13 Reasons You Should Celebrate Galentine's Day

Parks and Rec changed the dymaic of comedy sitcoms and although the show is over now, it still brought us one of the greatest characters we’ve ever seen. Leslie (fucking) Knope. She’s a feminist, has high expectations of herself and others, is hard working, stands up for herself and is always overflowing with bright ideas.

One of those bright ideas which single, anti-establishment, counter-culture women have risen to becoming an (un)official IRL holiday is Galentine’s Day. Named affectionately to celebrate the gal pals in your life, Galentine’s Day is all about surrounding yourself with your die hard friends. And if this holiday is one of Leslie Knope’s favorite days, there are obvious reasons why you should be celebrating it too.

1. Leslie Knope made it up.

Which means it’s awesome.

2. It celebrates loving your friends.

Which like, how often do you do officially?

3. It doesn’t try and compete with Valentine’s Day.

It’s the day before, on the 13th of February, which means you can still have a Valentine’s Day if you want to.

4. The presents are going to be more long-term valuable, because they aren’t about sex with each other.

So if you’ve been wanting a thing from Sephora or a new pair of Vans (and your bestie knows about it), you're probably going to get it.

5. Because girl friends before girlfriends!

I made that one up, thank you very much.

6. It’s a time you can unite with your girls.

Maybe you and your friend don’t agree on the Bernie/Hilary issue, but you guys don't need to go there on Galentine’s day.

7. You might get closer to a friend you didn’t think you could get any closer to.

Like April and Ann!

8. You can celebrate Galentine’s day WHEREVER YOU WANT.

(...not saying you can’t on Valentine’s too, but) Someone might find it weird if you go out dancing for Valentine’s whereas no-one will, if you do that for Galentine’s Day.

9. It gives you the opportunity to set a date to connect with the friends you haven’t seen in a while.

Because you know there are those few friends you’ve been texting for months but still haven’t seen.

10. And is a great way to get your friends to meet each other.

You can finally join your groups!

11. You probably don’t need to worry about getting all done up.

Which is nice, especially if you will be the next day.

12. You can make Galentine’s a one-on-one with your bestie.

And it can be a time where you devote your platonic love for her.

13. There's almost no chance that Galentine's Day won't be fun.

So just do it.

Briana lives and works in San Francisco with her girlfriend and their two pugs. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.