Galentine's Day is a global holiday that celebrates women's friendship.[1] Galentine's Day is typically marked as February 13, but can be observed any day. Galentine's Day events are typically all-female occasions of mutual "empowerment...a reminder for women to support and uplift one another."[2]
The concept and name of this annual festival of sisterhood was imagined into existence by the Parks and Recreation writing staff led by Michael Schur.[3] The writer of the episode is Aisha Muharrar. The sitcom's main character Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler) is the originator of the holiday. Jumping from fiction to real life, the occasion is well known enough that Galentine's Day merchandise is now sold at mainstream outlets like Walmart, Party City, Amazon and Etsy. Retailers also use the holiday as a pretext for organizing pop-up shops marketing products to female customers.[4] Many resorts and restaurants offer Galentine's themed package deals.[5]
An advice column in The Sunday Telegraph described the protocol of Galentine's Day:
Michelle Obama posted a photo on her Instagram and Twitter celebrating Galentine's Day in 2020. The caption read, The official Parks & Recreation Twitter account replied with a GIF of Leslie Knope expressing approval.[6]