Galentine’s Day has taken on a life of its own since it was introduced on Parks and Recreation in 2010, but over a decade later, fans of the NBC sitcom were outraged to learn that many people don’t know its origins.
Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope coined the unofficial holiday in the second season of the series during episode 16, which was written by the show’s co-creator Michael Schur and aptly titled ‘Galentine’s Day.’
The Valentine’s Day spin-off has become associated with single women over the years, but it is meant to be a celebration of female empowerment and friendship, regardless of relationship status.
‘Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style,’ Knope explained on the show. ‘Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.’
However, recent condemnations of the celebration on X (formerly Twitter) have led to the realization that some critics are unaware of its ties to Leslie Knope — the patron saint of Galentine’s Day. X user @missMARCELA_ came under fire after equating the day with single women and alcohol.
‘Sorry but Galentine’s Day activities are cringe to me,’ she wrote. ‘Why would I celebrate not having a man with a bunch of single women while getting drunk?’ ‘The audacity to suggest that Ms. Leslie Knope would EVER create a holiday centered around men. Galentine’s Day is by the girls, for the girls,’ one person hit back.
‘Firstly, thank our good sis Leslie Knope for Galentine’s Day. Secondly, it was never about celebrating not having a man,’ another added. ‘It was just for the girls to get together, have drinks, and have a good time. Do you not understand the concept of a girls’ night/day/trip?’
‘When did Galentine’s Day turn into that? Who made that up cause it was not Leslie Knope,’ someone else asked. X user @MoMelaninMoPrbz faced similar backlash after sharing her own hot take on the day, not realizing it was derived from a sitcom. ‘Single b*****s make every holiday about them cause wtf is a ‘Galentine’s’? Next it will be Single de Mayo,’ she griped.