You know when you’re getting to know someone and you ask them all the surface-level questions you feel like you should know about them if you’re actually going to call yourselves friends? The ones like, what’s your favorite food? Favorite color? Dogs or cats? Favorite season? I’ve never had any trouble answering any of these requisite get-to-know-you questions, but for some reason, the favorite season question always stumps me. I’ve never understood how some people can answer such a complicated question with the same ease and decisiveness that’s typically reserved for the favorite color question (that one’s easy—lime green). How could anyone confidently say that they prefer summer to spring when spring boasts chirping birds ecstatic to be outside again and the promise of warm, sunny days ahead? And how could anyone not like fall, with its refreshing crispness and pre-winter homey-ness? Even winter, with its ethereal, snowy magic offers something to the table. But, for many Her Campus Notre Dame readers out there, winter is hard. And I understand! The short, dark days of subzero temperatures and sludgy, gray snow can seem like a never-ending tunnel of no escape, even for a firm believer in seasons-equality like me. January, at least, was made more bearable with the still-fresh thrill of a new year. February and March, however, are typically not so lucky. But inspired by the idea that ALL seasons have something to offer and just a littttle bit anxious to experience a Notre Dame winter for the first time (okay that’s a lie, I’m terrified), I decided to come up with a list of why February is so underrated. Because, as it turns out, there are lots of reasons to love February, and the month of ~love~ very rarely gets the credit it deserves.
- Valentine’s Day
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Okay wait—before you close out of this page and vow never to return to Her Campus ever again, just hear me out. Yes, the holiday is horribly cliché; and yes, it somehow has the power to make you feel like you’ll be single and lonely forever, but it doesn’t have to be that way! It’s time to start redefining the holiday as the perfect excuse for love and self-care that it is. I guarantee that if you do something for YOU—take a bath, watch a really good movie, bake a cake—you’ll start to love the holiday as much as I do. Indulge in the love and warmth of the Valentine’s Day season and let yourself enjoy it, with or without a boo!
- Galentine’s Day (not the same as number #1)
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While Valentine’s Day is about you, Galentine’s Day (February 13th) is about the girl friends in your life that make it all worth it. This year, Galentine’s Day is on a Thursday, so make your Thursday night a night with the girls! Forget about Valentine’s Day notes to your crush; this year, write valentines to your friends to tell them how much you love them. In the wise words of the Spice Girls, friendship never ends, and Galentine’s Day is such a good reminder of that.
- Super Bowl Sundayyy
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Despite not knowing the difference between an interception and a sack, I still consider Super Bowl Sunday a national holiday. You don’t have to understand football to appreciate the magic of Super Bowl food (chili is a Superbowl MUST), nor do you have to actually watch the game (although it’s cool if you do!) to enjoy a friendly rivalry and always-entertaining halftime show. Think of Super Bowl Sunday as a gift given to you by the National Football League (I know, so generous of them!) to make your winter Sundays a little less scary and a little less dark.
- The Oscars
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The real reason I love February so much is because of the Oscars. I. Love. The. Oscars. It doesn’t matter if I’ve seen one Oscars-nominated movie or all of them, I still get such a thrill in feeling privy to the glamour of Hollywood for one short night. It helps, too, that I was a theater kid in high school—I can’t help but imagine my own Oscars speech everytime the winner for Best Actress is announced, and I love tricking my delusional self into thinking that I could be Meryl Streep one day. Theater kid or not, there are so many things to love about the Oscars. Tune in early to see your favorite celebrities mingle with each other and waltz down the red carpet (who knows? You might even pick up on some secret celebrity drama!) and make an Oscars pool with your friends to up the stakes during the actual ceremony. Most of all though, it’s simply just another excuse to make Sunday nights fun (if that’s even possible). Sometimes its all you need to start your week on a happy note—some good Oscars viewing party snacks and a peephole into the glamourous celebrity lifestyle do just that!
- IT’S NOT JANUARY ANYMORE!!! THANK GOD!!!
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This last reason to love February is obvious, but maybe the most important. January’s kind of the worst. Obviously. On the heels of the holiday season and with the start of a whole year ahead, it can seem never-ending and overwhelming. I’ve always thought of February as a hint of the light and warmth to come because of that—we’ve reached the middle of winter, and not only do we deserve to celebrate ourselves for that, but we can also FINALLY see a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel! We’re almost there, so why not enjoy February while it lasts?
In other words: February’s actually kinda the best.