How to plan a girls night: Galentine’s edition

I swear to god, no one tears up like I do while watching Instagram reels about girlhood. My girlfriends are the reason I’m not dead in a ditch somewhere, and they’re also why I can somehow tolerate myself. Whether it’s the friend that goes through the same canon events at the same time in a different font, or the one that yells at you to leave your toxic boyfriend (hopefully now, ex), the girl who would never say no to wearing coloured wigs out to a new fine dining restaurant, the one that never lets you be alone on the dance floor, or the one that wipes away your snot when you cry over a breakup, the girls always show up. And they show up with your favourite green juice and chocolate.

Would I pick a girls’ night over a date night with my boyfriend? Mostly yes. Girls’ nights are the nights where you don’t have to keep track of the number of drinks you’ve had or what comes out of your mouth after.

It didn’t take long for the day to intertwine with contemporary currents of decentering men and the resurgence of the importance of platonic relationships

Galentine’s Day, falling the day before Valentine’s, is proof that girlfriends do come before men. 13 February is now a day dedicated to acknowledging and celebration of the women in your life, without whom life would not be as fulfilling and just not as fun. Galentine’s Day as a concept is rumoured to have been adopted from Leslie Knope’s famous Galentine’s Day brunch (“Galentine’s Day,” Season 2, Parks and Recreation). In her own words, it is “Ladies celebrating ladies”. It didn’t take long for the day to intertwine with contemporary currents of decentering men and the resurgence of the importance of platonic relationships. And now we have article after article (including this one) telling us how to do Galentine’s the right way.

It could be pyjamas-and-coexist-on-the-couch doing your own thing, or a cute potluck with custom cocktails, or even a full-blown night out where you pregame too hard, black out after, and lose your phone. But at the core of it, every version of Galentine’s Day centres itself on love, acceptance, and the ‘remember when you thought he was the love of your life’ laughs. So, if you’re celebrating this year, here are three non-negotiables that ensure a sweet and wholesome Galentine’s.

1. Prioritise the pregame – This doesn’t need to involve alcohol. The pregame involves decorating the house (if you’re staying in), creating a menu, a fun playlist, video-calling the friends who are yet to arrive and politely harassing them into coming sooner. It is almost always the best part of the night. You do someone’s hair — not just out of love, but also because if they did it all alone, you would miss the reservation you made two weeks ago.
2. The Activities – This can be a board game, painting, cooking together, or a visit to wherever you can wear that dress you have nowhere to wear. Bonus points if the activity takes into consideration where everyone is in their menstrual cycle. Sometimes you just want to lie down next to each other and be nonverbal.
3. The essential crying – Cry and tell your friends that you love them. Cry about your assignments. Cry because you’re studying your dream course and building your dream career. Because the blessings keep coming. Cry because your crush doesn’t know you exist or because your boyfriend gave you the ick. Cry because through it all, your girlfriends will still be there to support you. Cry over AI cats, too. Your girlfriends will be there to wipe off your tears (or join in). And in my opinion, sisterhood is the safest place for vulnerability. Vulnerability lets you enjoy every single facet of platonic relationships.

You’ll all feel it together. Or, they’ll just tell you to find a boyfriend. Who knows? Either way, they’ll still be around

Again, there doesn’t need to be an agenda for Galentine’s Day. As long as you get to share the love and appreciation for your girlfriends – no matter how that is expressed – you capture the meaning of it. As time passes, you’d probably realise that if you’re lucky, you’ll find some female friends who will be around right from when you first wax your legs to when you need tissues at the altar. And you will notice that they will love you, hold you, and cheer for you through all your different phases and seasons, unconditionally. And if you’re just as lucky as I am, one day, you’ll sit in a small bar, surrounded by your girls, tipsy from one too many drinks, and when you bring up the iconic “Maybe we can be each other’s soulmates. And then we could just let men be these great, nice guys to have fun with!” line from Sex and the City, you and your girlfriends will unanimously simultaneously experience the legitimacy of that wisdom. You’ll all feel it together. Or, they’ll just tell you to find a boyfriend. Who knows? Either way, they’ll still be around. And that’s all that matters.