Yep, you heard us right. Galentines is a thing. So we caught up with Daisy Buchanan (author of brand-new book The Sisterhood!) who’s scrapping Valentines plans and instead throwing a girls-only party to celebrate the most important women in her life on the 13th.
“I treasure my friendships with women, and the best ones feel like grand romances and life changing love affairs. They spark joy in my soul. This is why I’m always excited to celebrate Galentine’s Day. Sometimes friendship isn’t a strong enough word to describe the way I feel about the women in my life. I need a day to celebrate my love for them.Galentine’s Day, on February 13th, is thought to have been invented by Leslie Knope of the sitcom Parks and Recreation. Leslie takes female friendships extremely seriously and throws an annual Galentine’s Party for her girlfriends on the day before the more traditional annual love holiday. She showers her friends with gifts, compliments and waffles. Since Leslie first celebrated Galentine’s Day in 2010, thousands of us have followed her example."
"Valentine’s Day itself can be disappointing. If you’re in a happy relationship, everything seems slightly forced. Your favourite restaurant seems less romantic when it’s filled with other couples, helium balloons and overpriced specials in heart-shaped dishes. And while there are special chocolate truffles shaped like a cupid’s bow, you’d be happier with a vast slab of Dairy Milk. If you’re single, or uncertain, it’s much worse.The best thing about Galentine’s day is that there are no rules, no expectations and no pressure. You’re not waiting around to find out how much you’re loved. You’re taking charge, standing up and saying, ‘I LOVE YOU!’ to the people you adore, just like Buddy the Elf. If you want to wear bright green tights, no-one can stop you.Galentine’s day is a great time to say thank you. You don’t necessarily need to spend lots of money or make lavish gestures to tell your friends how much you care about them, but you can tell them just how much they matter to you. Galentine’s day is a time to redress the balance and reset the schedule. It reminds us that friendship is one of the loveliest bonuses that life brings."
"You don’t need to prove yourself with a grand gesture, the offer of a kidney or the promise to avenge anyone’s death – although help with house moves and lifts to the airport are always appreciated.There are infinite ways of making your friends feel loved. It doesn’t matter which one you pick, as long as it feels meaningful and sincere. This year, I’ll be channeling Leslie. I won’t be celebrating Valentine’s Day with champagne and strawberries, but on the 13th, all the women in my life are invited to a compliments and waffles party"
Daisy’s novel, The Sisterhood: a love letter to the women who have shaped me, is out in eBook and paperback on 7th March. You can pre-order it here: https://amzn.to/2BqK1Vf
