Sure, Valentine's Day may get a lot of attention, with stores everywhere suddenly festooned in red and pink decorations and stocked with an overwhelming supply of chocolates. But it’s the day before — Galentine's Day — that really has our heart.
Galentine’s Day (or Palentine’s Day) may be a niche holiday, but it's a beloved one. As Merriam-Webster defines it, Galentine's Day is “a holiday observed on February 13 as a time to celebrate friendships, especially among women.”
The holiday began in 2010, inspired by the NBC show Parks and Recreation, per PEOPLE. In the show, Galentine's Day was a day in which Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler) would gather with her best gal pals over breakfast. Leslie would also present each friend with custom gifts and a special essay to express her appreciation for them.
While going over the top is not required for a successful Galentine’s Day celebration, you may be looking for fun and creative ways to honor your best friends. Have a toast to long-lasting friendship with these 15 Galentine's Day ideas.
Candle Making
Gather your pals together and make candles in the comfort of your home by purchasing a candle making kit — or sign up for a local class. It’s a great way to bond, and you each get to go home with a candle to light later. Plus, every time you light it, you can think of your friends.
Cake Baking and Decorating Night
Invite the crew over for a night of baking and cake-decorating. Want to go the lazy route? Buy premade cupcakes and simply have a spread of icings, sprinkles, and other goodies to top your treats with.
Take a Dance Class
Instead of a way-too-late night out at the club, enjoy some heart-pumping cardio at a local dance studio. Take a class in ballet, hip-hop, ballet class, or modern dance. Learn some new choreography and challenge your bodies.
Do a Sound Bath
Want to take a more mindful approach to Galentine’s Day? Slow down your minds and sit in stillness while taking in the healing vibrations of a sound bath. You and your crew will leave feeling super relaxed.
Paint-by-Number
The good news about painting by number is that you need zero artistic ability to walk away with a gorgeous painting. Find a print you like online and have everyone meet at your place to get artsy together.
Hit Up a Driving Range
Grab your golf clubs (or rent them at the range) and hit the links. Can’t do it outdoors? Find an indoor range like TopGolf to show off your swing.
Play Paintball or Laser Tag
Book a slot at a local paintball field or laser tag park, and let yourself feel like a kid again. Not only will you and your friends be able to get competitive with each other, it will guarantee laughs and memories.
Take a Cooking Class
By the end of taking a cooking class together, your crew will be culinary experts on a favorite dish. Love Italian food? Find a pasta-making class. Is Asian cuisine your favorite? Book a sushi-making class and nosh on your creations together.
Visit an Escape Room
Put your heads together and work collaboratively through an escape room. Add an element of competition by putting together a prize for the winners.
Take a Hot Yoga Class
The cold mid-February temps have nothing on a heated yoga studio. You and your friends will sweat buckets, and you can celebrate your session with some fresh-pressed juices afterward.
Plan a Hike
Throw on your hiking boots and get your gang outdoors for some fresh air and scenery. Try a new locale or stick to a tried-and-true trail that you all can enjoy in nature together.
Go Ice Skating
Rent some skates at your local rink and bundle up for some time on the ice together. You can grab hot chocolate from the concession stand and catch up with each other in between circuits.
Try Axe Throwing
There’s no better time than Galentine’s Day to try axe throwing with your pals. Book a time slot in advance and see who has the best strength, skill, and aim of your friend group.
Create Vision Boards
Grab that stack of old magazines and turn them into inspiring collages called vision boards. Once you’re done creating, share them and talk about how you can support each other’s goals for the future.
Black-and-White Movie Night
Craving some old Hollywood glamour? Line up a few classic flicks to watch while chilling together. Scope out this comprehensive list of 50 of the best black-and-white movies, courtesy of Variety.
Emily J. Shiffer
Contributing Writer
Emily Shiffer has worked as a writer for 10 years, covering everything from health and wellness to entertainment and celebrities. Her work has been featured in Women's Health, Runner's World, PEOPLE, and more. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina.
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Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.
Galentine's Day
Galentine's Day is a holiday observed on February 13th as a time to celebrate friendships, especially among women. It originated in 2010 and was inspired by the NBC show Parks and Recreation, where the main character, Leslie Knope, would gather with her female friends over breakfast to celebrate their friendship. On Galentine's Day, people often engage in activities to honor their best friends and show appreciation for their friendship.
Candle Making
Candle making is a creative and bonding activity that you can do with your friends on Galentine's Day. You can gather your pals together and make candles in the comfort of your home by purchasing a candle making kit or signing up for a local class. It's a fun way to spend time together and create personalized candles that you can later light and enjoy.
Cake Baking and Decorating Night
Another idea for celebrating Galentine's Day is to have a cake baking and decorating night with your friends. You can either bake your own cupcakes or buy premade ones and provide a spread of icings, sprinkles, and other goodies to top your treats with. It's a delicious and creative way to spend time together and indulge in some sweet treats.
Dance Class
Instead of a night out at the club, you can consider taking a dance class with your friends on Galentine's Day. Whether it's ballet, hip-hop, or modern dance, taking a dance class together can be a fun and energetic way to celebrate your friendship while learning some new moves. It's a great opportunity to challenge your bodies and have a memorable experience.
Sound Bath
For a more mindful approach to Galentine's Day, you can try doing a sound bath with your friends. A sound bath involves sitting in stillness and listening to the healing vibrations of various instruments, such as singing bowls or gongs. It can be a relaxing and rejuvenating experience that allows you and your crew to slow down your minds and find inner peace.
Paint-by-Number
Paint-by-number is a creative activity that allows you to create a painting without needing any artistic ability. You can find a print you like online and have everyone meet at your place to get artsy together. It's a fun and low-pressure way to express your creativity and create beautiful paintings.
Driving Range
If you and your friends enjoy golf or want to try it out, you can visit a driving range on Galentine's Day. Grab your golf clubs or rent them at the range and practice your swings. If outdoor options are limited, you can also find indoor ranges like TopGolf to show off your swing. It's a great way to have some friendly competition and enjoy a sport together.
Paintball or Laser Tag
For an adrenaline-filled and action-packed Galentine's Day, you can book a slot at a local paintball field or laser tag park. It's a fun and exciting activity that allows you and your friends to compete with each other and create lasting memories. It's a great way to let loose, have fun, and embrace your inner child.
Cooking Class
Taking a cooking class together can be a fantastic way to celebrate Galentine's Day. By the end of the class, you and your crew will have learned new culinary skills and become experts in preparing a favorite dish. Whether you love Italian food or Asian cuisine, there are various cooking classes available that cater to different preferences. After the class, you can enjoy the delicious dishes you've prepared together.
Escape Room
If you and your friends enjoy puzzles and challenges, visiting an escape room can be a thrilling Galentine's Day activity. In an escape room, you'll need to work collaboratively to solve puzzles and find clues to escape within a set time limit. It's a great way to test your problem-solving skills, bond with your friends, and add an element of competition by putting together a prize for the winners.
Hot Yoga Class
If you're looking for a way to warm up during the cold mid-February temperatures, you can consider taking a hot yoga class with your friends on Galentine's Day. Hot yoga is practiced in a heated studio, and it involves a series of yoga poses and sequences. It's a great way to sweat, detoxify, and challenge your bodies while enjoying a shared experience with your friends.
Hiking
If you and your friends enjoy the outdoors, planning a hike on Galentine's Day can be a wonderful way to connect with nature and each other. You can put on your hiking boots and explore a new locale or stick to a tried-and-true trail that you all can enjoy together. It's a great opportunity to get some fresh air, exercise, and have meaningful conversations while surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Ice Skating
Ice skating is a classic winter activity that can be a lot of fun to do with your friends on Galentine's Day. Rent some skates at your local rink, bundle up, and hit the ice together. You can glide around, have friendly races, and enjoy the experience of skating while catching up with each other. Don't forget to grab some hot chocolate from the concession stand to warm up afterward.
Axe Throwing
For a unique and adventurous Galentine's Day activity, you can try axe throwing with your pals. Book a time slot in advance at an axe throwing venue and see who among your friend group has the best strength, skill, and aim. It's a thrilling and unconventional activity that can bring out your competitive spirit and create lasting memories.
Vision Boards
Creating vision boards is a creative and inspiring activity that you can do with your friends on Galentine's Day. Gather a stack of old magazines and turn them into collages that represent your goals, dreams, and aspirations. Once you're done creating your vision boards, share them with each other and discuss how you can support each other's goals for the future. It's a meaningful and empowering activity that can strengthen your bond as friends.
Black-and-White Movie Night
If you're in the mood for some old Hollywood glamour, you can plan a black-and-white movie night with your friends on Galentine's Day. Line up a few classic black-and-white movies and enjoy them together while chilling and reminiscing. It's a cozy and nostalgic way to spend time with your friends and appreciate the timeless beauty of these films. I hope these ideas inspire you to have a memorable Galentine's Day celebration with your friends! Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with.
