Galentine’s Day is a term coined by Leslie Knope in the TV show Parks and Recreation.
It’s a day to celebrate the love you have for your girls, usually celebrated on February 13th. There are many ways to celebrate the occasion, from cocktails to a movie night.
Here’s your guide for the best Galentine’s Day.
What is ‘Galentine’s Day’?
Valentine’s Day is a national holiday to celebrate a significant love in your life. The month of love can feel isolating for many. Valentine’s Day and sometimes the entire month of February can start to become entirely focused on romantic relationships. This month doesn’t just have to be a celebration of significant others, though. Galentine’s Day is an unestablished holiday generally celebrated on February 13th. Celebrating female relationships is important, and Galentine’s day is a perfect excuse to celebrate the girls in your life. As Leslie Knope says, “Oh, it’s only the best day of the year…Ladies celebrating ladies.”
Food
Food is the center of any good celebration. The type of food you serve can vary on theme and location, but the best way to cater to your gals is hearts! Whether it’s homemade pizzas, fresh fruit, cake, or any food you may be serving, shape it as a heart!
There are many favorites when it comes to Galentine’s food. The classics like chocolate-covered strawberries and boxed chocolates never go out of style, but don’t hesitate to put a spin on them! A new favorite is charcuterie boards. Charcuterie boards have an abundance of options. You can use desserts, fruit, candy, and many others. Arrange your food on a beautiful board and add some touches of heart shapes, colors, or any other elements that fit your theme!
While making food in advance and serving it is always a great option, making food together can be a fun activity. Coquette heart cakes are trending right now and could be a fun challenge to attempt with your girls. These vintage cakes are adorned with fancy decorations and usually a short quote. It can be a blast to make multiple cakes or decorate one together.
Another fun option is having each guest choose something to bring. Give them a theme or type of food to bring, and you’ll have a wide variety of options. Assigning a celebrity for each guest could be a perfect theme idea for each food option. The options are endless, and it allows everyone to be involved.
Drink
Whether it’s cocktails or mocktails, themed drinks are an essential part of Galentine’s Day. Pick your favorite flavors, pour them into a cute heart-shaped glass, and you’re set to go!
Galentine’s cocktails come in a wide range of options. Some 2024 favorites include cotton candy champagne, chocolate-covered strawberry shots, and conversation heart cocktails. Make your drinks ahead of time, or this is another great opportunity to have your guests make their own sets of drinks as well.
There are also many delicious mocktail options. Set up a drink station with different ingredients for your guests to create their own concoctions. A great base for your stations is sodas and sparkling tonics. Set out sprinkles, icing for rimming, and edible glitter for mixing! Flavored and shaped ice is a perfect way to add a cute twist to your Galentine’s creations, and it never hurts to have fruits and garnishes to top it off.
Activities
One of the best options to celebrate your friends is a dinner party. Having a night in is a perfect time to bond with your girls. Setting a theme for the night guarantees a good time. Some fun Galentine’s themes this year include dressing as an ex, color themes, or celebrity themes.
The possibilities are truly endless. Pick what’s best for your girls’ interests! You can base the rest of your night on the theme as well. From dinner menus and drinks to the music or movies you watch, a theme makes party planning easy.
Hosting a paint night is the perfect activity for the creative girls in your life. You can choose whether to paint on canvas, glasses, rugs, or candles. If you want to spice it up, switch paintings every few minutes and create a group piece. Another option is jewelry making. This has been the year of friendship bracelets, so grab some chains and charms and create some matching jewelry!
There are plenty of new activity trends emerging this year. Some rising ones are bouquets and perfume. If your group loves flowers, have everyone bring their own flowers or greenery. Set everything out and start to mix and match to create your own bouquet! Perfume-making is a very unique activity. You can now buy kits or gather your own ingredients to make your own scent!
Gift Guide
One of the greatest parts of Galentine’s is the gifts. You can go all out or keep it simple. Any gift will show your girls your love. Galentines’s can seem overwhelming, but it can all be done on a budget.
A Galentine’s Basket is the perfect option to share with your guests. You can personalize them or do a general theme for your baskets. Fill your baskets with candy, socks, candles, and, of course, all things hearts! The options are endless when it comes to a gift basket, so feel free to get creative!
Galentine’s Day cards are a perfect way to bring out your sentimental or funny side. Create cards for each of your guests (or make them together!). You can use this as a gift, a way to share memories, or a creative thank-you card for your guests. Valentine’s cards are a tradition that began in the 18th century, and your girls are sure to love them.
One of the best budget-friendly gifts you can give is a personalized playlist or video. The sentiment of a personalized gift is immeasurable. Making a thoughtful playlist based on each guest or a video collection of moments with your group is free to make and might just be their new favorite gift.
Movies
There are plenty of movies to complete the perfect Galentine’s Day. Whether you’re looking for a movie full of love or an anti-valentine movie, we’ve got you covered.
There are plenty of feel-good movies about girlhood that are must-watches for this Galentine’s Day. This is a perfect time to pull out the classics or discover new movies. Greta Gerwig’s collection is an array of movies about womanhood, and it’s a great place to start when choosing movies for Galentine’s Day.
- Barbie (2023)
- Pitch Perfect (2012)
- Mamma Mia! (2008)
- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
- Little Women (2019)
Anti-Valentine’s movies are also a good pick for this holiday. If you’re in the mood to watch films about lost love or breakups, there are plenty of those. From heartbreaking breakups to horror films, the options are endless.
- Marriage Story (2019)
- La La Land (2016)
- Legally Blonde (2001)
- Midsommar (2019)
- Heathers (1988)
Cozy up in front of the TV or set up a projector to conclude your Galentine’s Day events. Or, pick a selection of movies and dedicate your day to watching them! Pick what’s best for your group, and enjoy!
Conclusion
Galentine’s Day is a dedicated day to celebrate female relationships. Gather your friends and family to participate in fun activities, make memories, and celebrate the love they bring to your life. Have fun celebrating!
