We all know about the big hoorah that is Valentine’s Day, but are you familiar with the lesser-known February 13th holiday? Originating on the show Parks and Recreation, Galentine’s Day is a holiday for “ladies celebrating ladies.” We all know our gals deserve just as much (if not more) recognition as our SOs, so be sure to make the most of Galentine’s Day this year and celebrate it well!
1. Grab some brunch
Celebrate Galentine’s Day the Leslie Knope way, complete with endless waffles and whipped cream. There’s nothing BFFs love more than brunch! Pick a place and a time and celebrate the holiday the way it’s meant to be spent: with breakfast food. Can you say “bottomless mimosas”?
“One of my favorite ways to spend time with friends is Sunday brunch,” says Kendall Donohoe, a fourth-year student at Northeastern University. “It gives everyone a reason to get out of bed before noon and even people with super busy work/school schedules can come!”
2. Watch chick flicks
Nothing screams Galentine’s Day like a night in with the girls. Throw it back to your sleepover days by celebrating with a couple of your friends’ favorite flicks.
“Every year for Galentine’s Day, I invite all my girlfriends over and we watch movies at my house,” says Helmi Henkin, a sophomore at the University of Alabama. “They’re usually chick flicks, like Titanic, or all three High School Musical [movies]. I also provide a whole bunch of treats and candy, and my friends bring some over too, so we can sweetly snack while enjoying each other’s company!”
If you’re feeling like a girls’ night in, rent a few flicks, pick up some popcorn and invite the ladies over. You can’t go wrong with a movie night!
3. Take a trip
Always wanted to do a classic best friends road trip? Well, now is your chance! If you and your gals live close to the city or another destination you’ve been dying to visit, pack up your suitcases and get going.
“I love the idea of taking a weekend trip to the city with friends,” says Brianna Susnak, a sophomore at Indiana University. “If your campus is close to a fun city like Chicago, Nashville, NYC or anywhere really, you could spend a day (or all of Valentine’s Day weekend) doing fun things downtown like dressing up and going out to dinner, shopping, going to a concert, going out for drinks, etc.”
There’s nothing that brings people closer together than traveling! Celebrate this Galentine’s Day by planning a big trip and making the most of your weekend together.
4. Go wine tasting
Class up your Galentine’s Day by signing up for a wine tasting with your BFFs. “Treat yo’ self” to an array of wines and cheeses and spend the day catching up with your gal pals over some delicious local drinks.
No wine tastings in your area? Sign up for a bar crawl or take a tour of a local brewery. Want to make it extra special? Host your own wine tasting, providing cheeses and snacks, and ask your BFFs to bring a favorite bottle!
5. Have a sleepover
Nothing says friendship like staying up past your bedtime, eating entirely too much junk food and gossiping about your old crushes. Turn it old school this Galentine’s Day by inviting your besties over for a good, old-fashioned slumber party. Prepare some fun activities like board games or charades, pull out the old yearbook (if your high school friends are coming) and stock up on chips and popcorn!
6. Get crafty
Always wanted to make a DIY wine glass? Been thinking about painting your old coffee table? Wanting to decorate some picture frames for your dorm? Now’s the time! This Galentine’s Day, invite your friends over for a DIY craft session to check out all those Pinterest crafts you’ve been wanting to do.
7. Tell your ladies you appreciate them
When friendships come naturally, it seems out of place to vocalize how much your BFFs mean to you. But it’s always nice to take some time and tell your friends what they mean to you. Have your girls over for the night, pull out the wine and explain how much you appreciate them. It seems cheesy, but you can’t not feel great after a good heart-to-heart!
“It sounds silly, but when my friends and I get together once or twice a year, we go around in a circle and say a few things we like best about each other,” says Alex Watson, a senior at New York University. “It just reaffirms why we’re friends and makes everyone feel good about themselves and each other!”
8. Give a gift
In the wise words of Tom Haverford of Parks and Recreation, “Things are forever.” If you want to add a little more to your Galentine’s Day rendezvous, go for gifts! Show your friends how much you appreciate them with a thoughtful present to commemorate your friendship. Find that perfect gift that shows just how well you know your bestie, or take it one step further and make something yourself!
While Galentine’s Day hasn’t qualified as a federal holiday just yet, it’s still important to celebrate! We’ve been celebrating loved ones on February 14th for years, but it’s time we set aside a day for our BFFs. Who’s with us?