Life • 02/03/2025
Here’s Why You Should Celebrate Galentine’s Day This Year
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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. With people buying flowers and chocolates for their loved ones, you might wonder if there’s a day for celebrating friendships. Enter Galentine’s Day — a fake holiday created by a TV character and is now widely celebrated. Discover why planning a G-Day date is worth it.
What Is Galentine’s Day?
As its name suggests, Galentine’s Day occurs on February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day. This year, it falls on a Tuesday. It celebrates women’s friendships, allowing you to spend a day with your girlfriends. This observance is usually female-centric, where you and your girls can empower, support and uplift one another. It’s also a great opportunity for long-distance friends to reunite and bond over things that make them happy.
Where Did the Galentine’s Day Trend Start?
The idea of Galentine’s Day came from “Parks and Recreation,” a sitcom featuring A-listers like Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones. According to Amy’s character, Leslie Knope, a Galentine’s celebration can include “ladies celebrating ladies,” “kicking it breakfast-style” and “leaving your boyfriends and husbands at home.”
In this scene, Leslie hosted a brunch for her closest friends with presents, hearts, heartfelt essays and mimosas — truly the best day of the year.
Why Should You Celebrate It This Year
Life, as you know it, can be challenging. Everyone seems to be chasing one task after another, always grappling with infinitely busy schedules. A Galentine’s Day gives you a reason to share a cup of coffee or brunch with your closest girlfriends. It’s a way to reclaim your social life.
Think about your memories with your girlfriends. When you’re young, it feels like social interactions just happen spontaneously and organically. As you age, they seem like something you must put more effort into. Suddenly, finding a date and time when everyone is available is more challenging. Therefore, friendship meetings become more structured.
This February 13, make time to hang out with your gals. Make an effort to put smiles on their faces, as you would for your partner the next day.
How to Plan a Fun Galentine’s Day
Ready to plan a fun Galentine’s Day celebration? Don’t sweat it out because Galentine’s Day is ultimately about having fun and making memories. Invite your gal pals, and even pals of all genders — truly, there aren’t rules to this, so feel free to welcome anyone to have fun!
1. Host a Pajama Party
Recreate your middle school or college moments with a pajama party. Dress up in matching PJs, take Polaroid photos and cook the meals you enjoyed back then. Break out a fun card game, like Cards Against Humanity, Herd Mentality or the classic fave — Monopoly. For extra fun, ask everyone to bring presents for a gift swap.
2. Cook Your Specialty Dishes
If you and your friends are great cooks, consider having a potluck party where everyone brings their specialty dishes. If possible, you can rent an Airbnb and cook everything there. It’s a great opportunity to bond with them and learn new recipes from one another. If you decide to cook in one place, prepare snacks for everyone. Vegetable platters and charcuterie boards are always good choices.
Moreover, it’s important to understand that not everyone drinks alcoholic beverages. Therefore, ensure there are nonalcoholic options, such as mocktails. A refreshing mocktail usually requires four ingredients — sparkling water, lemon juice, honey and mint sprig.
3. Plan a “Favorite Things” Swap Party
If you’ve been on TikTok for quite some time, you’ve probably come across the “favorite things” swap trend. It’s where everyone must bring an item they can’t live without and then share it with the group via a gift swap. It could be your favorite primer, holy grail serum or collagen supplements you swear by.
4. Do a Paint-and-Sip Night
Channel your inner artist while sipping your favorite wine with your friends. Prepare paint supplies, your favorite drinks, some snacks and a photo to replicate with your brush. Perhaps something you all adore, like a bouquet or a portrait of Henry Cavill? Your choice.
5. Take a Dance Class
There’s nothing like dancing with your gals as your favorite songs play. It’s a quick way to feel empowered and beautiful, which you always are. Set up a dance class with your friends, hire a private dance tutor or go to a pole dancing studio so you can learn a new skill together. Dancing will not only let you move your body and bond with your loved ones, but it can also reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
6. Dress Up Together
Treat Galentine’s Day as a day to dress up fancy just because you can. Invite your friends to wear something they would normally wear for a special occasion or think of a theme. It could be pink, red or something unique, like dressing up as your favorite Disney princess. Take photos, visit a restaurant together and have the time of your life.
7. Do a PowerPoint Night Life Update
Before you roll your eyes, hear us out — this won’t feel like a boring corporate presentation. Invite your friends to present something through a PowerPoint (or Canva) presentation. Present life updates or topics you’re passionate about. Pair this moment with some great food and wine, then you’re all set.
8. Have a Rom-Com Movie Night
Live vicariously through your favorite romantic comedy movies this coming Galentine’s Day. Gather your friends’ picks and binge-watch everything. Make sure to get snacks, mocktails and cocktails as you cozy up and rant about the protagonist’s poor romantic choices (because sometimes, the second male lead deserves a better happy ending).
9. Compete in a Cocktail-Making Contest
This is a simple yet fun way to show everyone’s competitive spirit. Each friend brings ingredients to create cocktails for a mini cocktail-making contest. Got no bartending skills? Don’t worry — there are plenty of easy-to-make cocktails to wow your friends.
Is Galentine’s Day for Singles Only?
Definitely not! You can celebrate G-Day with your friends whether you’re single, coupled up, stuck in a situationship or in the talking stage.
Celebrate Galentine’s Day This Year
Time to send the save-the-date messages to your gals and brainstorm fun G-Day ideas! Remember that it’s a day of fun and celebration, so make it worth your while.
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