The Best Fake Holiday

The day that rolls around once a year fills the world with candy, flowers, and gifts, exchanged between loved ones. But where did this tradition come from and how has it evolved? Is it just a holiday made up so we have at least one holiday during this month to boost our economy, probably. But over a decade ago a trend emerged around Valentine’s Day that has outlived the show it originated from.

Similar to the ‘friendsgiving’ trend, society has come up with an alternative Valentine’s Day, ‘Galentine’s Day.’ It all started as a fiction. In a 2010 episode of Parks and Recreation Leslie Knope invented a way to do something American culture has not traditionally been too good at doing, celebrating the joys of female friendship. Galentine’s Day became a holiday on its own and would fall the day before Valentine’s Day, February 13th.

The trend skyrocketed in popularity, it’s now almost treated the same as Valentine’s Day. In 2020, research by lingerie brand Boux Avenue found that searches for Galentine’s Day have increased 400% since 2015 and Valentine’s Day has decreased by 55%. The website, nationaltoday.com even considers Galentine’s Day a holiday as real as Valentine’s Day. Businesses have created their own Galentine’s Day promotions, special happy hours, group spa discounts and brunch deals.

So who can celebrate? Some may argue that Galentine’s Day is an exclusive event, but it’s a day for all genders. It’s all about sharing your affection and love for those you consider a friend. So what will you do this Galentine’s Day?