What on earth is Galantine's Day?
- flora183
- Jan 30
- 2 min read
“Galentine’s Day”, celebrated on 13th February, is a day dedicated to friendship—particularly female friendship—rather than romantic love, contrasting with, or complementing Valentine’s Day with all the hearts and flowers and romance.
The term was popularised in 2010 by the brilliant American television show Parks and Recreation, featuring Amy Poehler as the hapless Leslie Knope, an enthusiastic if incompetent deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department of the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana. Leslie explains Galatine’s Day is ‘the best day of the year’. Every February 13th she and her female friends leave their boyfriend and husbands at home and have a brunch to celebrate each other.
Somehow the idea took off in real life when viewers recognised something real and valuable in the idea: a chance to honour friendships that are often overshadowed by romantic relationships.
Many people celebrate it because friendships can be just as sustaining, intimate and life-defining as romantic partnerships—sometimes more so. For single people, it can be a joyful rejection of the pressure and loneliness that Valentine’s Day can bring. For those in relationships, it’s a reminder that love comes in many forms, and that friendship deserves its own spotlight.
This isn’t really anything new. I had a friend and university who used to send ‘non-Valentine’s cards’ to her best female friends. One year she had given three of us a stanza each of a favourite poem and asked us to meet together so we could each read a stanza and so complete the poem. But I prefer the term ‘Galatine’s Day’ because it sounds more positive - somehow being sent a 'non-valentine's' card felt even more lonely than not getting anything at all.
Celebrating Galentine’s Day doesn’t require anything elaborate. You could organise a brunch, dinner or movie night with friends, exchange small thoughtful gifts, or simply send messages telling people why they matter to you. Whether it’s loud or low-key, Galentine’s Day is ultimately about connection. It’s a reminder that love is not limited to romance and that friendship is worth celebrating.
And what nicer gift could you send a friend to cheer them up than a gift-wrapped, personally signed copy of A Little Treat on Honey Street – available from my web shop with £1 off with the code GALANT
