Hearts, chocolates, and most importantly, pink. These are all the things that come to mind when we hear “Galentine’s Day.” But Galentine’s means a lot more to SHU students than some may expect.
Galentine’s Day emphasizes the importance of female friendships and shows that romantic relationships aren’t the only ones that matter.
“It draws my friends and I closer together because I get a chance to sit back and recognize how grateful I am for my wonderful friends,” said Gia Cagnano, a freshman communications major.
Cagnano added that she feels that gifting “sweet treats” helps her friends feel how much she values them.
“To show my appreciation to my friends, I usually buy or make them sweet treats like cookies or cakes,” Cagnano said.
Brielle Roche, a freshman secondary education major, said she celebrates the holiday with fun activities.
“I threw a Galentine's Day party last year and hope to throw one again,” Roche said. “We did arts and crafts, and everyone brought a dessert.”
Roche added that to her Galentine’s Day is “a day to get all [her] friends together and just be girls.”
She also said she made goody bags for all her girlfriends with lip gloss, a friendship bracelet, and a unique item that was different for each person based on their interests.
“I feel like it shows your friends that you’ll always have time for them even if you might have a boyfriend to celebrate Valentine’s Day with,” Roche said. “I always make sure to wish my friends a happy Galentine’s Day so they know I love them too.”
Galentine's Day is not just about giving gifts; it is also about spending quality time with friends. Students like Gillian Miller, a freshman social work and sociology major, said that it’s “difficult to find time to get everyone together so it is nice to have a ‘holiday’ to celebrate.”
“Galentine’s Day is a chance to see all your friends and a reason to dress up,” Miller said.
She said that doing a craft or making a card for your Galentine are good ways to show appreciation for loved ones.
“I always go all out for birthdays and holidays for my friends to show my love,” Miller said. “The perfect gift or activity can really show how much someone means to you.”
Margaret Fisher, a sophomore theater and visual and sound media major with a focus on film production, said she celebrates her Galentine’s Day by watching movies with her friends and giving them chocolates or roses.
“I usually celebrate by getting my girls little chocolate hearts or roses and then we make sure to hang out that night and watch romcoms,” Fisher said.
She added that the holiday is centralized around female friendships.
“Galentine’s is a day for you and your girls to get together and celebrate your friendships and how they have impacted and continue to impact your life,” Fisher said. “Celebrating Galentine’s Day strengthens friendships.”
To highlight the importance of these friendships, Fisher said she enjoys watching films like “Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants” and “Barbie Charm School,” which highlight female protagonists taking on a world of adventure.
Samhi Swarna, a junior finance major, added additional movie recommendations to the Galentine's mix. Some of the “fantastic films for friendship” that she suggested were “any Barbie animated movie: ‘The 12 Dancing Princesses,’ ‘Princess and the Pauper,’ ‘Diamond Castle,’ ‘Fashion Fairytale,’ and ‘Fairy Secret.’”
Swarna said that watching shows became a recent addition to her Galentine’s agenda, and she has found it unites her with more female friendships in her life.
After exclusively spending Galentine’s with her friends and splurging in clearance Valentine’s goodies at Target, Swarna said that quarantine presented a new tradition for her.
“During COVID, me and my sister stayed up until 4 a.m. on Galentine’s day watching AOT [Attack on Titan],” Swarna said. “We had been watching it together for a while, but we were still under strict quarantine. We hadn't got to do that before.” It's now our favorite show to watch together. ”
After stating that she celebrates Galentine’s Day the same day as Valentine's Day, Swarna added that both holidays are the same as you are “celebrating two different kinds of love.”
“I think Valentine’s and Galentine's are the same thing,” Swarna said. “You're just celebrating two different kinds of love. You can't think that one is overrated over the other because they are essentially the same thing.”
Cagnano said she shows her friends her love for them by “buying and making them things, letting them know [she’s] there for them, and supporting them in their accomplishments.”
Fisher echoed the importance of showing up for the people you love.
“I show my friends that I love them outside of the month of February by telling them how much I love them, but also by being there for them in any way they might need me,” Fisher said.
All kinds of celebrations can help others feel appreciated, such as birthdays and other holidays, according to Miller.
“I always go all out for birthdays and holidays for my friends to show my love,” Miller said. “The perfect gift or activity can show how much someone means to you.”
Roche said she takes the opportunity of small moments of support for her friends.
“I always make sure I am there when they need me, whether they need to talk or just want a buddy for lunch, she said. To show our girlfriends love year-round outside of commercialized romance,” Roche said. “I always prioritize my friends whenever I can.”
Rhyleigh Russell is the assistant editor for The Setonian’s Campus Life section. She can be reached at rhyleigh.russell@student.shu.edu.
