Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features
Get the Independent Women email for free
While Valentine’s Day is widely-regarded as the most romantic occasion of the year, the day that precedes it is arguably just as loving.
On 13 February, women across the world celebrate their female friendships on Galentine’s Day, an event popularised on American television show Parks and Recreation.
During a 2010 episode of the hit sitcom, Amy Poehler‘s character Leslie Knope describes Galentine’s Day as “the best day of the year”, stating: “Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home and we just come and kick it breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies.”
A decade on, several members of the Parks and Rec cast reunited to pay homage to the annual event.
Several Instagram users expressed their joy over the actors’ reunion, with one person commenting: “Omg. I can’t with this. I love every single one of you.”
Someone else wrote: “Ovaries before brovaries”, in reference to one of Poehler’s lines from the television show.
During a recent appearance on talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Poehler spoke of her plans to join her former cast mates for Galentine’s Day.
“Are you still celebrating Galentine’s Day, the holiday you invented?” Jimmy Kimmel asked, to which Poehler responded: “I am.”
“In fact, I am having dinner after this show with Rashida Jones and Aubrey Plaza and Kathryn Hahn,” the Sisters actor said.
“Which, for those of you who don’t know, it’s an alternative to Valentine’s Day created by the writers of Parks and Rec. Leslie Knope would get all of her gals together and shower them with weird gifts.”
Poehler added that Galentine’s Day has “kind of caught on as a fun, fake holiday, just like Valentine’s Day, which is also a fake holiday”.
10 quotes from women that defined the decade
Show all 10
On Valentine’s Day, it was reported that a single man who paid £425 for a billboard to advertise himself as a prospective suitor successfully landed himself a date on the most romantic day of the year.
The billboard, which was located on a busy road in Manchester, featured a photograph of 30-year-old Mark Rofe lying down on his side alongside the caption: “Single? Date Mark. This could be the sign you’ve been waiting for.”
The marketing professional revealed he received more than 2,000 applications as a result of his advertisement and scheduled a date with a special someone.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies