There’s nothing wrong with getting a head start on Galentine’s Day. According to Urban Dictionary, Galentine’s Day is celebrated on February 13. The day before Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day Eve. February 13 will be here before you know it, and planning is key to the perfect Galentine’s Day with your friend circle.
What is Galentine’s Day?
Think of Galentine’s Day as a friendship-focused version of Valentine’s Day. It’s a chance to celebrate the love between friends. Even if you don’t have a date for February 14th, you can still join in on the Valentine’s vibes. You can celebrate it however you like. You can host a brunch, a dinner, a wine and cheese night, throw a party, exchange gifts, or book a spa day. The main idea is to honor your connection with your friends and show them some extra love.
What makes Galentine’s Day special is that it wasn’t created by a company trying to make money. It was actually invented by a fictional character, Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation.
This unique celebration goes back over ten years to an episode in season two of Parks and Recreation called “Galentine’s Day.” In that 2010 episode, Leslie gathers her female friends for a brunch filled with waffles and love. She describes it as, “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies.”
A lot of people really liked the idea of Galentine’s Day, and they shared their love for it in the comments under the show clip. One person said, “I really love that Galentine’s is pretty much a national holiday. Seriously I feel like it’s more respected than Valentine’s Day now.” Another person thanked Amy Poehler for coming up with the idea, saying, “Ty Amy Poehler for creating this.” Although, in this case, it’s more of a thank you to Leslie Knope.
It’s become so popular that some companies even have special promotions for Galentine’s Day, according to The Atlantic.
If you’re thinking of having a Galentine’s Day party or doing something special with your friends, here are some fun ideas to consider.
Wine Swap
Get some snacks and bring your favorite bottle of wine to swap with friends. Ask each friend to bring their own favorite wine, too. Spend the evening sipping on different wines and chatting. To make it more fun, play a game like White Elephant, but with wine. Sit in a circle, put the bottles in the middle, and have the person with the first turn pick a bottle, open it, and show it to everyone. The person with the second turn can either take that bottle or choose a mystery bottle from the pile.
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Food Tour
If your friends are more into food than booze, consider a food tour. Pick a day leading up to Galentine’s Day and go food hopping around local spots. Explore popular menu picks at different restaurants or bars. It wouldn’t hurt to search for any food trucks or pop-ups in your area to add to the list.
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Secret Galentine
Ahead of G-Day, write your friends’ names on heart-shaped cards. Have each friend pick a name out of a hat and set a budget for buying presents. Schedule a day to meet up (preferably Galentine’s Day) and reveal the secret Galentine’s.
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Pink and Red Brunch
This one is easy to do. You can pick a fun brunch spot to meet up or potluck at someone’s place. You can even follow the Galentine’s Day theme with decorations or red and pink or foods that are heart-shaped.
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Rom-Com Movie Night
Get your squad together for a chill night of binge-watching your top romantic movies. From Someone Great to Love Actually, there are tons of options to keep the vibes going. You could even turn it into a laid-back sleepover with snacks, games, and more movies.
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