Many people have a complicated relationship with Valentine’s Day. After all, what are single people supposed to do? Watch couples act all sweet and sentimental while sulking in a corner and regretting all their life decisions?
That’s where Galentine’s Day comes in. This term was added to the dictionary in September 2022. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is “a day for women to celebrate their friendships with their lady friends. It’s Valentine’s Day with your gals.”
The fusion of the words “valentine” and “gal” was from Leslie Knope, a character in the NBC comedy “Parks and Recreation” in 2010. The idea that there could be a holiday to celebrate friendships, not just romantic relationships, gained lots of popularity in recent years. It’s similar to the term “Friendsgiving,” where people celebrate friendship near or during Thanksgiving in November.
However, Galentine’s Day is not only limited to single people. Anyone can take part in celebrating and appreciating friendship. This holiday unofficially takes place on Feb. 13 to allow people in relationships to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. That means this year, 2024, Galentine’s Day will be on a Tuesday.
Activities that people can participate in include but are not limited to are going out to brunch, having a spa day or gifting flowers and chocolates to friends. Other ideas include watching movies, doing arts and crafts, playing board games, cooking or baking together or setting up a picnic.
Scientific data backs up why Galentine’s Day is an unofficial holiday that many should consider celebrating. According to nationaltoday.com, 60 percent of millennials would rather spend time quarantining their closest female friend over a romantic partner.
Additionally, 70 percent of females consider their female friends as family members. The website also mentions the states where this holiday is most popular: Washington D.C., Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and California.
There are holidays around the world that are similar in the sense that they all celebrate love. Finland has Ystavanpaiva, which includes romantic and platonic love, and it is on Feb. 14. China has Singles’ Day on Nov. 11, which focuses on the importance of self-love and care.
Another example would be Wales’ San Dwynwen on Jan. 25. Lovers and friends exchange handcrafted wooden spoons on this day to demonstrate their appreciation for each other.
However, Galentine’s Day is a time to have friends gather and treat themselves to any relaxing or bonding activities. It defies the cultural norms set by Valentine’s Day, and provides a chance for friends to catch up or reminisce on any fond memories.
An article written by Nikhil Batra on msn.com highlights the significance of the holiday. It recognizes the importance of female friends and nurturing relationships. The holiday welcomes any close friends regardless of gender, challenges traditional rom-com narratives, celebrates single status and fosters a sense of sisterhood and community.
Even students at Aliso are excited about this holiday. “I love my friends, and I always want to show them how much I appreciate them,” shares Ella Mercankaya (12), “I think Galentine’s Day is a really cool holiday that will bring people closer together.”
