Galentine's Day: What is it and why do we celebrate it?
It is February 13, the day before Valentine's, and like many other women across the world, I am preparing to host a Galentine's night.My invitations have been sent, the pyjamas and gifts have been bought and the food menu has been created, all to ensure we have a great evening of celebrating our female friendship.The Galentine's Day tradition was started almost a decade ago by Leslie Knope, the main character in the US sitcom Parks and Recreation as a chance for the female characters in the programme to get together and celebrate "ovaries before brovaries".It has since been adopted by the real world - so how do we celebrate it?
Paris Amy Morgan, 20, from Merthyr Tydfil, organised a "sip and paint" night at her beauty salon on Wednesday to "bring local women together".Although Galentine's Day is typically marked on February 13, it can be celebrated any day.She said: "Galentine's is just a nice excuse to do a fun girly thing."Paris wanted to create an inclusive environment for women to feel comfortable attending on their own to make new friendships.The event involved 15 women painting wine glasses while drinking and eating nibbles together.After advertising her event on social media, it sold out within an hour, which Paris believes is because there are not many similar events for women in the town.She said: "It's hard to make friends in your 20s or when you are older, and events like this are so important to help form new friendships and bonds."She described Galentine's night as a good opportunity for women to "dedicate time for themselves" and to their friendships.After the success of her first Galentine's night, she hopes to plan more events in the future to celebrate womanhood, and tackle feelings of isolation some may have.
Gemma Thomas, 41, also from Merthyr Tydfil, has organised an event for her 12-year-old daughter Evie and friends.Every year, the pair usually have a Galentine's night to celebrate girlhood and their strong mother-daughter relationship.Gemma said growing up she felt pressure in school on Valentine's Day as she used to worry whether she was going to receive a card or not.She said: "I want Evie to grow up knowing she does not need a man to shower her with gifts to enjoy this time of year."I would have loved a Galentine's event when I was my daughter's age."
This year, Evie decided she wanted to spread the love to others.Therefore, Gemma has organised an event for young girls in Merthyr Tydfil to come together for a pamper day - where they will have face masks, manicures and make friendship bracelets."It's showing them from a young age how important it is to celebrate girlhood and to value their friendships," she said.
Another woman who has been celebrating girlhood and prioritising self care is 22-year-old student Charlotte Oliver-Holland, from Newport.Newly single, she decided to attend a flower arranging Galentine's event in York, where she is in university. She said: "There is so much pressure to focus on romantic relationships, but the focus should be on friendship relationships."They will always be there for you."Charlotte said Galentines events were great for helping find friendships, adding: "Life can get lonely when you don't have best friends and not everyone has friends from childhood."
What is Galentine's Day?
Galentine's Day celebrates women's friendship and is usually held on 13 February, one day before Valentine's Day.It is a chance for single and taken friends - typically, but not always, female - to come together to embrace womanhood by sending fond messages, meeting and exchanging gifts.Basically, it is the friendship version of Valentine's Day.The tradition was invented almost a decade ago by Leslie Knope, the main character in the US sitcom Parks and Recreation.With more than 200,000 TikTok videos using the hashtag Galentine's, the day's popularity has increased over the last few years.There are no rules for holding a Galentine's celebration, however the events are usually pink-themed, with an emphasis on aesthetically pleasing decorations and matching pyjamas.
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