Palentine's Day: Celebrate the platonic loves of your life

“Palentine’s Day”, a fun twist to Valentine’s Day, is the ultimate occasion to say “I love you (platonically)” to your best friends. Palentine’s Day takes place every February 13th as a subtle way to remind everyone that “mates are before dates”. It’s also a great way to celebrate friendship, the purest form of love, and to show your appreciation to the people who’ve been there for you through thick and thin.

What is Palentine’s Day?

Palentine’s Day, a portmanteau made up of “pal” and “Valentine’s Day”, is the day on which people celebrate platonic soulmate relationships. It’s about showing your ride-or-die how much they mean to you and that you’re grateful they’re in your life. After all, life is not all about romance – it’s also about friends who are rooting for you daily.

Where did “Palentine” come from?

“Palentine” originated from an episode of Parks and Recreation, a Netflix sitcom about Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in Indiana. In this episode, Leslie and her girlfriends got together on February 13th, each prepared with gifts and a 5000-word essay on how wonderful they are. Palentine’s Day urges people to think about self-love, friendship love, family love, or any other love outside of the traditional romantic kind.

What are “Palentine” and “Galentine”?

Palentine is the gender-neutral term for “Galentine’s Day”: Valentine’s Day for girls. In essence, Galentine and Palentine are synonymous, with the latter being more inclusive to men. Both of these words are still unfamiliar to the general public, though that’s changing for good reasons. They’re both still not listed in the dictionary, but they definitely deserve a spot!

How to celebrate Palentine’s Day?

Like Leslie Knope, you can get a personalized and unforgettable gift for your friends on this occasion. Get them flowers if they’re also single or that fancy thermal blanket if they’re always cold. Alternatively, you can share an experience with them and create long-lasting memories. We believe that experiences make the best gifts, so here are some activities you can do together to celebrate your camaraderie.

Go for a meal

Before you say, “this is not original”, hear us out. Yes, it’s true that friends always enjoy meals together, but you can always make this time more memorable. For example, go on a jazz brunch together, and enjoy a hefty dose of musical mealtime with your bestie.

Do you both have a sweet tooth? Try all the freshest donuts in Seattle on a short tour. If you want to chill on the water, take your bestie out on a lunch cruise. You can also order takeout, watch an upcoming rom-com, or play video games together. Since it’s your day, celebrate it however you like!

Organize a Girls/Guys Night Out

Girls/Guys Night Outs are always guaranteed fun. Hit the local bar, and have a good time with your buddies this Palentine’s Day. However, if you’re bored with the local options, try Las Vegas. Book a night in Las Vegas, and have the most exciting night in Sin City. Who knows, you might even have a date for Valentine’s by the time you’re home.

Alternatively, pimp up your night with a private limousine ride. Who doesn’t want to be in a limousine, especially with their BFFs? It’s a great way to tour the city, as limousines provide a luxurious experience while being safe. Plus, it’s a fun gift for your best friend if they weren’t expecting it.

Travel together

The best memories are made while traveling. How long has it been since you and your best friend traveled together? If the answer is, “I can’t remember”, you’re overdue for a trip to spice up your friendship.

You can travel on Palentine’s Day or use the day to plan your spring break or summer vacation. We recommend booking your tickets in advance, as you will get cheap rates. Popular destinations for friends include New York, Cancun, Nashville, Amsterdam, and Boston. In any case, an East Coast weekend getaway is always a top pick for friends who like a short trip.

See a performance together

If you have friends who love art, you should get them tickets to some of the hottest shows in town. Are they huge fans of Broadway musicals? Treat them to timeless classics like Aladdin or The Lion King. Alternatively, try your luck with a performance you have not heard about. You might just have the time of your life!

The best gift in this category is a ticket to your favorite artist. Have they always wanted to see Beyoncé? Here’s your chance to make their dream come true. Gift them the concert of their idol, and make heart-warming memories.

This year, don’t worry if you aren’t in a romantic relationship when Valentine’s Day swings around. Get out there, and have the wildest, most fun Palentine’s Day of your life. Most importantly, remember to show that awesome friend how much they mean to you. Now go out there and create new memories with your BFFs!