Galentine’s Day | Hermagic
Galentine’s Day has become a popular holiday over the last decade for honouring female friendships. Observed on February 13th, the day before the romance-focused Valentine’s Day, it provides an opportunity to celebrate the amazing women in your life. From low-key gatherings to elaborate parties, there are so many fun ways to commemorate this girl power holiday.
What is Galentine’s Day?
The concept of Galentine’s Day was popularized by the TV show Parks and Recreation in 2010. Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, decides to throw a brunch party for her female friends to celebrate “ladies celebrating ladies.” Since then, it has taken off as a real holiday for women to get together and celebrate each other.
This day has no set rules or traditions. At its core, it’s about women coming together to have fun and uplift each other. You can observe it however you like – whether it’s just you and your best friend or a large group. The most important thing is taking time to appreciate and honour the phenomenal women in your life.
The History of Galentine’s Day
It has only been around for a little over a decade, but its roots are tied to long-standing traditions honouring women. In ancient Rome, February 13-15 was the festival of Lupercalia, dedicated to the goddess Juno and celebrating women’s fertility and sexuality.
During the Middle Ages in England, Valentine’s Day involved Robin Hood-like characters called “galantines” who would deliver musical messages and poetry to women of admiration.
In more recent decades, various “Gal Pal” days and ladies’ social clubs emerged as occasions for women to gather. But it wasn’t until 2010 that this day became mainstream.
The idea was invented by Parks and Recreation writer Michael Schur as a fun plotline for Leslie Knope. Since then, it has evolved into a beloved holiday for female bonding.
While its fictional TV origins may seem silly, one of these days taps into an important cultural need – a designated day just about honouring women and their relationships. It provides a fun, festive way to uplift the ladies who make life a little brighter.
Galentine’s Day Ideas
There are so many creative ways to celebrate this day in 2024. Here are some fun ideas to make February 13th special with your lady squad:
Galentine’s Day Brunch
What better way to celebrate your gal pals than with a leisurely brunch? Host a get-together at your home or book a reservation at a local restaurant. Breakfast casseroles, fruits, pastries, and bottomless mimosas are perfect brunch fare. Don’t forget the festive decorations like balloons, streamers, and flowers!
Make it a potluck brunch and ask everyone to bring a dish like a quiche, fruit salad, or baked goods. Set up a fun self-serve bar with prosecco and different juices for DIY mimosas. For decor, use pink and red tones with floral tablecloths, heart-shaped confetti, and plates with cheeky Galentine’s Day quotes. Have some classic brunch activities too like fun games and photo booth props for capturing the memories.
Spa Day
Get massages, facials, manicures and just indulge. You can even organize an at-home spa day complete with face masks, cosy robes and your favourite movies. Some spa-inspired Galentine’s gifts include bath bombs, scented candles, and skincare products.
Book a package at a local spa for you and your gal pals. Get classic treatments like massages, facials, mani-pedis and body wraps. Sip cucumber-infused water and nibble on fruit and chocolates as you lounge in plush robes post-treatment. Exchange small spa gifts like lush bath bombs, hydrating face masks, calming candles, and monogrammed slippers. For an at-home option, prepare DIY face masks and give each other pedicures while watching chick flicks.
Galentine’s Day Party
For the ultimate bash for this day, throw a party! Make it a potluck and ask everyone to bring an appetizer or dessert. Have a photo booth area with quirky props. Set up a craft station to make Galentine’s cards or decorate photo frames. And of course, have a dance party playlist filled with girl power anthems like “Independent Women” and “Single Ladies.”
Go all out with a themed Galentine’s soiree. Pink decor like balloons, streamers, twinkle lights and fresh flowers will set the mood. Make it a potluck and encourage everyone to bring a signature cocktail or appetizer along with their favourite karaoke songs. Set up fun stations around the party like a craft table to make Galentine’s cards, a photo booth with props, and a candy bar. Play classic party games like Galentine’s Trivia, Two Truths and a Lie, or Never Have I Ever. End the night with a dance party featuring the ultimate ladies’ anthems.
Bar Crawl
What better bonding experience than bar hopping with your best gals? Plan out a route ahead of time that hits up your favourite local hotspots. Snap pics and make memories while enjoying delicious drinks and good music. To add some Galentine’s flair, make everyone pink “Girl Gang” t-shirts to wear.
Organize a Galentine’s bar crawl to hit up new cocktail bars and old favourites. Map out the stops ahead of time within walking distance. Make cute tees or tanks for the group like “Jesse’s Girls” or “Galentine’s Squad.” At each bar, try a signature cocktail while snapping silly selfies and group pics in the photo booth. End the night dancing at a club with the best DJ and bottle service. The memories made galavanting around town with your girl gang will last long after this day!
Galentine’s Day Slumber Party
Recapture the fun of middle school sleepovers with a Galentine’s slumber party. Stock up on snacks like popcorn and candy for movie marathons. Do makeovers and paint each other’s nails. Play silly games like Truth or Dare. Stay up all night gabbing and giggling in your cosiest PJs.
Channel the nostalgic joy of childhood slumber parties with a Galentine’s sleepover. Stock up on junk food like chips, popcorn, pizza, and candy to fuel your antics. Queue up a lineup of romantic comedies to keep you laughing all night. Give each other manicures and pedicures while swapping secrets. Play scandalous games like Spin the Bottle or Truth or Dare. Stay up way too late reminiscing about high school and college adventures. Capture the night’s memories in a group photo before passing out in matching pyjamas.
Acts of Kindness
This day is also about spreading the love beyond your friend group. Consider volunteering together at a women’s shelter or charity. Make homemade cards to take to a retirement home. Or pay for a stranger’s coffee with a sweet note. Giving back deepens bonds between friends while making someone else’s day brighter.
Along with celebrating each other, make use of the day to practice compassion and kindness in your community. Volunteer together at a women’s shelter, making care packages with blankets, toiletries and snacks. Bake cookies to deliver to the nurses at your local hospital with thankful notes. Write encouraging cards to residents at a senior home, reminding them they are loved. Pay for someone’s coffee behind you in line, leaving a heartfelt message about spreading kindness. Giving back together builds strong bonds while uplifting others.
Galentine’s Day Gift Ideas
Exchanging small tokens of appreciation is a lovely gesture for anyone celebrating Galentine. You don’t have to spend a lot – it’s the thought that counts. Here are some fun DIY and store-bought gifts to make your BFFs smile:
- Matching necklaces or bracelets
- Personalized stemless wine glasses
- Sentimental photo frame with a favourite pic
- Cosy slipper socks or pyjamas
- Cute makeup bags
- Bath bombs
- Scented candles
- Monogrammed stationery
- Chocolate truffles
- Heart-shaped macarons
- A playlist or mix CD of special songs
- Flower bouquet or mini plant
- Starbucks gift card
- Ticket to see a movie or show together
Even homemade Galentine’s coupons for a movie night, coffee date, or girls’ night out make thoughtful presents. Write sweet notes reminding your gal pals why you appreciate them.
Galentine’s Day for Singles
If you’re single on this day, don’t fret – this holiday can be for you too! Here are some ideas for fabulous Galentine’s celebrations whether you’re solo or just hanging with the girls:
-Plan a solo spa day. Light candles, take a bubble bath and treat yourself to a skincare or hair mask.
-Get glammed up and hit the town. Go to dinner or see a show by yourself. Treat it as a special date night just for you.
-Host an anti-Valentine’s Day party for your single friends complete with a breakup playlist, cookie dough, and champagne.
-Do an at-home craft night making Galentine’s cards and gifts for your BFFs.
-Have a pyjama Netflix party and live-tweet your favourite rom-com.
-Take yourself on an adventure – go on a hike, check out a new museum exhibit, or shop at new boutiques.
-Make your favourite comfort foods and have a meal prepped self-care week.
The beauty of this day is you can celebrate however fits your mood. Surround yourself with supportive girlfriends or spend time focusing inward. However you observe, use the day to practice self-love.
Make Galentine’s Day Special
Ultimately, it is what you make of it. Whether you go all out with a themed party or keep it simple with heartfelt cards, embrace the spirit of friendship and community.
Here are some final tips for commemorating the day in a meaningful way:
- Make a personalized playlist featuring your friends’ favourite songs.
- Display photos of your favourite memories together.
- Share “How I Met My Galentines” stories over drinks or brunch.
- Exchange thoughtful, heartfelt cards with personal messages.
- Toast the day with a special cocktail like strawberry champagne.
- Take group photos in matching outfits or accessories.
- Surprise your BFFs by having flowers delivered to their offices.
- Share a circle of affirmations about what you admire in each other.
Conclusion
Any quality time spent uplifting the women you care about will make for a happy Galentine’s Day. However you celebrate, let this holiday serve as a reminder to tell your gal pals how much they mean to you not just on February 13th, but every day. Cheers to ladies supporting ladies! For more contect as such check out Hermagic.
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