February 14th. In the weeks leading up to this monumental date, the stores are riddled with red and pink, sporting a mass of stuffed animals, fresh bouquets, and corny cards. The air is filled with the stench of roses and chocolates, while love songs hum through the air. Restaurants flood with reservations, flower deliveries surge, and heart-shaped everything fills the shelves. It’s the time of year to celebrate love, specifically, romantic love.
However, in recent years, society has seen the emergence of another holiday on February 14th, one that alters the message of Valentine’s Day to celebrate female friendships. Dubbed ‘Galentine’s Day’, social media platforms such as TikTok have contributed to its prominence. One quick search online and your feed will be flooded with videos providing viewers with Galentine’s inspiration, encouraging them to create things such as aesthetic decorations, gifts, and themed sweet treats.
Galentine’s is more than just a TikTok phenomenon, it is a global movement that echoes the value of female friendships on a day where solely romantic relationships are celebrated.
So, this year, get your girls together and do Galentine’s right! Here are some ideas to get you started:
· Make a ‘smash’ cake and bond over your crushes
· Make a ‘hear me out’ cake for supporting the unexpected crushes
· Do a potluck of pink-themed foods
· Decorate your event in pinks and reds
· Gift your friend a rose, because they deserve it!
· Make a girly playlist
· Dress up in white, pink or reds
· Bake brownies and cookies (always dessert before dinner)
· Not just dessert but pizzas as well
· Watch a romcom with some cozy blankets
Even if it isn’t a global holiday, female friendships always need to be cherished. So, make memories with them because, as Pheobe Buffay says in Friends, “This is for life!”.
