It’s that time of year again. Couples are seen holding hands around campus and Cupid is flying through the air. But the reality of Valentine’s Day is obvious, not everyone is in a romantic relationship, though that doesn’t mean that you can’t find reasons to celebrate.
In the Greek language, there are four words for love: philia, eros, storge, and agape. Philia is the word for the love of strong friendships. It typically has the defining qualities of equality, affection and support.
In English, love is just love. While some may argue their love for pizza is like the love they have for their partner, I think that using specialized words for love help give power and meaning back to word. So even though it may be hard to use ‘philia’ in a sentence, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t there.
So with all that in mind, whether you have a romantic partner to spend the holiday with or not, there’s always time to show your friends how much you ‘philia’ them. Without further ado, here are some ideas for the gang to get together!
- White Elephant Gift Exchange.
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Put a $10 spending limit on buying items and then all take a trip to your local thrift stores. You can set a theme (for example: funny) or a type of item (for example: trinkets/knick-knacks). This is a great way to get out of the house as a group, split-up at the store to get the items all together, then maybe grab a snack after the official exchange.
- Movie Night and Self-care.
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Now, you can really do this anytime, but if you haven’t recently, maybe it’s time to bring back a classic. Get the squad together, wear your PJs or really any comfy clothes and just relax. Make some popcorn, put on a romcom, and let the laughs and love sweep you into all the feels. (The Notebook, anyone?)
- Breakfast for Dinner.
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Now, this isn’t a totally traditional Valentine’s Day activity per se, but it is a great opportunity to do something unconventional to break up the routine. You could make (or buy) pancakes or waffles along with strawberries, whipped cream, and any other toppings you’d enjoy. You can totally customize this experience and do it from the comfort of your own home!
- Head over to Floyd’s Diner in Victoria (or any Diner for that matter)!
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With a round of strawberry milkshakes (maybe even some boozy ones if you’re legal). You and the gang can get together over a relatively cheap meal that brings you the comfort of home with your closest friends.
Like a lot of things in life, there’s really no “one-size fits all” method for what you need to do (or not do) for Valentine’s day. Still, I hope this article has inspired you, and maybe a few friends, to get together and celebrate your love for each other anyways!