What Is Galentine’s and How to Celebrate

It’s nearly Galentine’s Day—and no, that isn’t a typo. Forget the chocolates, the flowers, the busy restaurants and the tired waiters; it’s time to celebrate female friendship—ladies celebrating ladies, as coined by Leslie Knope from the TV show Parks and Recreation.

What Is Galentine’s Day?

There’s now something a little different to celebrate. Instead of Valentine’s Day, which typically focuses on traditional relationships, Galentine’s Day is all about those special female friendships. If you’re a Parks and Recreation fan, you may know it from episode 16 of the second season, in which Leslie Knope throws her annual celebration.

What started as a humorous section in a TV show has since morphed into a genuine social movement featured in “Cosmopolitan” and the “New York Times.” According to the Food Institute, 25% of respondents in its survey said they planned to celebrate Galentine’s Day in 2025.

When Is Galentine’s Day Celebrated?

Galentine’s Day is unofficially held each year on February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day, but that doesn’t mean it has to be the counterweight to Valentine’s. Whether you’re single, dating someone, engaged, or 20 years into marriage, this is all about celebrating those special friends in your life.

Why Galentine’s Day Matters

We often put so much emphasis on getting our relationships right that we neglect our friendships. But we do this at our peril. Our friends are the ones who are there for us at 2am when we need them. They’re the ones who tell it to us straight, while others flatter. They’re the ones you call when you’re in your worst moments.

Solid friendships make life more enjoyable, but they are the ones who truly support us through the dark times. Yet friendships require maintenance—or to use a garden analogy, they require regular attention to ensure they continue to grow and bloom.

Popular Ways to Celebrate Galentine’s Day

We’re all different, and there are countless ways to celebrate Galentine’s Day. The important point to consider is what your friendship represents and what you typically like to do together. Here are a few ideas:

Brunch: The classic. Whether it’s just two women or a bunch of you, get together, eat, drink, and be merry. Simple, easy—a guaranteed good time.

Spa Day: If you want to push the boat out a little and find yourself feeling tense and stressed in the lead-up, think about booking yourself in for a little R&R.

Adventure: Movement generates endorphins, the feel-good chemical, as well as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. Activities, whether that’s hiking, skiing, or simply a long walk, are great ways of spending time with your most treasured friends.

Galentine’s Day Gift and Experience Ideas

Who says gifts and experience ideas need only be for Valentine’s Day? Here are a few ideas for gifts for that special friend.

Personalized Keepsakes: Everybody loves something with a strong sentimental touch behind it. Think custom books that tell the story of a friendship, an engraved locket or a T-shirt with that inside joke that only the two of you know about.

Experiences: Doing makes you happier than owning—officially. While material goods are great, the impact of a shared experience lasts significantly longer. Think of a concert to see your favorite band, a cooking class, a fitness class—hell, why not just jump out of a plane together and take an Insta360 Ace Pro 2 to record it all.

Memory-Making Tools: In the end, moments slip through our fingers at an alarming rate, but, hopefully, what we’re left with are memories that we can treasure for a lifetime. A compact stabilizer like Insta360 Flow 2 Pro keeps smartphone footage smooth—perfect for dance floors, busy streets, and those videos you like to make together.

How to Plan a Galentine’s Day Celebration

Great celebrations are supposed to feel effortless, but without a little planning, things can quickly become aimless. Here are a few tips to plan the perfect Galentine’s Day:

1. Set the vibe: Are you going brunch chic or active-wear casual for that hike along the coast? Pick a vibe and make sure everybody knows what’s happening.

2. Lock in the Guest List: Keep it intimate or go full party mode, but just make sure everyone feels included.

3. Choose an Anchor Activity: It’s easy to get into the habit of trying to cram everything when really the best Galentine’s Day is based around a solid anchor activity; movie night, pizza making, dancing, etc.

4. Create a memory plan: When everybody gets swept up in the excitement, it’s easy to forget about memories, so make sure somebody has a camera out and ready for those best shots. To make it easy, just hang something like Insta360 GO Ultra around your neck, hit record, and forget about it for the next few hours.

Virtual and Hybrid Galentine’s Day Ideas

Not everybody lives in the same city, or even in the same country, but that’s not an excuse to swerve Galentine’s. Consider events like an online gaming night or virtual dinner party where you all cook something different and then sit down with a glass of wine.

How Galentine’s Day Has Evolved Over Time

What was originally a joke on a television show has grown dramatically since the episode aired in 2010. More than 15 years later, it has evolved to the point that more than 25% of women surveyed plan to celebrate Galentine’s Day in some form. Even if people don’t use the phrase, the concept of getting together with friends around the time of Valentine’s Day is now huge.

Capture Your Galentine’s Memories with Insta360

Galentine’s Day isn’t about pressure; it’s about showing your best friends how much they mean to you. Whether that’s over huge brunch plates and bottomless prosecco or while climbing that mountain you all congregate each year, capturing those memories matters. It lets the present moment last much longer. This Galentine’s Day, make sure you have the right Insta360 camera, like Insta360 X5 to help you document every angle, every smile, every unforgettable second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Galentine’s Only for Single Girls?

Not at all. Galentine’s Day is for anyone who wants to celebrate friendship. Relationship status doesn’t matter.

What Is the Guy’s Version of Galentine’s Day?

There’s not really a guy’s version of Galentine’s Day. Some people casually refer to “Palentine’s Day” or “Malentine’s Day,” but there’s no official counterpart.

Who Started Galentine’s Day?

Galentine’s Day first appeared in episode 16 of the second season of the hit TV show, Parks and Recreation. In the episode, Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, throws her annual Galentine's celebration, and it entered the mainstream from there.