Prioritize Platonic Love This Galentine's Day

Pink metallic streamers hang on the wall decorated with red hearts and an "xoxo" garland. Photo by Audrey Geib

A timer goes off. The sound of laughter and the smell of freshly baked cookies fills the air. The walls are adorned with red hearts and pink streamers. A group of Elon Students gather in an off-campus apartment to celebrate Galentine’s Day.

Junior Jared Foutz believes that taking the time to enjoy the love between friends during the season of Valentine’s Day is crucial.

“I think it’s important to celebrate the platonic love you have with your friends,” Foutz said. “I feel like in today’s society that can sometimes be lost or just not appreciated.”

According to Dictionary.com, Galentine’s Day is traditionally the day before Valentine’s Day and celebrates platonic friendships.

The holiday originated on the show “Parks and Recreation” in an episode airing in 2010 where a character, Amy Poehler, played by Leslie Knope, celebrated by passing out hand-knit gifts and letters to each of her female friends, according to People Magazine.

First-year Kiara Vera Rodriguez said that she believes the holiday represents more than just giving out candy grams or heart-shaped cards to your friends.

“Galentine’s Day to me represents love, dedication and kinship,” Rodriguez said. “Celebrating our mutual love today has reminded me of the place we have given each other to be ourselves and embrace our differences.”

Foutz, Rodriguez and four of their closest friends gathered to eat dinner, play card games, bake cookies, watch a movie and take photos in front of streamers and garland. The group wanted to gather together to recognize and honor their platonic love for each other.

Kiara Vera Rodriguez, Jared Foutz, Kaelise Lane and Viluzmar Castellanos laugh as they play a card game on the couch on Feb. 16. Photo by Audrey Geib

The term platonic love originated with the philosopher Plato in his writings describing the various types of love between individuals. The term was used to describe non-sexual relationships and has grown to describe close friendships, according to Merriam-Webster. 

To Rodriguez, platonic love is found with friends who stay by your side no matter what you’re going through. She emphasized that they are not perfect because nobody is perfect, but the love they share overcomes their faults.

“Platonic relationships consist of crying with each other, laughing with each other and being frustrated with each other,” Rodriguez said. “Platonic relationships consist of the perfect flaws that make us who we are, from the worst break-downs to the late nights of consistent laughter.”

Foutz said that although how you celebrate the people who matter most to you may look different, the important thing is to let them know the positive impact they have on your life.