15 Virtual Galentine's Day Ideas for a Super Sweet Celebration
The holiday is on a Saturday this year — which means hosting a digital party is practically mandatory.
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Historically, Valentine's Day has celebrated romantic love. There are love letters, flowers, chocolates, and wine — and most importantly, a fairytale date at the end of the night. But more recently, people have begun celebrating friendship on Valentine's Day too. And now, there's Galentine's Day: the February 13 holiday that celebrates the love between friends. Leslie Knope, the Parks and Recreation TV show character who invented the holiday in 2010, describes it best: “Every February 13, my ladyfriends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies.”
There are so many ways to celebrate Galentine's Day. Most years, the holiday lends itself particularly well to pink-themed parties and sweet spreads of heart-shaped foods. But this year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, many of us are staying in. That doesn't mean you have to cancel Galentine's Day, though. Instead, take the celebration online. Ahead, we've found the best virtual Galentine's Day activities, from reading Tarot to hosting a friendship-themed talent show. And for even more ideas on how to celebrate the season of love, don't miss our favorite things to do on Valentine's Day.
Make brunch
In ordinary times, you and your gals love getting brunch. This Galentine's Day, celebrate that by making the meal at home. Choose a favorite recipe to cook and eat it together on Zoom.
Mail each other Valentines
You're never too old to send Valentine's Day cards to your friends. Log onto Zoom and write love letters to your ladies. You can read them to each other on Zoom or send them in the mail (or do both!).
The sweetest people in your life deserve something sweet to snack on for Valentine's Day. Send a box of gourmet chocolates as a token of your love.
RELATED: 40 Sweetest Valentine's Day Chocolates and Candies to Buy Your Loved Ones
Throw a pajama party
You've probably spent the better part of the past year in pajamas, and so why not keep it going on Galentine's Day? Throw on your favorite PJs and get ready to celebrate with your BFFs.
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Discussing a book is a great way to get the conversation flowing on Zoom. Because it's Galentine's Day, discuss a book about friendship. In Big Friendship, gal pals Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman discuss their tight bond and the history of all the great friendships that came before it.
RELATED: 11 Fun Games to Play on Zoom That Will Amp Up Your Next Virtual Gathering
Do a Tarot reading
You don't need to be an expert Tarot card reader to have a fun time choosing cards with your friends. A simple Google search will get you started — and you'll have so much fun discussing how each card relates to your life.
Make it a tea party
Do you remember the last time you had a tea party? Probably not — and that's OK! Pull out a cute teacup and fill it to the brim with a flavored tea. You can pair your tea with different foods, or spike it to create a Prohibition-esque cocktail (we won't tell).
RELATED: 12 Valentine's Day Zoom Backgrounds for All Your Celebrations
What's the best thing to drink on Galentine's Day? Rosé, of course! This fruity and floral one even has the word "heart" in the name — plus, it's low cal and low sugar. Make sure everyone has a glass before you log onto Zoom.
Play BFF trivia
Have each friend write 10 questions about themselves, with four multiple-choice answers for each question. Ask each other the questions, and write down your answers. When you're done asking questions, tally up who got the most questions right. Winner gets a bottle of champagne.
Even the best friend groups can benefit from a good conversation starter every now and then. This deck includes 110 question cards, from "How do you relax after a hard day?" to "What have you created that you're most proud of?"
Make silly PowerPoint presentations
PowerPoint parties are all the rage these days. Here's how to host one: Before the party, each person creates a PowerPoint presentation on a totally random topic. For example, a ranking of the hottest fictional characters of all time or a presentation comparing each of your friends to a Taylor Swift album. Present your slideshows and vote on the most outrageous.
Mix the same cocktail
You might be apart, but you'll feel more connected if you're all drinking the same cocktail. Find a recipe and purchase all of the ingredients beforehand. Then, mix it together on video chat and share your thoughts on the drink.
Order in
It's Saturday night — the perfect day to order in! For a super simple virtual Galentine's Day, order your favorite meals and sit on the couch for a chat while you eat. Want to DIY it? Cook dinner instead.
Decorate cookies
Galentine's Day is the perfect holiday to bake. Get out your heart-shaped cookie cutters and start rolling sugar cookie dough while your friends do the same on Zoom. Add some healthy competition by voting for the cutest cookie.
Put on a variety show
Put your talents on display with a virtual talent show. Pick a theme — we suggest friendship — and let your creativity run wild. Everyone in the group can choose to perform any act of their choice, as long as it relates to the theme. That means songs, poems, artwork, or dancing are all fair game.
Juliana is a writer, editor and SEO strategist with over six years' of experience on the editorial staffs of publications including Reader's Digest, Best Life and Good Housekeeping. She covers everything from holiday and home to travel and food, and lives in New York City, where she can often be found at hot yoga or raiding the candy aisle at CVS.
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