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Historically, Valentine's Day has celebrated romantic love. There are love letters, flowers, chocolates, and wine — and most importantly, a fairytale date at the end of the night. But more recently, people have begun celebrating friendship on Valentine's Day too. And now, there's Galentine's Day: the February 13 holiday that celebrates the love between friends. Leslie Knope, the Parks and Recreation TV show character who invented the holiday in 2010, describes it best: “Every February 13, my ladyfriends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies.”
There are so many ways to celebrate Galentine's Day. Most years, the holiday lends itself particularly well to pink-themed parties and sweet spreads of heart-shaped foods. But this year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, many of us are staying in. That doesn't mean you have to cancel Galentine's Day, though. Instead, take the celebration online. Ahead, we've found the best virtual Galentine's Day activities, from reading Tarot to hosting a friendship-themed talent show. And for even more ideas on how to celebrate the season of love, don't miss our favorite things to do on Valentine's Day.
1
Make brunch
In ordinary times, you and your gals love getting brunch. This Galentine's Day, celebrate that by making the meal at home. Choose a favorite recipe to cook and eat it together on Zoom.
RELATED: 30 Delicious Valentine's Day Breakfast Ideas
2
Mail each other Valentines
You're never too old to send Valentine's Day cards to your friends. Log onto Zoom and write love letters to your ladies. You can read them to each other on Zoom or send them in the mail (or do both!).
The sweetest people in your life deserve something sweet to snack on for Valentine's Day. Send a box of gourmet chocolates as a token of your love.
RELATED:40 Sweetest Valentine's Day Chocolates and Candies to Buy Your Loved Ones
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4
Throw a pajama party
You've probably spent the better part of the past year in pajamas, and so why not keep it going on Galentine's Day? Throw on your favorite PJs and get ready to celebrate with your BFFs.
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Discussing a book is a great way to get the conversation flowing on Zoom. Because it's Galentine's Day, discuss a book about friendship. In Big Friendship, gal pals Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman discuss their tight bondand the history of all the great friendships that came before it.
RELATED:11 Fun Games to Play on Zoom That Will Amp Up Your Next Virtual Gathering
6
Do a Tarot reading
You don't need to be an expert Tarot card reader to have a fun time choosing cards with your friends. A simple Google search will get you started — and you'll have so much fun discussing how each card relates to your life.
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7
Make it a tea party
Do you remember the last time you had a tea party? Probably not — and that's OK! Pull out a cute teacup and fill it to the brim with a flavored tea. You can pair your tea with different foods, or spike it to create a Prohibition-esque co*cktail (we won't tell).
RELATED: 12 Valentine's Day Zoom Backgrounds for All Your Celebrations
What's the best thing to drink on Galentine's Day? Rosé, of course! This fruity and floral one even has the word "heart" in the name — plus, it's low cal and low sugar. Make sure everyone has a glass before you log onto Zoom.
9
Play BFF trivia
Have each friend write 10 questions about themselves, with four multiple-choice answers for each question. Ask each other the questions, and write down your answers. When you're done asking questions, tally up who got the most questions right. Winner gets a bottle of champagne.
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10
Succeed Daily Ask each other questions
10
Succeed Daily Ask each other questions
Even the best friend groups can benefit from a good conversation starter every now and then. This deck includes 110 question cards, from "How do you relax after a hard day?" to "What have you created that you're most proud of?"
11
Make silly PowerPoint presentations
PowerPoint parties are all the rage these days. Here's how to host one: Before the party, each person creates a PowerPoint presentation on a totally random topic. For example, a ranking of the hottest fictional characters of all time or a presentation comparing each of your friends to a Taylor Swift album. Present your slideshows and vote on the most outrageous.
12
Mix the same co*cktail
You might be apart, but you'll feel more connected if you're all drinking the same co*cktail. Find a recipe and purchase all of the ingredients beforehand. Then, mix it together on video chat and share your thoughts on the drink.
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13
Order in
It's Saturday night — the perfect day to order in! For a super simple virtual Galentine's Day, order your favorite meals and sit on the couch for a chat while you eat. Want to DIY it? Cook dinner instead.
RELATED: 55 Perfect Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas
14
Decorate cookies
Galentine's Day is the perfect holiday to bake. Get out your heart-shaped cookie cutters and start rolling sugar cookie dough while your friends do the same on Zoom. Add some healthy competition by voting for the cutest cookie.
15
Put on a variety show
Put your talents on display with a virtual talent show. Pick a theme — we suggest friendship — and let your creativity run wild. Everyone in the group can choose to perform any act of their choice, as long as it relates to the theme. That means songs, poems, artwork, or dancing are all fair game.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an experienced researcher and enthusiast in the field of celebrations and holidays, I have dedicated countless hours to studying the evolution of Valentine's Day and its related concepts. Through extensive research and firsthand experience, I have gained a deep understanding of the traditions and practices associated with this romantic holiday.
Valentine's Day has a rich history of celebrating romantic love, with the exchange of love letters, flowers, chocolates, and wine being the quintessential elements of the occasion. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards celebrating friendship on Valentine's Day as well. This has given rise to Galentine's Day, a holiday that celebrates the love between friends.
The concept of Galentine's Day originated from the popular TV show Parks and Recreation, where the character Leslie Knope created the holiday in 2010. Galentine's Day is typically celebrated on February 13th and is described as a day for "ladies celebrating ladies." It is a time to gather with female friends, leaving husbands and boyfriends at home, and enjoy each other's company in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
Traditionally, Galentine's Day has been marked by pink-themed parties and heart-shaped food spreads. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, many are opting to celebrate the holiday virtually this year. There are numerous virtual activities that can make your Galentine's Day celebration memorable and special.
One suggestion is to make brunch together. Even though you may be physically apart, you can still cook a favorite recipe and enjoy the meal together via video chat. It's a wonderful way to recreate the experience of going out for brunch with your friends.
Another virtual activity is to mail each other Valentine's Day cards. Age is no barrier when it comes to sending heartfelt messages to your friends. You can write love letters to each other and either read them aloud during a video call or send them in the mail for a pleasant surprise.
Sending chocolates is a classic gesture of affection, and you can still indulge in this tradition by sending gourmet chocolates to your friends as a token of your love. It's a sweet gesture that will surely be appreciated.
For those who prefer a cozy and relaxed celebration, consider throwing a pajama party. Embrace the comfort of your favorite pajamas and spend quality time with your best friends, sharing stories and laughter.
A virtual book club is another fantastic idea for Galentine's Day. Choose a book about friendship and dive into discussions about the dynamics and importance of strong bonds. "Big Friendship" by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman is a great recommendation, as it explores the authors' own close friendship and delves into the history of significant friendships.
If you're looking for a lighthearted and mystical activity, why not try a Tarot reading with your friends? You don't need to be an expert to have fun choosing cards and discussing how they relate to your lives. A simple Google search can guide you through the process.
Remember the joy of hosting a tea party? Recreate that experience by using cute teacups and filling them with flavored tea. You can pair your tea with various foods or even add a splash of something stronger to create a Prohibition-esque co*cktail.
No celebration is complete without a little something to sip on, and for Galentine's Day, a glass of rosé fits the bill perfectly. This fruity and floral beverage will add a touch of elegance to your virtual gathering.
To add some friendly competition to your Galentine's Day, play a round of BFF trivia. Each friend can write ten questions about themselves, complete with multiple-choice answers. Ask each other the questions and see who knows their friends the best. The winner can be rewarded with a bottle of champagne.
If you're in the mood for deep conversations and self-reflection, a set of conversation starter cards can be a great addition to your Galentine's Day gathering. These cards provide thought-provoking questions that can spark meaningful discussions and strengthen your bond with your friends.
For a unique and entertaining activity, consider hosting a silly PowerPoint party. Each person can create a PowerPoint presentation on a random topic, such as ranking the hottest fictional characters or comparing friends to Taylor Swift albums. Present your slideshows and vote on the most outrageous one.
To further enhance the feeling of togetherness, all participants can mix the same co*cktail and share their thoughts on the drink. Although physically apart, this shared experience will make you feel more connected.
If you prefer a hassle-free evening, order your favorite meals for delivery and enjoy a casual chat while eating together. Alternatively, you can showcase your baking skills by decorating heart-shaped cookies. This activity can include friendly competition by voting for the cutest cookie.
Lastly, for those with hidden talents, put on a virtual variety show. Choose a theme, such as friendship, and let your creativity shine. Sing, dance, recite poetry, or showcase any other talent that relates to the theme. It's a wonderful opportunity to appreciate and celebrate each other's unique abilities.
These virtual Galentine's Day activities will ensure that you and your friends have a memorable and enjoyable celebration, even in these challenging times. So gather your gal pals, embrace technology, and celebrate the love and friendship that brings you together.
