Practiced since Romans ruled the land, Valentine’s Day is a holiday to encapsulate our appreciation for loved ones through the giving of heart-shaped candies and fresh red flowers. But since its origin, Valentine’s Day has shifted from a purely romantic holiday to one that includes our closest friends and family members. Whether you’re preparing for Galentine’s, Palentine’s or Valentine’s, here is a list of ideas to celebrate the special people in your life.
Palentine’s Day is a version of the holiday that celebrates the strongest platonic friendships we all collect in our lifetimes. This is a gender-neutral take on the day, allowing friends to come together to spend quality time with one another. This is such a good opportunity to show some love to your non-romantic relationships, which we oftentimes take for granted.
There are so many ways to celebrate this day, and one amazing option is to host a small Palentine’s get-together. You can gather with a few friends to enjoy a fun, yet low-pressure celebration. Think simple snacks, yummy drinks and some slightly competitive board games. Some DIYs could make an easy and fun party activity, such as making cards or cute personalized gifts for each other. To end off the evening you and your friends can have a potluck dinner with all of your favorite foods.
If your friends are more of the active type, an outdoor group activity is another amazing option. Whether it is a peaceful hike or playing your favorite sport, these types of activities will promote bonding through exciting, and healthy, physical activity.
Similarly, but with a slightly girlier twist, Galentine’s is a day for women to celebrate their female friends and the bonds they all share through being women. Some who celebrate Galentine’s also have a romantic valentine, but choose to make time to be with their closest female friends and show them the appreciation they deserve.
A very popular activity is a self-care, spa-type celebration. Gather your closest gals for a day of relaxing pampering along with a friendly yap-sesh. Face masks and manicures while watching a cheesy romcom can be a great way to unwind and calm down with your closest girl friends.
If you are into more hands-on activities, you can try DIY recipes for face masks, bath salts or even paint on candle sticks. Using melted, colored candle wax, you can add cute, and aesthetic, designs onto white candle sticks. These are fun to make and a great gift for a friend.
In contrast, Valentine’s Day is usually considered a day for couples to express their love for one another. The day is honored by the giving of gifts, the eating of delicious meals and just spending quality time together.
For a romantic celebration, one often overlooked idea is to stay home and cook dinner. You can try out a new recipe and learn how to make the dish as a couple. By cooking together you are able to collaborate on something, and then enjoy eating the scrumptious results.
An obvious idea is the timeless choice of going out on a date to a nice restaurant. It is never a bad decision to go out to a nice dinner with cozy candles, mood-setting music and a well-cooked meal. However, if you want a more relaxed evening, a movie night with your favorite snacks is another great option.
Regardless of whether you’re celebrating with your best pals, closest girlies, or a romantic partner, this special Valentine’s holiday is the perfect time to show appreciation for all of the important figures in your life. Even the smallest gestures can have a significant impact on others’ lives, so make sure to not only embrace the love but help spread it to those around you.
