Where Did “Galentine’s” Day Come From?

      By the time February rolls around, Galentine’s Day is everywhere. Instagram feeds full of brunch pics, group selfies, pink everything, and at least one friend insisting that this day matters just as much as the 14th. It feels long established, like something we have always done. However, Galentine’s Day is actually way newer than most people realize.

      The idea came from a 2010 episode of the tv show, Parks and Recreation. In it, Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, explains that every year she ditches traditional Valentine’s plans and instead celebrates the women in her life. Her version of Galentine’s Day involves waffles, gifts, and what she calls, “ladies celebrating ladies.” What was solely meant to be a sitcom punchline in a tv show has favorably found its way into Valentine’s Day tradition.

      After that episode aired, people began using the term in real life. At first it was mostly fans of the show, but it did not stay that way. Soon Galentine’s Day turned into an excuse for brunch, movie nights, or just another reason for spending time with friends. By the mid 2010s, it had gone fully mainstream, with restaurants, brands, and social media all treating it like a real holiday.

      Part of the reason it caught on so quickly is because Galentine’s Day offers a little extra fun to your February season. Aside from celebrating love, of course. Hanging out with friends doesn’t involve pressure or expectations. It also reveals something about how friendships are viewed nowadays. For a long time, friendships were treated as less important than romantic relationships, even though they are often the most constant part of someone’s life. Galentine’s Day flips that idea by putting friends first and treating those relationships as something worth celebrating purposefully.

      As Galentine’s season comes around, it is also a great reminder to set aside the time for your loved ones. Between school, work, and everything else filling our busy schedules, friendships can easily turn into quick texts and passing hallway conversations. Taking a night to hang out, grab food, or just talk can make February feel a lot less overwhelming.

      So while Galentine’s Day started as a TV joke, it’s stuck because people needed and believed in it. Sometimes celebrating love has everything to do with the friends who show up for you.