My first proper Galentine’s Day was my first year of university, and honestly? It was one of the most wholesome nights of my life. Picture this: a chaotic shopping trip for heart-shaped decorations at Flying Tiger, a lot of questionable budgeting decisions, and an obscene amount of fairy lights. The joy of transforming a random college room into a pink-and-red paradise was unmatched. Of course, the price tag was less joyful, but what is financial responsibility when you are making memories? My memories associated with Galentine’s will always be ones of pure happiness and community, but I definitely believe the aesthetics should match.
Valentine’s Day? Cute. But Galentine’s? Revolutionary. There is something wildly powerful about a group of girls coming together to celebrate each other, proving that love is not reserved for candlelit dinners and cheesy couple posts. It is also the late-night venting sessions, the emergency snack runs, and the friends who make life a little less terrifying.
There is also something so refreshing about putting real energy into friendships the way people do for romantic relationships. The matching pyjamas and coordinated Instagram posts are fun, but the real magic of Galentine’s is in the way it makes friendships feel as valuable as relationships. Society loves to push the idea that romantic love is the ultimate goal, but have you ever experienced the sheer power of a room full of women hyping each other up?
Of course, capitalism has caught on. The world was quick to monetise a day dedicated to single girls, because nothing escapes the marketing machine. There are targeted sales, themed gifts, and more pink-themed everything than you could ever imagine. And yes, I contributed to the economy with my impulse purchases. But you know what? If I am going to be spending money, I would rather it be on a night that makes my friends feel loved and celebrated rather than overpriced roses and underwhelming chocolates. That all goes to say that the capitalist nature of the holiday, like any other, can creep up unintentionally and when you least expect it. Even I have fallen victim to the over perfect Galentine’s Instagram picture, over-curated and not as fun as the memories of the activities that it showcases.
The real beauty of Galentine’s is that it flips the narrative. It is a reminder that love is not only for romance. It celebrates community, support, and, frankly, girl power. In a world that constantly pits women against each other, choosing to uplift your friends is a radical act. So here’s to the platonic soulmates, the 2am crisis responders, the girls who will listen to you cry about the same situationship 50 times (even on Galentine’s), and the girls who will scream “Slay” at you across the dancefloor.
Love is love, and there is no greater love than girls supporting girls. Happy Galentine’s to all the amazing women at this university. May we know them, may we be them, may we celebrate them!
