What started as a fictional trope in the US sitcom Parks and Recreation has now become a Hallmark tradition for women across the globe. February 13 or as we know it now, Galentine's Day.
Started almost a decade ago by Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler), the essence of Galentine's Day is to appreciate and celebrate one's female friendships.
As Leslie Knope says, Galentine's is all about "ovaries before brovaries," and a decade later, the motto stands strong.
Over the years, Galentine's Day has helped women create a space for themselves and ditch the pressure surrounding the cupid hallmark holiday.
When Is Galentine's Day Celebrated?
Galentine's is usually celebrated on February 13, a day before Valentine's Day. However, the tradition has now expanded to any day during Valentine's week.
Many celebrate it on the eve of February 14 over a fun girl's night in or out, while some decide to celebrate it on Valentine's Day to mark and celebrate female independence.
Contrary to popular belief, Galentine's Day is not limited to single people. The hallmark tradition is observed by many people, often female, as the day marks the celebration of friendship and in all its platonic and non-romantic forms.
The Origin Of Galentine's Day
Aired in 2010, Season 2, Episode 16 of Parks and Recreation gave birth to the concept of Galentine's Day.
In the episode, main character Leslie Knope celebrates the ladies in her life with a waffle-themed breakfast at a local diner.
Calling it the "best day of the year," Knope describes three pillars of Galentine's Day -
Ladies celebrating ladies
Kicking it breakfast-style
Leaving your boyfriends and husbands at home.
Women Across The Globe Ditch Valentine's Day
The tradition sparked by Parks and Recreation has paved the way for various forms of ladies-only brunches, nights and other such events. While one can also see these initiatives from a capitalistic approach, many women feel that with the emergence of Galantine's Day, we have been able to create safe spaces for women in an otherwise male-dominated, patriarchal world.
From London, Los Angeles all the way to New Delhi, women across the world seem to be ditching the idea of Valentine's Day and are embracing the celebration of platonic female friendships.
Ananya (name changed), 24, says that while love and affection from a partner has brought some joy to her life, "it바카라s also given me enough heartbreak. One thing I can always count on is my girlfriends, who have listened to me rant and cry about countless partners that have come and gone."
"I think this is the case with most women around me as well. We would rather celebrate the love that is constant, which for me is within my female friendships," she adds further.
Garima, 31, feels that the world told women to be independent and modern, but at the same time, they "forgot to groom the men accordingly."
She believes that since the world forgot to teach men how to be with such women, how to treat and support them, this has resulted in the creation of men having unrealistic expectations from their partners.
Speaking to Outlook, she tells us that the "Raja Beta syndrome" has led to constant disappointments.
"Hence, women end up finding solace in the company of their female friends, who have the same issues, and sufferings and whom they can open up to without fear of judgment. And with Galentine's, we celebrate this bond and each other."
According to Mahima, 24, the shift from Valentine's Day to Galentine's Day reflects a broader change in how young women view relationships and self-worth.
"Valentine's Day has always been heavily commercialized and centred around romantic love, which can feel exclusionary or pressuring, especially if you're single or not in a traditional relationship. For many of us, it feels like a day that reinforces societal expectations about finding "the one" or being validated by a romantic partner. Galentine's Day, on the other hand, feels more inclusive and empowering. It's about celebrating the love and support we get from our female friendships, which are often the backbone of our lives," she says.
For Spenta, 25, it's Galentine's over Valentine's any day.
"No need to stress over 바카라the perfect gift바카라 or wait for that one text from your special someone바카라just bottomless brunch, inside jokes, and hyping each other up. I think women are realizing their ride-or-die friendships deserve just as much love (if not more) than any relationship," she says, adding that romance might be "cute and all," but true love is when your girlfriends show up for you.
For Rajeshwari, 38, Galentine's Day is for the "real MVPs" in your life. "The ones "who바카라ve been there through every breakup, bad haircut, and questionable life choices". According to her, G-Day is "all about honouring the unconditional love that looks a lot like messy buns, matching PJs, and inside jokes that never get old."
Parks and Recreation may have ended in 2015, but the tradition of Galentine's Day has and continues to live on.
