If you’re single, or even if you just want to spend some extra time with your friends, then you may focus on Galentine’s Day rather than Valentine’s.
February 13 marks Galentine’s Day (sometimes known as Palentine’s Day), and it was created to celebrate friendship rather than the love between partners. Friendship groups are encouraged to make plans and do the things they love together.
Mates sometimes share gifts to prove you don’t need a partner to receive something extra special the day before Valentine’s Day. Every year, social media goes mad for the event as friends meet up, host bring a board parties, exchange gifts, and unwind together.
Emma Carney, 37, from Stoke-on-Trent, says that she prefers Galentine’s Day to Valentine’s Day – and it’s not just because she’s “happily single” at the moment. The copywriter for Reform RX is currently “very much ‘Boy sober’,” saying she “deleted dating apps over a year ago” and is “over dating and that scene”.
When it comes to Valentine’s Day, she told The Mirror: “The cynic in me sees it as a marketing ploy to sell cards and random tat to people that they don’t need. The Romantic in me thinks that it’s nice to have a day where people can show their appreciation for their partner, but in reality, shouldn’t that be every day?”
But what is it about Galentine’s Day that she loves so much? Emma said that Galentine’s Day is “more of a group celebration, a gathering of people without any other obligations.”
She said: “Put it this way, with Galentine’s, you’re not booking in a Hollywood wax or pressured to make yourself ‘Bedroom ready,’ nor have any pressure to try and enjoy a day when you may not be in the mood (either romantic or in general).
“I’ve done Galentine’s where there has been a death or post-breakup before, and we’ve all come together and just ended up laughing all night, putting the world to rights”.
She said she and her friends used to go “out for dinner and drinks,” but in recent years they’ve opted for “sleepovers and dinner parties” where they “talk about life, watch rom coms and other films, pull tarot cards, and just generally enjoy each other’s company.” Sometimes they even dress up, with themes such as ‘things we love’.
Emma recalled: “There was one Galentine’s where we tried to learn to do a ‘death drop’ after watching Ru Paul’s Drag Race and drinking a lot of Prosecco… It’s just as hard as it looks. Do not try at home.
“There is usually a lovely theme to it as well – nothing like your friend making you some Galentine’s cupcakes, dinner, or funny homemade cards. I can recall my Galentine’s gifts better than any Valentine’s gift I’ve had.”
Emma described Galentine’s Day as “basically just a get-together with your favourite people and just showering each other with love.” For her, Valentine’s Day “has an edge of disappointment to it,” as she’s had some bad experiences on the day in the past.
She detailed: “The amount of times I’ve said I hate silver jewellery, don’t like teddy bears and flowers… (I’m happy with a pot plant though!) and ended up with – you’ve guessed it – all three.
“It’s not that I was being ungrateful, but more that it showed some of my partners weren’t listening to me or just brought stuff last minute. Especially if I’d gone to the trouble to get something really thoughtful.
“I also remember one Valentine’s Day when I was taken to a steak house, and I was vegetarian. I wouldn’t have minded if they’d actually checked if they’d had good veggie options.”