What Is Galentine's Day? How Parks and Recreation Created a Holiday Celebrating Female Friendships (2024)

"It's only the best day of the year," the day of "uteruses before duderuses" and "ovaries before brovaries."

And the off-screen best friends from NBC's popular sitcom, Parks and Recreation, are almost never caught missing it. Aubrey Plaza, who played notoriously apathetic intern April Ludgate on the show, shared a sweet selfie with former co-stars, Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope) and Rashida Jones (Ann Perkins), celebrating their Galentine's Day together in 2019.

"happy galentines dayyyyyy," she wrote in the post. The trio celebrated in 2018 as well, keeping up the tradition with other members of the cast.

So what exactly is Galentine’s Day?

The iconic celebration is an unofficial holiday that takes place on Feb. 13, the day before Valentine's Day. Its entire premise is that women forget about any significant others for the day — and solely focus on celebrating the female friends in their lives. Contrary to the popular criticism that Galentine's Day patronizes single women, the celebration is meant to be a day of empowerment, and a reminder for women to support and uplift one another.

It's about "ladies celebrating ladies," as Poehler's character, Leslie Knope, would put it.

Where does Galentine’s Day come from?

We have the legendary Leslie Knope to thank, circa 2010.

During season 2, episode 16, of Parks and Recreation, the world was first introduced to the glory that is Galentine's Day by Poehler's well-loved character. In the episode, Knope explains what Galentine's Day is and arranges for her female friends to "kick it breakfast style," giving out hand-knit presents and essays she wrote about what makes each woman special. Galentine's Day appeared again in a following season.

What Is Galentine's Day? How Parks and Recreation Created a Holiday Celebrating Female Friendships (2)

How can you celebrate Galentine’s Day?

Since the episode first aired, Leslie Knope's tradition has been popularly adopted, with women all over the world celebrating Galentine's Day. It can be as simple as grabbing a drink or dinner after work, or a movie night (maybe even binge-watching Parks and Recreation) with some favorite snacks at home. Others have thrown full-blown parties, and many restaurants and venues have taken to hosting events. At the end of the day, it's about spending some quality time with incredible women in your life, being grateful for their friendship and empowering one another.

Like Leslie Knope said, "It's wonderful and it should be a national holiday."

How do celebrities celebrate Galentine's Day?

What Is Galentine's Day? How Parks and Recreation Created a Holiday Celebrating Female Friendships (3)

Many celebrities have created their own ways to get in on the Galentine's Day fun!

In 2020, Kylie Jenner threw an impressive lunch which she documented thoroughly on her Instagram account.

The beauty mogul and her friends enjoyed piles of fruit, cheese and crackers, plus a selection of Galentine's Day-themed snacks. As a fun on-theme activity, the ladies were given canvases and paint to create their own works of art.

Kylie's pal Stassie Karanikolaou went on to paint a picture of a heart-shaped Chanel handbag while Kylie's daughter, Stormi, then 2, decorated her canvas with her little handprints.

In 2022, Lizzo celebrated the holiday in lilac velvet lingerie as she hosted a "piercing party" for her team.

"HAPPY GALENTIMES TO MY HOES & HOETTES," Lizzo captioned a video on TikTok.

Lizzo shared a video of her first turn in the seat receiving an ear piercing, writing, "My turn. I was scared," although she admitted that it "didn't hurt at all."

This year, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Brooks Nader and her three sisters Mary Holland, Grace Ann and Sarah Jane celebrated Galentine's Day at a Clarin's event in Los Angeles. The soirée was filled with sparkles, flowers, sisterly love and lots of pink.

What Is Galentine's Day? How Parks and Recreation Created a Holiday Celebrating Female Friendships (2024)

FAQs

What Is Galentine's Day? How Parks and Recreation Created a Holiday Celebrating Female Friendships? ›

Protagonist and feminist icon Leslie Knope

Leslie Knope
Leslie Barbara Knope (/ˈnoʊp/ NOHP) is a fictional character portrayed by Amy Poehler and the main protagonist of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. For most of the show's run, she serves as deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department of the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Leslie_Knope
, played by Amy Poehler, invented the holiday in Season 2, episode 16 of the series, aptly titled 'Galentine's Day. ' In the episode, Leslie and her friends forgo traditional Valentine's celebrations in favor of a day meant to honor female friendship.

What is the meaning of Galentine's Day? ›

Galentine's Day is a global holiday that celebrates women's friendship. Galentine's Day is typically marked as February 13, but can be observed any day. Galentine's Day events are typically all-female occasions of mutual "empowerment...a reminder for women to support and uplift one another."

Was Galentines Day created by Parks and Rec? ›

It's one of those things that has just embedded itself in popular culture, and it actually goes back to the Feb. 11, 2010, episode of "Parks and Rec" where Leslie Nope, Amy Poehler's character, is introducing Galentine's Day. It's this wonderful day where, you know, women celebrate women. They go out to brunch.

How was Galentines created? ›

Before we dive deeper, a brief Galentine's Day primer: the day was created as a fictional holiday on the American sitcom Parks and Recreation in 2010, in an episode in which the show's leading character, the earnest and endearing Leslie Knope, (played by Amy Poehler) created a reason to celebrate her best friends.

What are some fun facts about Galentines Day? ›

Fun Fact: Galentine's Day was created by Leslie Knope, the Parks and Recreation fictional main character. She invented the holiday as a tribute to her close girlfriends.

What is Galentines explained? ›

Galentine's Day is a play on Valentine's Day dedicated to celebrating a different kind of love - friendship. The unofficial holiday falls on Feb. 13, the day before Valentine's, and specifically encourages women to get together with their female friends and honor the power of female friendship.

How do you celebrate Galentines Day? ›

This day, as the name suggests, is usually dedicated to honoring friendships between women. You get to spend it however you like with your galentines—by going out, taking a trip, enjoying a cozy night at home, or simply showering each other with gifts and affection the same way you would a partner.

What is the guy version of Galentine's day? ›

Malentine's day is a day for men to meet up and celebrate their amazing friendship.

How to wish Galentine? ›

Wishing all my gal pals a day filled with love, laughter, and endless memories. Happy Galentine's Day! On this Galentine's Day, celebrate the beauty of friendship that knows no bounds. Love you, ladies!

What TV show popularized Galentines day? ›

Galentine's Day originates from “Parks and Recreation,” a popular sitcom from 2009, as the term was coined by the main character, Leslie Knope. The term specifically came from season two episode 16 of “Parks and Recreation,” aired in 2010; Leslie and her friends would celebrate being women.

Is Galentines Day only for girls? ›

Galentine's Day is definitely NOT for just the singles and girls. While the name has gal in it, anyone and everyone can celebrate Galentine's Day. Whether you're single, coupled-up, stuck in a talking stage, or languishing away in a confusing set-up, Galentine's Day is a chance to celebrate meaningful relationships.

Why are people saying Galentines instead of Valentines? ›

Coined in 2010 by an episode of the sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” Galentine's Day falls on Feb. 13 and is all about “ladies celebrating ladies,” according to Leslie Knope, the show's main protagonist.

What does galentine mean in urban dictionary? ›

Well, according to Urban Dictionary it is celebrated on February 13, the day before that other made-up holiday (ahem, Valentine's Day). It's a day for celebrating the love you have for your lady friends, whether they're single or not.

Is Galentines day a real holiday? ›

So glad you did. Falling each year on February 13th—yes, the day before Valentine's Day—Galentine's Day is basically the friendship version of V-Day. It's an unofficially-official holiday that's all about celebrating platonic love and sisterhood between the women (and friends of all genders, really) in your life.

Did Galentine's day come from Parks and Rec? ›

When did Galentine's Day start? Real-world celebrations of Galentine's Day grew from the "Parks and Recreation" episode, which aired Feb. 11, 2010.

What is the meaning of Galentine? ›

a cold dish made of chicken or other meat with the bones removed, that is filled with a mixture of other foods, rolled or pressed into shape, and cooked in stock (= a liquid used to add flavour to food): For the starter I had chicken and fig galantine with a spiced mango salsa.

Why are people calling it Galentines? ›

The word—a blend of Valentine's Day and gal—was introduced to the world by the chipper and dedicated Leslie Knope, the fictional Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department of the also-fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana, in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation, which ran from 2009 to 2015.

What is the male version of Galentines day? ›

Malentine's day is a day for men to meet up and celebrate their amazing friendship. It is a happy, celebratory day, the male equivalent of Galentine's day.

What is the meaning of Palentines day? ›

Palentine's Day is a global holiday celebrating friendships and every other form of platonic love. It is celebrated annually on February 13, but can be observed on February 14 as well, and complements Valentine's Day, which celebrates romantic love.

What does galantine mean in English? ›

gal·​an·​tine ˈga-lən-ˌtēn. : a cold dish consisting of boned meat or fish that has been stuffed, poached, and covered with aspic.

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