If you've seen Parks & Rec, or have been on the internet around February and seen some gifs of Leslie Knope, you probably know what Galentine's Day is. For those of you who don't, Galentine's Day is a magnificent holiday that falls on February 13th, and is dedicated to celebrating the love and friendship of women, to make up for any Valentine's Days blues.
It's the brainchild of Leslie Knope, a waffle-loving, determined, metaphor-making queen. She was a woman who always knew what was up, and definitely deserved to win the IOW's Woman of the Year award, but that's not the point.
The point is, Leslie's holiday deserves to be celebrated by all women everywhere, with their friends. I'm not sure any of us need a special reason to go get brunch with all the women we love and talk about our lives, but if you do, here it is!
Galentine's Day is important this year, because:
It encourages women to cherish their friendships, strengthen their sisterhood, and promote support between women, not competition.
It has nothing to do with "being" somebody's something. Valentine's Day requires you be/have a Valentine to experience the full scope of the holiday. Galentine's Day says, come one, come all! Come with your friends, work friends, long distance cousins, step-moms, and roommates! It doesn't matter who you celebrate today, as long as you're celebrating each other.
You get waffles. As you are out to brunch, it should be a given that waffles are on the menu. Ask for extra whipped cream, as you remember Leslie's adoration for it fondly and cry a little bit because the show is over.
And, as Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford would say, it is an opportunity to treat yo self. Maybe you feel weird flying solo at a fancy restaurant on Feb. 14th, even though you know you're the best Valentine a person would be lucky to have. That's okay--do it on Galentine's Day! Grab the Ann to your Leslie, bake a cake, and bring that cake to a super fancy restaurant where you only order wine and glare at the ooey gooey couples.
Lastly, Galentine's Day, while awesome for adult women who want to celebrate their lasting friendships and bonds, is also really important for young girls. They too need to celebrate their awesome friends and loved ones in a super fun, brunch setting! You're never too young to learn that it will always be friends before romantic partners (literally, Galentine's Day is the day before) and that those friendships are worth throwing a Galentine's Day party for.
If you need proof, just check out this photo of a super young me, in the 1st grade, celebrating a Galentine's Day. I realize this was way before Parks & Rec, but it wasn't before my mom and I realized that friendships deserved their own holiday.
So here's to Galentine's Day! To Leslie Knope, to women supporting other women, and to chocolate and waffles for all.
