Galentine’s Day is on Saturday, February 13, 2027, and it falls on February 13 every year, the day before Valentine’s Day. It’s a day to celebrate friendship, especially among women. You don’t need a partner or a big budget, just friends and a plan.
When Is Galentine’s Day?
It’s always February 13. It’s an unofficial pop-culture holiday, so many groups celebrate on the nearest weekend instead.
Where Did the Day Come From?
It started on TV. The NBC comedy Parks and Recreation aired an episode titled “Galentine’s Day” on February 11, 2010. Co-creator Michael Schur wrote it, according to Merriam-Webster.
In the episode, Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, hosts a yearly breakfast for her female friends. Her pitch is “ladies celebrating ladies,” and she adds, “Plus frittatas.” That’s why brunch is still the classic way to mark the day.
What Does Galentine’s Day Mean?
Merriam-Webster defines it as a holiday on February 13 for celebrating friendships, especially among women. The word blends “gal” and “Valentine’s Day.”
Single, dating or married, anyone can take part. The point is to honor the friends who show up for you all year.
Spending on friends is real, too. In its 2026 survey, the National Retail Federation found 33% of shoppers planned Valentine’s season gifts for friends, worth $2.4 billion.
How to Celebrate Galentine’s Day
- Host a Leslie Knope brunch: serve waffles, frittatas and mimosas or sparkling juice, then watch the 2010 episode together.
- Make friendship awards: print certificates like “Best Road Trip DJ” or “Most Likely to Text Back.”
- Do a group class: book pottery, a cooking class or a dance lesson for the whole group.
- Hit a photo booth: squeeze everyone into one strip and give each friend a copy.
- Swap instead of shop: everyone brings clothes, books or makeup they no longer use, and you trade.
- Write tiny notes: hand each friend a card naming one thing you admire about her.
- Go remote: mail matching care packages to friends in other cities and open them on a video call.
- Give a small gift: a framed group photo, a shared playlist or a friendship bracelet kit to make together.
Captions for Your Group Photo
- “Ladies celebrating ladies. Frittatas optional.”
- “My favorite love story is this group chat.”
- “Brunch, best friends and zero plans for tomorrow.”
- “Thanks for being the friends who show up early and stay late.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Galentine’s Day only for women?
The dictionary definition centers on women’s friendships, but there are no rules. Plenty of groups invite friends of every gender.
When did “Galentine’s Day” enter the dictionary?
Merriam-Webster lists the term with a first known use of 2010, the year the episode aired.
Is Galentine’s Day an official holiday?
No. It’s a pop-culture celebration, not a federal or state holiday, so businesses and schools stay open.