Valentine’s Day has historically been a day when couples could flaunt their relationships over the single people, or at least the single people felt that way. However, with the rise of Galentines parties in the last few years, Valentine’s has become a day of fun for all the single girls as well. In fact, a lot of girls would prefer to spend the day with their female friends and celebrate being single together.Â
This year, I celebrated Galentines with my friends instead of spending Valentines day with a boy, and in my opinion, it made the day a million times more fun. We all came together to have a fun-filled night where we could enjoy food, drinks, and eachother’s company. Personally, I love the chance to decorate my apartment and get dressed up to romanticize seeing my friends. At this point, that idea is more romantic to me than an actual date.
This rise in Galentines celebrations seems to coincide with a rise in women being happy being single and actively deciding not to seek out relationships. In October, Vogue released an article titled “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” displaying the shift in rhetoric regarding relationships, which have typically been coveted. At the end of the day, there is something that feels embarrassing about waiting for someone to call and hoping they’ll set up the perfect date. Galentines gives us a chance for no expectations, no unwanted obligations, and no disappointment.
I may sound like a Valentine’s Day hater, but I actually really enjoy the holiday as a whole. It gives those in a relationship a chance to reflect and openly display their love for each other, which I think is important for any relationship. The fact that we have a day centered around showing the ones you care about your love is beautiful to me, and I’m just happy to have such amazing friends to have shared it with.
Regardless if you’re celebrating with your friends or your significant other, Valentine’s Day, or Galentines, is the perfect opportunity to spend some time with your loved ones. This year, I was particularly grateful to be surrounded by other amazing women who decided to show up for each other, and I hope everyone else who got the chance to celebrate Galentines feels the same.