Twelve years ago, Galentine’s Day saw its first appearance in our world, on the screens of the American series Parks and Recreation. Now, in its existence for over a decade, Galentine’s Day has become nearly as prominent as its longer-standing, and more traditional counterpart Valentine’s Day, with people all over the globe proclaiming love for their gals. It is usually, and this year, celebrated the day before Valentine’s Day, on 13th February.
Galentine’s Day, in case you were confused, is indeed the celebration of the love and appreciation we have for our girlfriends. We’re not bothered about their relationship status. We don’t care if they’re single, in between things, if they’re in a relationship, married, divorced, or if it’s just complicated. Galentine’s Day doesn’t care about any of that. Galentine’s Day wants us to celebrate, on this day more so than any other day, our gals, our girlie friends, our besties, the ladies in our lives that we can’t imagine being without. It’s a day for showing our closest friends what they mean to us and showering them with love and attention.
So, are there any restrictions as to who is allowed to celebrate Galentine’s Day? Of course not. Anyone can celebrate it. Deep down, Galentine’s Day is about celebrating friendship and those that stay around whilst romantic relationships come and go. It’s as cheesy and soppy as the holiday that follows, but isn’t that a great thing about it?
Besides, the more ladies we show our appreciation and gratitude for their presence in our lives, the better. In a world where it’s still quite tough to be a woman, where we still face unrealistic expectations to be everything to everyone, whilst still looking like we stepped out of a glossy magazine every morning, we need to take stock of who is there for us, who has our back, who cheers us on and who would drop everything to be by our side (or, during Covid times, zoom us at the drop of a hat).
Now that you’re convinced that Galentine’s Day is the best day of February, or, maybe even, of the year, you may ask how you should celebrate, especially now when we can get together in real life again. I’ve got some ideas, and, given that Galentine’s Day 2022 falls on a Sunday, there are various ways to get your girlie tribe together.
- You could arrange for a leisurely brunch at one of your girly mates’ house, complete with waffles, cakes, pancakes or sandwiches. Add some fresh coffee, tea, or even some bubbles, and have a chilled out natter and laugh, taking some time to celebrate your friendships.
- Have a pamper session. Whether you have a home pamper session, book somewhere for a mini retreat or splash out for a Spa Day, relaxing and having a chilled day out with your besties is just what you may need to beat those February blues.
- Have a kitchen disco. Get glammed up at night, put on some heels and some tunes, and dance together, enjoying each other’s company. Have a cocktail or mocktail, and ignore the fact that it’s Sunday and you’ll have to head to work as per usual the day after.
- Watch a film together. You don’t need to be in the same bubble as your BFF to snuggle up on the sofa and enjoy the same film. Get the chocolates or popcorn ready, snuggle up under a soft blanket and escape reality for a bit. And let’s face it – most of the time, we just chat through the film anyway!
If a get-together can’t take place as one of you has Covid or you’re not living close by, all the activities above can be done virtually, via Zoom. Brunch, a home spa, a virtual kitchen disco and watching a film whilst chatting on WhatsApp are all possible whilst we are still living in a very strange world thanks to the pandemic.
Regarding gifting, keep things meaningful and eco-friendly. If you give your girlfriends cards, think about making your own or write a message that is worth keeping, rather than the card being thrown away soon after. Instead of flowers or chocolates with extensive packaging (I love me some Lindt but look at all those foils and plastic wrappers…), why not choose something like an eco-friendly cosmetic product (my friend Bejal from https://be-lavie.com suggests Upcircle Beauty https://upcirclebeauty.com/ which you can buy from Sainsbury’s) or other toiletries, such as refillable deodorants (I recently tried, tested and loved Wildrefill www.wearewild.com, which offers a free case to three friends), razors (I have my eyes on Shoreline Shaving www.shorelineshaving.com as their whole product is plastic free) or shampoo and conditioner bars (from LUSH www.lush.com– although be careful – they smell so good, you’ll want to eat them!).
Meaningful gifting in a world where our planet is in dire distress is worth so much, and if you manage to persuade your girlie mates to make permanent sustainable switches, even better!
I hope this post has inspired you to celebrate not only your romantic love on Valentine’s, but also your friendships and bonds you have with those ladies (or boy-mates) in your life.
If you have any other suggestions, why not get in touch so I can include them in future blog posts.
Chameleon in High Heels 