Why You Should Celebrate Galentine’s Day

Jennifer Peña/Staff Writer

As Valentine’s Day approaches, many will no doubt use the special day to celebrate their loved ones. If that’s not your thing, you may choose to celebrate Galentine’s Day on Feb. 13 instead, showing appreciation for your “gals,” however you define them. Like Valentine’s, there’s no limit in showing people how much you care on this special day. 

To me, Galentine’s Day is pressure-free. It’s an unofficial holiday with no rules for what to wear, eat, or do. In other words, it’s a blank slate of a holiday that has transcended its “Parks and Recreation” origin. You don’t need to be in a relationship, and it doesn’t matter if you are. All you need are some gals.

Galentine’s Day isn’t limited by conventional ideas of how to celebrate. Plus, it lacks the sense of obligation that might come with Valentine’s Day traditions of sending flowers and planning picture-perfect dates with a significant other. 

For me, Galentine’s Day is an excuse to schedule a Stardew Valley co-op session with a friend in another state, even though it’s a weekday. While your ideal Galentine’s Day might be totally different from mine, that’s the beauty of it. There’s no rulebook to follow unless you and your gals make one for yourselves.

If you’re really invested in your work, it can be easy to forget to spend time with the friends you don’t see unless you’ve made plans together. That’s where Galentine’s Day comes in, giving you more reasons to spend time with your friends.

Like Valentine’s Day, the feeling behind Galentine’s Day doesn’t have to be limited to a one-day event. If you want to make Galentine’s Day a weekend-long celebration (as you should), there are plenty of ways to enjoy your friends’ company around campus, too. You and your Galentine can enjoy classical music together at the FIU Piano Alumni Recital on Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Wertheim Performing Arts Center for $15 general admission (or $5 with a valid student ID).

Another weekend option, especially for gals who aren’t celebrating Valentine’s Day, is to watch FIU’s baseball team play against Fordham at the FIU Baseball Stadium from Feb. 14 to Feb. 16. Check the online schedule for game times, and don’t forget to remind your gals to bring their FIU OneCards for free admission!

Whether your Galentine’s Day plans are in-person or long-distance (like mine), all you need are your Galentines to make it a day to remember. Whatever you decide to do, you and your gals can make Galentine’s Day your own this year.

Featured photo retrieved from FIU Flickr.

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

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