Because Love Isn’t Just for Couples
Galentine’s Day, born in 2010 from the genius of Parks and Rec’s Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler), is all about “ladies celebrating ladies.” While it started with rounding up your best gals for a brunch-filled love fest on February 13th, it has since taken on a life of its own.
The idea of taking an opportunity to recognise, show appreciation for and celebrate the significant friendships in your life. After all, if Valentine is all about love, which is not only romantic and intimate, then our friendships are as meaningful, supportive and worth celebrating too.
Hmm… hold on!
It’s very gender-specific, you might say. And you’d be right!
No surprise, then, that Palentine’s Day came along as the natural answer—a gender-neutral celebration of friendships and other meaningful non-romantic relationships on February 13th. I couldn’t track down exactly when or where it started, but honestly, does it matter? What’s important is that it’s gaining more recognition and celebration every year. And why? Because it’s relevant. Friendships, in all their forms, deserve a day to be appreciated, and Palentine’s Day is just another way to make sure no one gets left out of the love fest.
Hold on… that’s great, you’re probably thinking.
But what does any of this have to do with Valentine’s Day?
Well, for some, not much. For others? A whole lot.
While there are many versions of how Valentine’s Day came to be, topped up by modern commercialisation and social expectations—one thing is clear: the spotlight is always on love and romance. And while that’s great, it can also come with a fair amount of pressure.
At some point, I’d love to write a blog about romantic relationships - the highs, the challenges and the expectations that Valentine’s Day tends to amplify. The pressure for grand gestures, or even the “good enough” ones and what they are, the need to appear "perfect" in a relationship, and the way the day can sometimes magnify insecurities rather than celebrate connection and love. From differing views on gifts to underlying communication struggles, the day can be complicated for couples.
But today?
This isn’t that blog!
Instead, I want to ask: Why Valentine? And more importantly, why does it so often feel like everyone must be coupled up to enjoy the celebration of Love?
There’s a lingering idea that being single on Valentine’s Day is some kind of tragedy—as if single-hood is a waiting room for “real life” to begin. But being single isn’t a problem to be fixed - it’s a stage of life, a choice or lifestyle preference. It certainly is not some void lacking joy, meaningful relationships or nor is it an indication of a lack of love or deep connections.
Even when embracing single-hood as a valid stage of life or a personal choice throughout the year, Valentine’s Day shows up loud, flashy and impossible to ignore, it can chip away at even the most confident mindset.
Shops explode with pink everything, love hearts and glitter-bombed aisles, all screaming one message: romantic love is the ultimate goal. And no matter how comfortable you are in yourself, that overwhelming, in-your-face spectacle can stir up feelings of self-doubt, loneliness, longing, or just a nagging sense of being left out. It’s like Valentine’s Day takes all the progress we’ve made in broadening our understanding of love and then “slaps you in the face” (a phrase I have heard and read countless times from single individuals) with old-school expectations.
That’s why so many people have not only embraced Galentine, Palentine and Self-Love Day in general, but have also chosen to celebrate them on February 14th instead of the 13th. While the world is shouting that "love is everywhere”, with grand romantic gestures and picture-perfect couples, choosing to celebrate friendship, self-appreciation, and other meaningful connections on this day feels like the perfect counterbalance. It’s a reminder to celebrate the love that is there. It isn’t about romance—it’s about recognising and valuing the relationships that truly matter, whether that’s with your best friends, family, or most importantly, yourself.
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