the mockumentary show, Leslie brings together a group of her closest friends to celebrate their love for each other with brunch food and goodie bags. Cute.
In the words of the woman herself: ‘What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, It’s only the best day of the year. Every February 13th my lady friends and I leave our husbands at home and we just come and kick it breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus, frittatas.’
What is the meaning of Galentine’s Day?
The holiday does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s like Valentine’s Day… but for the girls. And we kind of love that it falls on the 13th (the day before the romantic holiday) because for so many people – even if they have a romantic partner in their lives – friends remain their primary support network and are the people they turn to when they need advice, comfort, fun, or familiarity. That should be given the recognition it deserves.
Who celebrates Galentine’s Day?
Despite the female-focused name, Galentine’s Day is for everyone. It can be celebrated by men or women, single or taken because it’s basically just an opportunity to grab your friends and let them know how much they mean to you. It’s a very inclusive (fake) holiday. Yay.
How do you throw a Galentine’s Day celebration?
How you celebrate friendship is up to you. It could be with cards and chocolates like traditional Valentine’s Day, a fun activity, or just a proper catch up with your friends over the phone. Like all days designed to celebrate those close to us, it’s just a good opportunity to rearrange your priorities and show your loved ones what they mean to you.
As the Galentine’s Day creator Leslie Knope said: ‘We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn’t matter, but work is third.’
READ MORE: 7 Ways To Celebrate Galentine's Day With Your Best Friends