“What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year.” – Leslie Knope
Leslie Knope is my hero. My idol. The individual that I most aspire to be like. Yes, I know she’s a fictional character. And yes, I know she set impossibly high standards for herself and was often too perky or too optimistic or just too much. I also know that Parks and Recreation, the series that created her, has been off the air for nine years.
Regardless, Leslie made me believe in myself. She made me think that if I were optimistic and strong-willed and confident, I might just get everything I ever wanted. She was right. Leslie Knope, a fictional character, also forged a new holiday that has carried on long after Parks & Rec concluded: Galentine’s Day.
History Lesson
The first Galentine’s Day was celebrated on February 13, 2010 by the OG Galentine’s Leslie Knope, Ann Perkins, Donna Meagle, Marlene Knope, April Ludgate and others. Leslie describes Galentine’s Day as a celebration of lady friends and presents her gals with mosaic portraits.
Since that first episode aired, Galentine’s Day has become a global celebration of female friendships. There are greeting cards, t-shirts, decorations, and so much more to share your everlasting love for your friends. In 2022, Galentine’s Day was even added to the Merriam-Wester Dictionary.
Celebrate Your Gals
Do you know what I love best about Galentine’s Day? It’s an opportunity to celebrate your female friendships in the manner which means the most to you. When I organize a Galentine’s Day celebration for my group of friends, I like to celebrate the week after Valentine’s Day so we can buy little themed gifts for each other…at a discount.
Here are some additional ideas for celebrating Galentine’s Day:
- Galentine’s Brunch – dress up and cheers your friendships with mimosas and waffles.
- White Elephant Gift Exchange – regift your girly items.
- Get Your Sweat On – celebrate the strength of your bodies by participating in a group fitness class.
- PJ Pampering Party – gather at someone’s house for facemasks and pedicures.
- Female Empowerment TV Marathon – get together and watch shows or movies that feature female heroines.
Your celebration doesn’t have to be lavish. It can be as simple as texting your favorite gals to let them know how much they mean to you. As commercialized as it has become, the true purpose of Galentine’s Day is to provide a space for women to celebrate our platonic relationships, which are just as important as romantic ones.
Like Leslie always says, “We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn’t matter, but work is third.”
