National Today * Galentine's Day – February 13, 2024 *

February truly is the month of love and Galentine’s Day on February 13 fits right in. We’re quick to shower our significant others with gifts and treats on February 14, but the day prior was designed to celebrate other equally important relationships in our lives: our girlfriends! Galentine’s Day is a time to bring together the ladies in your life you love most.

WHEN IS GALENTINE'S DAY 2024?

The female friendships we so heavily rely on are celebrated each year on Galentine’s Day on February 13. Originating from the popular TV show ‘Parks and Recreation,’ the holiday is all about declaring love and affection to the girls who make up our support system. Go Girl Power!

HISTORY OF GALENTINE'S DAY

Galentine’s Day was the creation of the beloved fictional deputy director of Parks and Recreation in Pawnee, Indiana, Leslie Knope. The show’s writers centered the 16th episode of the second season of Parks and Recreation around Leslie’s favorite February tradition, Galentine’s Day. Over a brunch of waffles and excessive gift-giving, Leslie celebrates the joy of female friendship with close friends and co-workers.
What was previously an unknown and unofficial holiday immediately skyrocketed in popularity, so much so that businesses have created Galentine’s Day promotions in honor of the celebration. Special happy hours, group spa discounts, and brunch deals are popular ways to honor the occasion, as the once fictional holiday filled a void in the Valentine’s Day market that left single women feeling alienated by the pomp and circumstance of the lover’s holiday.
The holiday that Knope invented bares striking similarities to her character — over-the-top generosity and impassioned sincerity. Galentine’s Day is to Valentine’s Day what Friendsgiving is to Thanksgiving: a chance to recognize the impact that our friends have on our lives and thank them for their steadfast loyalty, love, and laughter.
We could go on, but we think Leslie explains Galentine’s Day best: “Every February 13, my ladyfriends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

GALENTINE'S DAY AROUND THE WORLD

Valentine’s Day isn’t the only day to celebrate love. Just like Galentine’s Day, here are other holidays around the world that celebrate love in their own way.
Galentine's Day Around the World



[th]Country[/th][th]Holiday[/th][th]Occasion[/th][th]Date[/th]

Finland	Ystavanpaiva	A more platonic take on love, the day is both for friends and lovers.	February 14
Wales	San Dwynwen	On this day, uniquely handcrafted wooden spoons are exchanged by lovers.	January 25
China	Singles’ Day	Celebrating the greatest form of love - self-love, with a lot of retail therapy.	November 11
Brazil	Dia dos Namorados	Lovers Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm.	June 12
Spain	Saint Dionysus	The day of love is celebrated by making figurines from marzipan, called ‘macadora.’	October 9

GALENTINE'S DAY TRADITIONS

Today is all about the girls in your life who are your rock. Be it your sister, mother, or friend, female friendships are very important and there is nothing like it. Girls like to hang out, talk, share secrets, and create memories all the time so there aren’t any specific traditions for this day. Head to your favorite cafe, go ice skating, spend an afternoon with your gal pal at the salon, or just order in a pizza and watch movies.
The holiday did gain popularity from an episode of ‘Parks and Recreation,’ so it always trends every year on this day on social media. Quotes and memes are shared from this specific episode too.

STATS ABOUT GALENTINE'S DAY

98% – the percentage of women who have a best friend.
6 – the average number of best friends women have in their lifetime. 
16 – the average lifespan of female friendships.
23 – the average lifespan of female friendships after the age of 55. 
1 in 4 – the number of women who say their best friend knows them better than their partner.
47% – the percentage of women who wish they could spend more time with their best friend.

GALENTINE'S DAY FAQS

Who created Galentine's Day?

Galentine’s Day was created by Leslie Knope, the Parks and Recreation fictional main character. She invented the holiday as a tribute to her close girlfriends.
 

What are some ways to celebrate Galentine's Day?

Here are four good ones:

[list="box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 3em; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"][*]Brunch, brunch, and brunch some more
[*]Send your girlfriends a card
[*]Get your girlfriends a gift
[*]Pamper yourselves
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Is Galentine's Day celebrated every year?

Yes! Unofficially, Galentine’s Day is celebrated the day prior to Valentine’s Day, annually on February 13.
 

GALENTINE'S DAY ACTIVITIES

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Get your girlfriends together

A Galentine's Day celebration isn't so without rallying the ladies together! If you can't all be together in person, a group Skype or FaceTime session will suffice. Whatever the case may be, make sure you're sharing fond memories, lots of laughter, and maybe a few tears -- happy ones only.

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Eat, drink, and be merry

Perhaps you'll take a feather from Leslie's cap and get the girls together for brunch (waffles in particular), or maybe your girl gang is more of a bottle-of-wine-at-happy-hour plus a cheeseboard type of group. Nothing brings friends together like food, and Galentine's Day is the perfect excuse to indulge in something delicious with your favorite ladies by your side.

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Treat yo' selves

Parks and Recreation gifted us a wealth of memes, "treat yo' self" being one, Galentine's Day being another. Donna Meagle would be proud if you got the girls together for mani-pedis, facials, or a group trip to the spa for a day of pampering. 

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5 MOVIES ABOUT FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS TO WATCH ON GALENTINE'S DAY

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“Clueless” (1995)

Based on Jane Austen’s book “Emma,” Clueless is a cult classic with the ultimate girl squad — Cher, Tai, and Dionne.

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“Crossroads” (2002)

Three childhood friends take a road trip that changes their lives forever.

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“The Help” (2011)

A story about how female friendships and resilience shake the Southern community during the Civil Rights Movement.

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“Mean Girls” (2004)

The ultimate movie and social commentary on girl friendships, frenemies, Queen B’s, and The Plastics.

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“Lady Bird” (2017)

The story of Lady Bird and Julie as they grow through teenagehood.

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WHY WE LOVE GALENTINE'S DAY

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It shows how awesome women are

Women rock, and when women support one another, they rock even more. Galentine's Day allows women to celebrate one another's achievements, both solo and within their friendships.

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It celebrates platonic friendships

Relationships may come and go -- and Valentine's Day can be a stark reminder of that -- but good friendships are steadfast. Friendships continue to be an important role in our lives, particularly in our adult years, because they create a sense of stability in a world that is increasingly mobile.

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It defies cultural norms

Galentine's Day found a gap in the market to acknowledge one of the most common yet unrecognized entities in our lives: Female friendship. With the inception of the #WomenSupportWomen movement and other endorsements of female empowerment, Galentine's Day becomes an increasingly important movement to celebrate the people in our life that don't often receive praise.

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