Rachel Nipp
Love doesn’t only apply to romantic relationships, and neither does Valentine’s Day. Within the past decade, the celebration of “Galentine’s Day” has exploded and become a part of popular culture by expanding on Valentine’s Day to include friendships.
Community is important, whether you have a significant other or not, and spending time with your friends on Galentine’s Day is a great way to have fun and show your appreciation for them. Below, we dive into the meaning behind this new holiday, how to celebrate, and — our favorite part — how jewelry comes into play for Galentine’s Day.
What Is Galentine’s Day?
Galentine’s Day became a thing in 2013, when the character Leslie Knope on the TV show Parks and Recreation coined the term. As a huge advocate for female friendships, Leslie popularized the idea of celebrating friendly love on February 13. Since then, the idea has really taken off. Women, and all platonic friends, enjoy spending the day together. This new holiday is an inclusive way to make everyone in your life feel loved.
How to Celebrate Galentine’s Day
Liking the idea of Galentine’s Day and planning to celebrate this year? There are so many ways to commemorate the day, no matter how large or small your group. Here are a few of our favorite suggestions:
Galentine’s Day Brunch
Brunch is a classic choice, as it’s often a favorite go-to amongst friends. There’s nothing quite like good conversation over bottomless mimosas with your girls. Plus, the original Galentine’s Day creator, Leslie from Parks and Recreation, had a passion for waffles. Tying in brunch with waffles to the origin of the holiday is a cool way to play tribute.
Wine Night at Home
Galentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to put on your hosting hat. Gather up some bubbly, charcuterie, and sweet desserts for a fun night in with your friends. If you want, you can ask them each to bring a themed tray of snacks for an unforgettable, Instagram-worthy time. Since you’re with your best pals, you can even suggest a sleepover reminiscent of the good ol’ days.
Book a Class
There are plenty of options out there for group cooking classes, painting classes, candle-making classes…the list goes on! This is a fun way to hang out with your friends and do something fun as a group. We especially love this idea for large groups, because having a shared activity gives friends from different areas of your life a mutual topic of conversation.
Galentine’s Day Gift Ideas
If you want to give your friends a gift for Galentine’s Day, you can’t go wrong with classic Valentine’s gift ideas like flowers, chocolates, and homemade cards. Maybe this is a special year, though, like a friendiversary. Or maybe you just want to make it extra meaningful. In this case, jewelry is a great choice for showing your friends just how much you love them! Below, we list a few of our top picks.
Initial Charms
Initial charms make for a gift you can personalize for each friend. Find the letter that suits their name, and choose whether or not you want to add any other charms or not. We love this sweet gesture because it allows you to get something for each individual without spending too much on a larger piece of jewelry.
Engravable Styles
Another personal gift is jewelry that you can get engraved. Maybe put their name on the piece, or the date the two of you became friends. The message is up to you, but they’re sure to love the thought behind this gift, whether it’s a bracelet, ring, or necklace.
Stud Earrings
We also recommend stud earrings as a Galentine’s Day gift. Whether or not you want to splurge on diamond studs, there are many styles to choose from. You can go with a classic option like pearls, or choose their birthstone.
Galentine’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate all of your friends (gals and beyond). Spread the love this season with a gift from Shane Co. Need some help finding the perfect present? Book an appointment online or in-store to speak with an expert jewelry consultant.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published February 2020 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Rachel Nipp
Anna Gionet