This past weekend, in addition to Valentine’s Day, many people were also celebrating Galentine’s Day. The tradition of Galentine’s Day has grown over the last 15 years. According to the BBC, Galentine’s Day stems from an episode of the hit sitcom “Parks and Recreation” that aired in 2010. The tradition was created by Leslie Knope, the main character in the show. It fostered a chance for the female characters in the show to get together to celebrate Valentine’s Day differently; centered around female friendships as opposed to romantic relationships.
Actress Amy Poler, who plays Knope in the show, has described Galentine’s Day as a day where friends get together to “celebrate their strong individual independent selves.”
This episode and tradition within the show have inspired many other groups of frieds to do the same each year, creating a fun way to get together in the thick of winter. Galentine’s Day is not a national holiday like Valentine’s Day, so it can take place any day, although it is widely recognized as taking place on Feb. 13, the day before Valentine’s Day.
Today, many people celebrate Galentine’s Day in different ways, based on their interests, preferences and age. Galentine’s Day is becoming trendy on social media, making it a trend amongst teenagers and younger generations, as well as older women. Here are some suggestions to make a Galentine’s Day party memorable.
The first thing to do to prepare for a Galentine’s Day party is to create a guest list of friends. Galentine’s Day parties are meant to be intimate and a time to connect with close friends, so having a tighter guest list would make for a better experience.
Because Galentine’s Day is centered around relaxing and having fun with friends, there are many ways to create an enjoyable experience. Some ideas include baking, watching a movie and doing arts and crafts together. Other fun ideas to include in Galentine’s plans are a gift exchange amongst friends and taking pictures together. These activities are some ways of creating traditions together for years to come.
Alternatively, the party could be centered around a meal, such as a brunch or dinner. This can be done at someone’s house or at a restaurant. Unlike other holidays where there are traditional foods to be eaten, Galentine’s parties can have any type of food, depending on the vibe of the party and people’s preferences.
Whether your Galentine’s party is centered around a meal, activity or both, different people throw their parties with different themes, some including incorporating the Valentine’s colors, pink and red, and themes like hearts, flowers and love.
Depending on the vibe of the party, people can dress in different styles. For a more formal party, fancier dresses may be appropriate. Although if the party is a brunch at home, with activities like arts and crafts, Valentine’s Day-themed sweaters may be more suitable. If the party is a sleepover or movie night, wearing pajamas would also suffice.
Some people incorporate women’s empowerment into the party to emphasize what the day is really about. For example, exchanging books by female authors, listening to music made by women or centering the party on female conversation are ways that people can emphasize the true meaning of the holiday.
Galentine’s is all about celebrating female friendships. Knope describes the day as a day for “ladies celebrating ladies.” For next year’s Galentine’s Day, make sure to stay true to personal preferences while still connecting to the original purpose of Galentine’s Day.
