February 13th: Galentine's Day

The day to get to together with your gal pals and celebrate in all your womanly awesomeness.

In the words of Leslie Knope it’s “only the best day of the year. Every February 13th my lady friends and I leave our boyfriends and husbands at home and we just come and kick it breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. Like Lilith Fair. Minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

Don’t get me wrong, Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays (and yes, I know I’m biased because I’ve been happily dating someone for four years), but I still realize the importance of Galentine’s Day.

Whatever you feel about Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day should be a new tradition in your repertoire of holidays.

Unlike Valentine’s Day which is very romanticized as soon as we’re teenagers and beyond, Galentine’s Day isn’t at all and no one has to feel bad about being single on Galentine’s Day, in fact there is no need for any romance for this holiday.

And maybe beyond not having a romantic partner, you don't have a bunch of girl friends, but that doesn't need to stop you from participating in the activities. You can celebrate with your mom, your grandmother, sisters, aunts, roommates, classmates or neighbors. Even though it's technically about love (between friends) it can extend to familial love and unexpected acts of kindness. You can catch up with friends, make cookies for your roommates, give flowers to your mom.

Everyone needs platonic love in their lives. Humans are social creatures and it's important to spend time with others. We get busy with our lives but we still need to take time to get together with our friends and Galentine's Day creates a great opportunity to.

It's a good way to catch up with your gal pals and always keep each other in your lives even if you only see them on this one day a year.

If you are against Valentine’s Day because of the commercialization, that doesn’t have to ruin Galentine’s Day for you. Even though Leslie Knope may want it to be, it isn't a national holiday. There is no set way to celebrate Galentine’s Day or gifts you can get so you can make it totally your own.

Galentine's Day is a holiday about women and for women. It's about unity and friendship and love. There shouldn't be anything controversial about being proud to be a woman and celebrating with women in your life. It's a wonderful holiday for any woman wanting to connect with other women and have a fun, sociable day and free your mind of the stresses of Valentine's Day and the expectations of romance and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate.