It’s hard to believe that the best holiday of the year is almost upon us again! Yes, that’s right, I’m talking about Galentine’s Day. Like wearing pink on Wednesdays, pop culture has blessed us with spark that has gone from a TV reference to a cultural phenomenon to a yearly celebration. Galentine’s Day (first mentioned on the TV show Parks and Recreation) takes place on February 13th right before Valentine’s Day and centers and celebrates female friendship or “ladies celebrating ladies”, a concept I can definitely get behind. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of when the Parks and Recreation episode that launched Galentine’s Day was first aired and a full decade later the celebration is still going strong.
While tradition dictates that Galentine’s must be solemnly observed with a ceremonial all-day brunch with friends (another concept I can totally get behind), this year I’ve decided to put a bookish spin on my Galentine’s Day celebration. Why not Celebrate this Galentine’s Day with the friends who love to read as much as you do? You know, the ones who gush with you when a book gives you all the feelings, and who know your readings taste and have all the best recommendations for you because they know that time-traveling cowboy heroes with hearts of old are your thing? So grab your Galentines, grab a book, and mark your calendars for February 13th! Below are some ideas to celebrate Galentine’s Day with your special bookish galentine or galentines.
1. Give your Galentine a Book you Love…With a Twist!
One of the best gifts that I have received from a bookish friend has been a copy of a book that my friend had recently read and enjoyed. Getting gifted books is always great, but what made this book extra special is that she had filled the book with her own marginalia as she read it. She had included her reactions to scenes and plot twists, added snarky comments in the margins, included inside jokes, and embellished it with hilarious doodles. When I read the book, it was like reading along with my friend. Getting to see how we reacted the same way (or sometimes differently) to the plot added a whole new layer to the reading experience and made it extra special and personal. If the thought of writing all over a book makes you (or your Galentine) break out in a cold sweat, no worries! Post-it’s are also a great way to add some personal flair and leave notes without marking up a book. This gift can work well especially if your Galentine lives far away because who doesn’t love getting surprises in the mail?
2. Go to a Book Event Together
If you are lucky enough to have a local Galentine to celebrate with, make sure to check out venues near you to see if they have a Galentine’s Day special or event planned that you can attend (after brunch of course). Libraries, bookstores, and local community centers might host events like panels, readings or book swaps. One of my favorite local indie bookstores has even started throwing an annual Galentine’s Day party with local romance authors. Not only is attending these events a great way to get out and support your local community and celebrate with fellow readers but going with a Galentine lets you be each other hypewomen if for example you meet an author at said events (is it just me who gets super nervous/excited?) Can’t find a local Galentine’s Day event? No problem, you can always make your own! Toast to Anne and Diana with a raspberry cordial mimosa or do an escape the room in honor of Nancy, Bess and George. The possibilities are endless.
3. Give a Bookish Galentine gift
Sometimes your galentine is very hard to find a book for because they’ve read everything under the sun (or maybe you are that friend?). I’ve definitely found myself in a similar position and found that you can also provide your book-obsessed Galentine with book related goodies to say Happy Galentine’s Day. Candles, tea or coffee, book sleeves and book-themed scarves are all perfect for a bookish Galentine’s Day gift. But getting a bookish gift don’t have to break the bank either. Remember in elementary school when we used to deliver paper Valentine’s Day cards for our classmates and put them in their “mailboxes” and the joy we felt at receiving them in return? Handmade personalized bookplates or bookmarks can mean just as much and still make your bookish Galentine’s day special indeed.
Galentine’s Day can be fun and bookish and brunch-y but it is also important. Our bookish friends are there for us through the agony of waiting for the next book in a favorite series, the happiness when the sequel lives up to the hype, and heartbreak when an author decides to do away with our favorite character. Joking aside, Galentine’s Day is a great reminder that friendships are important to celebrate too. So this year, make time for you and your friends (bookish or not) to celebrate each other. Books and mimosas are optional but recommended.
