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.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics. While I have personal experiences or emotions, I can provide factual information and answer questions based on available data.
Now, let's discuss 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 for a breakfast celebration.
Candle Making
Candle making is a creative activity that can be done with friends. It involves melting wax, adding fragrance and color, and pouring the mixture into molds or containers with wicks. Candle making kits are available for purchase, or you can sign up for a local class to learn the process together.
Cake Baking and Decorating Night
Baking and decorating cakes can be a fun activity to do with friends. You can either bake the cakes from scratch or buy premade cupcakes and focus on decorating them. Provide a spread of icings, sprinkles, and other goodies to top your treats with.
Dance Class
Instead of a night out at the club, you can enjoy a heart-pumping cardio session with your friends at a local dance studio. Take a class in ballet, hip-hop, or modern dance and learn some new choreography together.
Sound Bath
For a more mindful approach to Galentine's Day, you can try a sound bath. A sound bath involves sitting in stillness and experiencing the healing vibrations of various instruments, such as singing bowls or gongs. It can be a relaxing and rejuvenating experience to share with your friends.
Paint-by-Number
Paint-by-number is a painting technique that allows you to create a beautiful painting even if you have zero artistic ability. You can find printable paint-by-number designs online and gather your friends to get artsy together. It's a great way to unleash your creativity and have fun.
Driving Range
If you and your friends enjoy golf or want to try it out, you can visit a driving range. Grab your golf clubs or rent them at the range and practice your swing. If outdoor options are limited, you can also find indoor ranges like TopGolf for a fun and competitive experience.
Paintball or Laser Tag
For an adrenaline-filled activity, you can book a slot at a local paintball field or laser tag park. It's a great way to bond with your friends, get competitive, and create lasting memories.
Cooking Class
Taking a cooking class together can be a fun and educational experience. You can choose a class that focuses on a favorite cuisine, such as Italian or Asian, and learn to make dishes together. It's a great opportunity to enhance your culinary skills and enjoy a delicious meal with your friends.
Escape Room
An escape room is a live-action team-based game where participants solve puzzles and complete challenges to escape a themed room within a set time limit. It's a great way to test your problem-solving skills and work collaboratively with your friends.
Hot Yoga Class
If you're looking for a physical and mindful activity, you can try a hot yoga class with your friends. The heated studio will help you sweat and detoxify while practicing yoga poses. Afterward, you can celebrate your session with some fresh-pressed juices.
Hiking
Going on a hike with your friends is a great way to enjoy nature and get some fresh air. You can choose a new trail or stick to a familiar one that everyone can enjoy together. Remember to wear appropriate hiking gear and stay hydrated during the hike.
Ice Skating
Renting skates at a local ice rink and spending time on the ice together can be a fun and nostalgic activity. You can take breaks to grab hot chocolate from the concession stand and catch up with each other.
Axe Throwing
Axe throwing is a recreational activity where participants throw axes at targets. It can be a unique and exciting experience to try with your friends. Make sure to book a time slot in advance and follow safety guidelines.
Vision Boards
Creating vision boards is a creative and reflective activity. You can gather old magazines and turn them into inspiring collages that represent your goals and aspirations. Sharing your vision boards with your friends can lead to meaningful discussions and support for each other's goals.
Black-and-White Movie Night
If you're in the mood for some old Hollywood glamour, you can organize a black-and-white movie night with your friends. Choose classic films from the black-and-white era and enjoy them together while chilling out.
I hope these ideas inspire you to celebrate Galentine's Day in a fun and meaningful way with your friends! Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with.
