It’s a little hard to miss all the pink and red hearts present in every retail space right now, the ads for sparkly jewelry, and displays of roses and flowers, but let’s take a few minutes to honor another February holiday: Galentine’s Day, which falls on the 13th of the month.
For those unacquainted with the wonderful show Parks and Recreation, Galentine’s Day is a holiday invented by star Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, a dedicated public servant and unabashed supporter of all her friends. As she describes it, “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. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”
Sounds great to me! The Johnson County Library can help you honor the great lady friends in your life. Let’s start with the meal. If you want to fully commit to the Knope aesthetic, it’s going to have to be waffles. Will it Waffle might be a good place to start, especially if you’re looking for something a little quirky and offbeat that still honors the spirit of that most exquisite of breakfast foods. If you can’t swing a breakfast get-together, never fear, Breakfast for Dinner has you covered. If you need to accommodate any vegans in your Galentine’s crew (don’t worry, we won’t tell Ron Swanson), you have options too with the beautiful The Ultimate Vegan Breakfast Book. If none of these float your butter boat, check the catalog for more options.
In addition to great food, you’ll want to show your friends how much you care about them with a gift. If you don’t have time to learn a new in-depth craft or a lot of extra cash to splurge with, consider something handwritten in fancy lettering. The Big Awesome Book of Hand & Chalk Lettering contains project and gift ideas, targeted at beginners. If, like me, your love and appreciation manifest in the form of woolly handmade gifts a la Leslie's crocheted flowers, maybe a flip through 50 Knitted Gifts for Year-Round Giving or Interweave Presents Crocheted Gifts will generate some ideas. Maybe the gals you know aren’t really big on things or are currently trying to declutter a la Marie Kondo. Gifts in Jars has a range of practical gift possibilities. Maybe anything in a book already feels a bit dated, and you know your friends would appreciate more fashionably contemporary presents; try skimming through the library’s digital magazine offerings—I’m a huge fan of the crafts category myself, which has a bit of everything ranging from yarn crafts to quilting to jewelry.
The last thing is to bring it all together--the food and beverages, the gifts—with a proper party atmosphere. You know Leslie Knope wouldn’t skimp on atmosphere. Sure, you can find some streamers and call it good, but Celebrate Everything! might be just the ticket since “Ain’t no party like a Leslie Knope party ‘cause a Leslie Knope party is 30 parties.” For the rest of us mortals, one is probably enough, and you can’t go wrong with the guidance of that premier hostess, Martha Stewart. But don’t be afraid to do your own thing and blaze your own trail of Galentine’s Day glory. Every friendship is unique, and you best know how to honor your lady friends.
At the end of the day, Galentine’s Day is all about the fabulous female friendships in your life, however you choose to show appreciation. February advertising tends to be dominated by romantic messages. Let’s also remember to show some love for the great friends in our lives. Happy Galentine’s Day!