This entry was posted on February 2, 2024 by Becca Armstrong-Benson.
The month of love is officially here, and while Valentine’s Day isn’t going away anytime soon, there’s a new holiday you need to know about: Galentine’s Day.
In recent years, we’ve seen more and more people celebrating Galentine’s Day with their besties, from Michelle Obama who took to social media in 2020 to share her love for her pals, to the Kardashians who have celebrated the day in style surrounded by love-themed décor.
Whether you love or loathe Valentine’s Day, we bet this is a holiday you’ll want to get on board with. Here’s everything you need to know about Galentine’s Day, plus the surprising origin of this unofficial holiday that’s taken off around the world.
Galentine’s Day: History, Significance & Origin
A combination of ‘Valentines’ and ‘gals’, Galentine’s Day is all about celebrating the female friendships in your life and embracing the spirit of V day with your girls, regardless of whether you’re single or in a relationship.
A relatively new date in the calendar, the history of Galentine’s Day might surprise you, with its origins tracing back to TV comedy Parks and Recreation - yes, really!
Season two, episode 16 titled ‘Galentine’s Day’ shows fictional lead Leslie Knope (portrayed by Amy Poehler) celebrating the holiday with her friends. “It’s only the best day of the year,” Leslie says in the episode. “Every February 13th my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and kick it breakfast style…. Ladies celebrating ladies.” We love it!
The episode aired in 2010, and thanks to Leslie, Galentine’s Day has become an unofficial holiday, celebrated amongst female friends worldwide.
Of course, you can show your love for your friends year-round, but Galentine’s Day offers the perfect opportunity to tell the ladies in your life just how much you appreciate them.
When is Galentine’s Day?
Galentine’s Day is an unofficial holiday that falls on the 13th February, the day before Valentine’s Day, every year. This year, it will take place on Tuesday 13th February 2024 so you’ve still got plenty of time to plan how you will celebrate the occasion with your besties.
How to Celebrate Galentine’s Day
When it comes to celebrating Galentine’s Day, there are no rules, and as it’s a fairly new occasion there aren’t any traditions either.
Celebrate like Leslie and her pals with a Valentine’s-inspired brunch or enjoy a movie night at home with your best girls. The options are endless!
While gifts aren’t necessary on Galentine’s, it is a great excuse to treat the ladies in your life and give them a token of appreciation.
If you’ve got a large group of girlfriends, consider playing Secret Cupid, aka the Secret Santa of Galentine’s Day. Just like with Secret Santa, put everyone’s name into a hat (or an online name generator) and set up a gift exchange with your besties. If you wish, you can set a theme for gifting like self-care essentials or love-themed gifts, or set a budget for Secret Cupid to keep costs low.
Remember: The day is all about coming together to champion female empowerment and show gratitude for your friends, so you don’t have to spend lots on a gift. A thoughtful token of appreciation in the form of their favourite chocolate or a bouquet of flowers is sure to be warmly received.
Galentine’s Gift and Flower Ideas
Parks & Recreation’s Leslie celebrates Galentine’s Day by gifting her friends each a bouquet of hand crocheted flower pens, a mosaic portrait, and a personalised 5,000 word essay on why they are so awesome.
While Leslie’s Galentine’s gifts are sweet in their own way, thankfully there are lots of other ways you can tell the women in your life how much you love them without spending your evenings crocheting flower pens!
Hampers
Consider hosting a brunch for your girls and decorating the table with flower bouquets they can take home, or gifting them hampers filled with their favourite treats. Appleyard’s pre-packed Valentine’s Hampers will certainly impress, featuring delicious chocolate truffles, prestigious champagne, plus self-care goodies including NEOM Organics’ candles and pillow mists.
Galentine's Flowers
When it comes to choosing the perfect Galentine’s Day bouquet, opt for an arrangement featuring your friend’s favourite flowers or treat them to a bouquet with meaning.
Appleyard’s Valentine’s Mixed Rose Bouquet features a colourful combination of peach, cerise, pink & hot orange roses. The latter is traditionally the colour of rose given to a friend who needs a little boost, while pink roses symbolise admiration, happiness and love. Appleyard’s Letterbox Candy Roses are also a great way to make their Galentine’s Day extra-special. While white roses are a symbol of innocence and purity, lilac roses signify a long and happy life. You can even pair the flowers with a bottle of fizz to toast the occasion.
Flower Subscription
Got a long distance bestie? Treat her to a beautiful bouquet of blooms or go one step further and set up a flower subscription on a plan of your choice, so you can remind her just how special she is month after month.
Here’s to the special women in our life - and here’s to a wonderful Galentine’s Day!
This entry was posted in All News on February 2, 2024 by Becca Armstrong-Benson.← Previous Post
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information on various topics, including Galentine's Day. I can provide you with information about the history, significance, and origin of Galentine's Day, as well as suggestions on how to celebrate it and gift ideas for your friends. Let's dive in!
History and Origin of Galentine's Day
Galentine's Day is a holiday that celebrates female friendships and is observed on February 13th, the day before Valentine's Day. The concept of Galentine's Day originated from the TV comedy show "Parks and Recreation" in an episode titled "Galentine's Day" that aired in 2010. In the episode, the character Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, celebrates the holiday with her friends, emphasizing the importance of female friendships and supporting each other .
Since then, Galentine's Day has gained popularity and has become an unofficial holiday celebrated by women around the world. It provides an opportunity to express appreciation for the women in your life, whether you're single or in a relationship. The holiday has been embraced by many, including public figures like Michelle Obama and the Kardashians.
How to Celebrate Galentine's Day
There are no set rules or traditions for celebrating Galentine's Day, so you have the freedom to create your own unique celebration. Here are a few ideas to make the day special:
- Valentine's-inspired brunch: Host a brunch for your female friends and decorate the table with flower bouquets. You can also exchange small gifts or tokens of appreciation.
- Movie night: Plan a cozy movie night at home with your best girls. Choose your favorite romantic comedies or any movies that you all enjoy.
- Secret Cupid: If you have a large group of girlfriends, consider playing Secret Cupid, which is similar to Secret Santa. Draw names and set up a gift exchange with a theme or budget to keep costs low.
- Express appreciation: Take the time to express your gratitude and appreciation for your friends. A thoughtful gesture, such as giving them their favorite chocolate or a bouquet of flowers, can go a long way .
Remember, the main focus of Galentine's Day is to champion female empowerment and show gratitude for your friends. The most important thing is to spend quality time together and celebrate the bonds of friendship.
Galentine's Gift and Flower Ideas
If you're looking for gift ideas for your friends on Galentine's Day, here are a few suggestions:
- Hampers: Consider hosting a brunch and gifting your friends hampers filled with their favorite treats. You can also include self-care goodies like scented candles and pillow mists to create a relaxing atmosphere.
- Flower bouquets: Choose a bouquet featuring your friend's favorite flowers or select a bouquet with symbolic meanings. For example, peach, cerise, pink, and hot orange roses can symbolize admiration, happiness, and love. You can even pair the flowers with a bottle of champagne to toast the occasion.
- Flower subscription: If you have a long-distance bestie, consider setting up a flower subscription for her. ThisAbout Me: I'm an expert in communication, public speaking, and interpersonal skills. I have extensive experience in analyzing and delivering effective speeches, as well as understanding the nuances of non-verbal communication and its impact on interpersonal interactions. My knowledge is based on a wide range of sources, including academic research, practical experience, and ongoing professional development. I stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in communication and public speaking.
Galentine's Day: History, Significance & Origin: Galentine's Day is a relatively new holiday that celebrates the bonds of female friendship. It falls on February 13th, the day before Valentine's Day, and was popularized by the TV show "Parks and Recreation." The character Leslie Knope, portrayed by Amy Poehler, introduced the concept in a 2010 episode, where she and her friends celebrated the day with a breakfast gathering, emphasizing the importance of "ladies celebrating ladies" .
When is Galentine’s Day? Galentine’s Day is celebrated on February 13th, the day before Valentine’s Day, every year. In 2024, it will take place on Tuesday, February 13th, providing ample time to plan and celebrate the occasion with female friends.
How to Celebrate Galentine’s Day: There are no strict rules for celebrating Galentine’s Day, allowing for a wide range of activities. Ideas include hosting a Valentine’s-inspired brunch, organizing a movie night at home, or engaging in a gift exchange with friends. The focus is on championing female empowerment and expressing gratitude for friends, making it a perfect occasion to show appreciation without the need for extravagant gifts.
Galentine’s Gift and Flower Ideas: When it comes to gifting, there are various options to make Galentine’s Day special. Suggestions include hosting a brunch and decorating the table with flower bouquets, gifting hampers filled with favorite treats, or choosing meaningful flower arrangements such as the Valentine’s Mixed Rose Bouquet. Additionally, setting up a flower subscription for a long-distance friend can be a thoughtful gesture to remind them of their importance throughout the year .
In summary, Galentine's Day is a modern celebration of female friendships, popularized by the TV show "Parks and Recreation." It offers a unique opportunity to express appreciation for female friends and celebrate the spirit of togetherness. Whether through thoughtful gifts, meaningful gestures, or shared experiences, Galentine's Day is a time to honor and cherish the special women in our lives.
