Move over, Valentine’s Day… This year, we’re taking Galentine’s Day to a whole new level! While celebrating the love you have for your ‘significant other’ is valuable on February 14, you should also make an effort to recognise the strength of your relationship with friends, too. After all, there’s plenty of love to go around.
Galentine’s Day is an occasion celebrated on February 13 (the day before Valentine’s Day), and was invented by Leslie Knope, a fictional character on Parks and Recreation. Thank heavens she did invent it! When you live such a busy life, it can be easy to fall complacent and let the importance of appreciating your female friendships take a back seat. Let’s change that this year.
Here’s a how-to guide to ensure you have a fun-filled, rewarding Galentine’s Day that nourishes your relationship with your friends.
Plan A Unique, Fun Activity
Ahead of February 13, plan an itinerary that’s bursting with exciting, unique activities that the whole group will enjoy. Forget boozy brunches and café lunches if that’s something you’ve already done a million times before; get creative and identify new opportunities that will delight and unite. Here are some of our suggestions:
Create a scrapbook – Get the gang together and create scrapbooks filled with your friendship’s favourite memories. Ask each person to bring photographs and sentimental mementos (such as concert tickets or dinner receipts) and spend the afternoon sticking them into place along with pretty sequins, ribbons, and stickers. Now you each have a nostalgic book that tells the story of your friendship.
Volunteer together – Give back to the community that helped your relationships blossom by volunteering at a local charity or non-profit organisation that has a special place in all your hearts. It could be taking part in a fundraising event at the school where you all first met, or joining a volunteer programme at the hospital that looks after you all during your times of need.
Hike and glamping trip – Spend some time with Mother Nature and bond over the great outdoors. Although it can be rather chilly in February, hiking in cold weather can be a powerful cardiovascular workout because your body is forced to work harder to maintain normal body temperature; plus, it can offer a unique kind of scenery you won’t find in the summer. End the day by unwinding and relaxing in a heated glamping pod, enjoying your favourite snacks and discussing the day’s highlights.
Write A Heartfelt Letter To Each Other
This Galentine’s Day, tell your friends just how much they mean to you by writing a heartfelt letter to each other. Expressing your feelings and appreciation for someone is such an underrated way to strengthen your relationship, boost self-esteem, and improve communication.
As busy humans that are always on the go, we often assume that people know what we mean and how we feel, but this isn’t always the case. Plus, it’s simply a lovely thing to do that makes both the writer and the reader feel good! An occasion as special as Galentine’s Day requires sweet words that help enforce a loving atmosphere.
Exchange Thoughtful Gifts
In advance of February 13, consider buying or crafting a special gift that demonstrates how much you appreciate your friends. Not only will it delight those that receive the present, but actually giving the gift releases various “feel-good” chemicals in the body, including serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. It’s a joyful decision all round! Gift ideas include:
A framed thoughtful quote – Is there a particular earnest or motivational quote that resonates with the friendship group? Place it above a group picture and have it printed and framed.
A bag filled with their favourite things – Purchase a pretty floral backpack for each member and pop inside items such as books, sachets of their most-loved hot drink, bath sets, and favourite snacks. Practical yet meaningful.
Personalised jewellery – Gifting an attractive necklace or bracelet is never a bad idea, especially when that piece of jewellery has been personalised. Choose to have each person’s initial engraved on the pendant, or simply buy the same design, so you’re all matching.
Reflect On The Importance Of Female Friendships
Galentine’s Day is a reminder to appreciate the supportive female friends we’re so fortunate to have in our lives, so take a moment to do exactly that on February 13. When you get some time to yourself, make a cuppa, get cosy on the sofa with a blanket, and spend a few moments thinking about your nearest and dearest.
Reflect on past friendships, think about the different ways your female friends have supported you over the years, and consider the role you play in their lives. Your inner circle has the power to influence your mindset and your experiences, even if you don’t realise it. That’s why it’s so important you pick your friends wisely and give them the treatment they deserve.
The Bottom Line
Galentine’s Day is a remarkable time to celebrate and appreciate the wonderful bond between women and to cherish the friendships that have been formed in our lives. Remember that it’s OK – and not unusual – if you don’t have a big group of female friends that mean the world to you; what matters is that you cherish the ones you do have.
A successful Galentine’s Day can be enjoyed between two friends or 22! Quality over quantity, always. We hope you have a special day, whatever you choose to do, and whoever you choose to spend it with. Girl power!