Ten years have passed since Leslie Knope introduced Galentine’s Day to the world and it has since evolved into something much bigger than a made-up holiday from Parks and Recreation. As the case with celebrating “treat yo self,” Galentine’s Day was the topic of multiple episodes of the NBC sitcom. Here’s how Galentine’s Day came to be and why it’s so popular.
Galentine’s Day made its debut during the Parks and Rec season 2 episode appropriately titled after the special holiday. The 2010 episode focused on Leslie as she hosted her annual “Galentine’s Day” party for her favorite females in her life. “The best day of the year,” according to Leslie, was celebrated on February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day. For the first Galentine’s Day on Parks and Rec, Leslie was accompanied by Ann Perkins, Donna Meagle, April Ludgate, her mother Marlene Griggs-Knope, and a few other women. The gift bags given to the attendees from Leslie included a bouquet of crocheted flower pens, a personalized 5,000-word essay praising the person, and a mosaic portrait made by crushed soda cans.
The fictional holiday made another appearance in season 4 which saw Leslie give her female friends another slew of elaborate gifts. Leslie explained that the reason behind the day was to leave husbands and boyfriends at home and celebrate the bond between women. Michael Schur (The Good Place), the show’s creator and the writer of the first Galentine’s Day episode, originally developed the holiday to show how much Leslie’s friendships with the females in her life compared to her romantic relationships. Knowing how generous Leslie was when it came to her loved ones, inventing something like Galentine’s Day seemed extremely fitting. The holiday, however, has taken off well outside of the pop culture world.
How Galentine’s Day Grew Beyond Parks & Recreation
Leslie invented Galentine’s Day to celebrate the ladies in her life but for the last decade, it has become an annual tradition for many. Fans of the show started to use February 13 as a time to get together with their female friends and celebrate each other. That was until restaurants and big brands started to participate which opened the unofficial holiday into a worldwide event. Even those who aren’t familiar with Parks and Rec or Leslie Knope look forward to the day before Valentine’s Day. Over the years, the holiday as also evolved into a time when people celebrate being single as a way to counter the traditional Valentine’s Day hoopla.
When looking back at Parks and Rec’s legacy, Galentine’s Day is arguably one of the best concepts to come out of the sitcom. It opened up the world’s eyes and taught women how to take time and celebrate one another without the stress and expectations that often come from Valentine’s Day. It also allows Parks and Recreation to live on well after the series ended in 2015. Even Hallmark has gotten in on the fun by selling Galentine’s Day cards so it’s safe to say that the holiday is here to stay.
Next: Every Parks & Rec Actor In The Good Place
