Ladies! Your attention, please. In case you haven’t heard, the most magical day of the year is upon us—a day fully devoted to celebrating love in its purest form. No, we’re not talking about Valentine’s Day, but Galentine’s Day. What is Galentine’s Day, you ask? So glad you did. Falling each year on February 13th—yes, the day before Valentine’s Day—Galentine’s Day is basically the friendship version of V-Day. It’s an unofficially-official holiday that’s all about celebrating platonic love and sisterhood between the women (and friends of all genders, really) in your life.
Best of all? You can celebrate it any way you please. While your V-Day plans are often beholden to certain date night scripts (though, JFYI, you have plenty of options for more creative plans beyond just a fancy dinner res), Galentine’s Day is pretty much a free for all. Host a glamorous dinner party, go out for brunch, have the girlies over for a chill wine and cheese night, exchange gifts, throw a Girls Only rager, book a spa day, etc., etc. However you like to toast to the besties and other non-romantic loves of your life, this is *the* day to do it.
And while, yes, you can obviously shower your favorite people with love every damn day of the year, it never hurts to have an excuse to indulge in a little something extra special, you know? Because that’s really the true spirit of Galentine’s Day: treating yourself (and your besties!) And if that’s not a holiday message we can get behind, I literally don’t know what is.
So consider this your friendly reminder that, regardless of your current romantic sitch, we all have plenty to celebrate this time of year. And to make your G-Day planning as easy as possible, here’s our Galentine’s Day gift to you: this comprehensive guide to every single thing you need to know about this very special day. From what Galentine’s Day is, to how to celebrate it, to top-notch gifts and the very best G-Day ’fits, here’s how to make the most of this February 13. Happy G-Day, baby!
Is Galentine’s Day Only for Single People?
Absolutely not, my friend! One of the best things about Galentine’s Day is that it is truly for everyone. Whether you’re single, coupled-up, stuck in a talking stage, or languishing away in yet another unlabeled three-month situationship, Galentine’s Day is a chance to get in on all the V-Day vibes, even if you don’t happen to have a date for February 14th this year. (Not that you need one, JFYI!) Regardless of your relationship status, G-Day is a day to celebrate love in all its forms.
What and When is Galentine’s Day?
According to Urban Dictionary, Galentine’s Day is celebrated on February 13—the day before Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day Eve. While Ryan from The Office knows this is, perhaps, the worst night of the year to hook up with someone new, it just so happens to be one of the best calendar days to celebrate love with your besties.
While the holiday can look different for everyone (there aren’t any rules, like dressing up in costume or bringing a giant pine tree inside your house), the whole point of G-Day is to honor the connection you have with your lady friends, whether they’re single or not, and shower them with more love and attention than you do every other day. It's sort of like Friendsgiving celebrations in the sense that you all get together and love on each other, but Galentine's Day is typically more centered around female bonding and empowerment.
Where Did Galentine’s Day Come From?
One of the most interesting things about Galentine’s Day is that it wasn’t created by a card company or internet marketplace trying to take all your money. Instead, Galentine’s Day was founded by a badass fictional character: Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation.
The friend-filled holiday dates back over a decade to season two, episode 16 of Parks and Rec. During the 2010 episode (which is aptly called “Galentine’s Day”), Leslie gathers a group of her closest gal pals for a brunch full of waffles and love. “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home and we just come and kick it, breakfast style,” she explains in the episode. “Ladies celebrating ladies.”
And thus, Galentine’s Day was unofficially added to everyone’s calendar. According to The Atlantic, it’s such a widely recognized fake holiday that some companies now run Galentine’s Day promotions. What could be more real than that?
How Do I Celebrate Galentine’s Day?
First off, just like Valentine’s Day, you are absolutely free to skip Galentine’s Day if it doesn’t feel like your thing. That said, it's definitely worth giving the holiday a chance. Sure, it sounds a lil cheesy, but considering that it's a day all about showering your friends with affection, it’s a pretty easy holiday to fall in love with.
The good news is that because Galentine’s Day is so new, there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate. Without centuries of tradition, you sort of get to make your own rules here. Many people choose to pay tribute to Leslie Knope—the foremother of Galentine’s Day, if you will—by hosting a waffle and cocktail brunch. If breakfast foods aren’t your vibe, you could gather your pals for a tapas happy hour, make a reservation at a fancy restaurant, coordinate a group mani-pedi appointment, or simply pop champagne and commemorate how great it is to be in a room full of your favorite people for a few hours.
Better yet, you don’t even have to leave your house or put on pants to mark the occasion. If your bestie is long-distance, you could celebrate by sending them a cute care package and catching up over a long FaceTime. Or you can use the day to pamper yourself! You’re a gal, so show yourself some love whether that’s with a brand new Galentine’s Day outfit or a luxe spa day. It’s your Galentine’s Day, bb, and you can celebrate however you want.
Should I Throw a Galentine’s Day Party?
If all of the above has you seeing a potential Galentine's Day party on the horizon, you’re in luck, because this is one holiday that's super easy to host. Decor-wise, most people utilize the V-Day aesthetic for G-Day, so you don't even have to put up different decorations to get your space ready. Deck your place out in Valentine’s Day decor (the more heart balloons, the better!), invite a few pals over, and chow down on some treats. Easy peasy!
If you want to extend the festivities, you could host a slumber party complete with blanket forts, PJs, and prank calls (maybe not the last one, actually?), or have a virtual Galentine's Day party and get everyone together on Zoom to celebrate from your own homes. Basically, think of this party as an elevated friend hang, whatever that means to you.
Do I Have to Buy Stuff?
Again, there’s no rule that says you *have* to do anything other than honor yourself and your friends. If you really want to show the love, though, gifting your pals something special will definitely hit them in the feels. Here are a few cute suggestions your besties will love. (Remember: It's totally okay to order an extra for yourself! It's your holiday too!)
LELO SONA™ Cruise CeriseSONA™ Cruise
LELO SONA™ Cruise CeriseSONA™ Cruise
Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast 3-Wick Candle
Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast 3-Wick Candle
Drawing A Blank Cards Lizzo Galentine's Day Card | Etsy
Tai Jewelry Good Fortune Tarot Necklace
Tai Jewelry Good Fortune Tarot Necklace
Ingrid+Isabel The Oil
Ingrid+Isabel The Oil
LULUSIMONSTUDIO No Feelings Club Puff Oversized Crewneck
LULUSIMONSTUDIO No Feelings Club Puff Oversized Crewneck
Is Galentine’s Day Only for Women?
Nope. Despite its name, anyone and everyone can celebrate Galentine’s Day. At its gooey heart, Galentine’s Day is a celebration of friendship and the people who stick by your side as romantic relationships come and go. That means you can celebrate with any and all friends, no matter their genders, orientations, etc. Like the holiday it precedes, Galentine's day is dedicated to showing the most important people in your life how much you care about them. It’s corny. It’s cheesy. And that’s what makes it great.
Alex Brady is a Cosmopolitan intern who’s excited about everything from pop culture to spirituality to sub-cultures.
Kayla Kibbe (she/her) is the Associate Sex and Relationships Editor at Cosmopolitan US, where she covers all things sex, love, dating and relationships. She lives in Astoria, Queens and probably won’t stop talking about how great it is if you bring it up. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
