Galentines Day an Alternative Holiday

By DEVON GOHDE 

Galentine’s Day is a new holiday that celebrates female friendships and it’s starting to make its way into the month of February.

It was made popular from the NBC hit show Parks and Recreation in Season two, in the episode titled “Galentine’s Day.” The holiday is on Feb. 13 and celebrates female friendship. “Ladies celebrating ladies,” as Leslie Knope (Amy Pohler) says. That episode aired in 2010 and was a recurring part of other Valentine’s Day specials for the show. Today, the holiday is making its way into the mainstream.

Galentine’s day is exactly what it sounds like, a day for all women, regardless of relationship status, to do what you would do with a spouse, like going out to eat and exchanging gifts, or doing your own things like having a party.

“I went to a Galentine’s Day party last year and it was so much fun!” Says Ramapo junior Edana Lobosco “We made dinner and watched 13 going on 30.”

Making Galentine’s day a mainstream holiday is a step in the right direction.

Since this is a new holiday, there are no real traditions tied to it. This adds to the fun of creating new traditions with your close friends for your celebration every year.

The Importance of Female Friendship

Nowadays, female friendship is very important and is needed now more than ever.

Alisa Ruby Bash, a licensed marriage and family therapist said, “Research shows that women, (possibly) more than men, need to maintain those connections. It increases serotonin and oxytocin, the bonding hormones.” 

“Your friends should be important in your life and should have a day for it, not just spouse,” says Autumn Pilatwoski, a sophomore at Ramapo College.  “Your friends will always be there for you, Friendship not be taken for granted, and this is a day to remember that.”

Stores are starting to sell merchandise, like Party City, who sells decorations for a Galantines Day party. Hallmark even sells cards for the occasion.

Small shops on Etsy make tons of handmade cards and presents like scrunchies and glasses for this day. Even people who aren’t a big fan of holidays think Galentines day should be considered a real holiday.

“February 14^th, Valentine’s Day, is about romance, but February 13^th, Galentine’s day, is about celebrating lady friends. It’s wonderful, and it should be a national holiday.” the character Knope says ”  in Parks and Recreation’s season four Valentine’s Day special.