Calling all ladies! No matter if you’re single, taken or it’s complicated, this day is all about you and your gals. Show your BFFs that life is always better with friends at your side and yummy treats on the table. Explore tasty recipes and fun activities that you can whip up to express your love for your besties.
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What is Galentine's Day?
Galentine’s Day, mainly celebrated on February 13, is a day reserved for celebrating your favorite friendships. No matter if it’s your sibling, coworker, neighbor or bestie you go way back with, it’s a day dedicated to showing them how much you love them.
The best thing about this made-up holiday is that it was created by a beloved television character by the name of Leslie Knope! The friend-filled tradition began when episode 16 in season 2 of Parks and Recreation aired on February 11, 2010. From then on, the unofficial (but officially awesome) holiday on Valentine’s Day Eve became a day when you celebrate your lady friends by showering them with gifts, fun adult beverages, or in Leslie Knope’s case, breakfast.
Ways to Celebrate Galentine's Day
Since Galentine’s Day isn’t technically a calendar holiday, there isn’t any official way to celebrate it! It’s your day, so spend it how you like; but here’s some #inspo for when you’re planning a girls’ gathering.
Host a Galentine’s Day Brunch
One of the most popular ways to commemorate the day is setting up a Galentine’s Day-themed brunch. Get your besties together and treat them to a variety of delicious breakfast foods and delightful sweets. Here are a few menu ideas:
Sp-aaah Day
Gather your girls and have a relaxing day at your favorite spa. Or if you’d rather stay home, try bringing the spa to you! We have a collection of some sweet do-it-yourself spa treatments that will have you and your squad saying “aaah” while you unwind in your own DIY Chocolate Spa.
- First, make a chocolate face mask that’s made with HERSHEY’S Cocoa, green tea, honey and plain yogurt. It’ll smell so yummy you’ll have to try not to lick it off your face!
- Next, get some good exfoliation with our mocha sugar scrub recipe that includes granulated sugar, HERSHEY’S Cocoa, coffee grounds and olive or coconut oil.
- And to wash it all off, put together this soothing cocoa bath soak that’s made with oats, sea salt, corn starch, baking soda, and of course, HERSHEY’S Cocoa.
Besties Who Bake
Everyone knows that the most iconic V-Day dessert is red velvet. This Galentine’s Day, check out this recipe for HERSHEY’S Red Velvet Cake and make a dessert that’s as deep and rich as your love for your girlies. And for even more love-themed treats, we’ve got you covered like chocolate-covered strawberries. Explore our most popular Valentine’s recipes and find sweets that will satisfy all of your soul sisters. Make them in anticipation of the holiday or make a fun day out of baking with friends.
Cheers with Chocolate & Wine Pairings
We’re all adults here, so let’s celebrate like it! You and your besties go together like chocolate and wine. Have a delicious night in and host a wine and chocolate pairing party that will appeal to all the ladies in your group. White creme candy goes great with Rosé and Moscato, milk chocolate pairs well with Merlot and Pinot Noir, and dark chocolate is perfect with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel. Or if you’d rather have the pairing done for you, our HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD Attraction offers sweet Chocolate and Wine Pairing Experience events.
If wine isn’t your jam, no worries. We’ve got some fun adult beverage recipes that are sure to satisfy your girlies. This S’mores-tini recipe will have your group reminiscing about the old days when you would sit around a campfire toasting marshmallows. You can also get super creative and make these Edible Chocolate Shot Glasses that will leave everyone impressed. To make a night in even better, sip your drinks while watching a movie and playing along with this fun Romantic Comedy Bingo Game.
Help the Kids Celebrate
Instill in your little ones the importance of celebrating their friends by throwing them a Galentine’s Day of their own! A slumber party is the perfect way to make their friendships last forever, so set up a night to remember with this guide for DIY Slumber Party Ideas and Activities with Hershey. Fill the evening with fun love-themed crafts like Heart Pencil Toppers, a tasty Valentine's Love Bugs Craft and these Valentine’s Day Exchange Card Boxes & Printable Cards that they can fill up at the party or take to school.
Gift Ideas for Your Gals
Show your ladies how much you appreciate them by putting together these sweet and sentimental gift boxes! Express your fondness for your besties with a basket full of thoughtful items and yummy chocolate treats by following this Valentine’s Day Gift Box guide. And if you’re really feeling the love, put together these HERSHEY’S KISSES Candy Roses to top off all your gifts.
Don’t forget to share the love with those BFFs who live farther away! Pack up their gift basket and send it through the mail to remind them that you’re thankful for them on Galentine’s Day. You can also include some of those tasty desserts you made, like these HERSHEY’S Red Velvet Cookies that are great for shipping to wherever your bestie lives. For more info about shipping sweets, check out this page on How to Pack and Ship Cookies the Right Way.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A fun fact about this made-up day is that it originated from a television show called Parks and Recreation. The show’s leading lady, Leslie Knope, created the holiday where she and her friends “leave our husbands and boyfriends at home and just come kick it breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies.” Since the episode aired in 2010, the holiday has been celebrated by women everywhere!
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Galentine’s Day isn’t an actual calendar holiday, so there’s no official date. However, most people celebrate the friend-filled holiday the day before Valentine’s Day, February 13.
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Galentine’s Day is a day for women to celebrate women, but at its core, it’s a day about honoring friendships and the love you have for your besties. No matter who you are or how you identify, anyone can celebrate Galentine’s Day!
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As we know, any red velvet desserts are a classic choice, so check out these delicious Red Velvet Dessert Recipes. But feel free to get creative and bring something fun and different to the party. This Chocolate Dipped Fruit Bouquet Recipe would be a total hit with your gals, especially for a brunch get-together. And to honor the character who started it all, these Chocolate Dessert Waffles would totally be Leslie Knope-approved.
Conclusion
Galentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to say thanks to the women and friends you couldn’t imagine living without. Here at Hershey, we love to celebrate all the powerful women and girls out there who make this world a whole lot sweeter. Since the launch of our Celebrate SHE Campaign, The Hershey Company honors the role that SHE plays in all of our lives. We’ve partnered with Girls on the Run to inspire young girls to gain confidence while strengthening their physical and emotional health.
