Every February, people begin to think about Valentine’s Day, although the holiday itself has begun to change and evolve. New trends and aesthetics such as Galentine’s Day — which emphasizes celebrating with friends rather than significant others — abound on social media in the form of hot pink mood boards and charming short-form content. Reflecting the growing trend of turning away from the traditional romantic dinner and subsequent sunset stroll on a dimly-lit beach, people are instead embracing alternative ways to celebrate. Whether solo, with friends or simply anti-romantic, here are four ways to make the most of the holiday of love.
Starting off with a trend that has steadily garnered more attention year by year, one option is to plan or attend a Galentine’s-themed party. Galentine’s Day, typically observed on Feb. 13, is a play on Valentine’s Day celebrating a different type of love — platonic friendships. It originated in 2010 with a Parks and Recreation episode named “Galentine’s Day” and has since become a popular trend on social media and in the commercial industry. Staple Galentine’s party events include baking Valentine’s cookies, dressing up in red or pink outfits and watching rom-coms. To go a step further, take a page out of the book of hundreds of content creators seizing on the holiday opportunity to share Galentine’s-themed recipes or activities, such as sugar-coated grape cocktails and heart-shaped tomatoes. It is the perfect opportunity to hang out with friends and have a blast, and many Lynbrook students have found joy in attending these events.
“Galentine’s is really great,” junior Charlene Yang said. “It celebrates the season of love and is a good excuse to go out, take cute pictures with your friends and eat food. My friends and I went to downtown Los Gatos and ate brunch at a fancy place that looked like a mansion.”
Another alternative to a typical romantic date is to take a hike through beautiful scenery. Harvard Health notes the many benefits associated with the physical activity that comes from taking on the trails, including building strength and muscular endurance as well as improving the mind and mood. Reconnecting with nature and viewing scenery reduces the level of stress hormone cortisol in the blood, and can even have positive effects on blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Another benefit: fewer people hike on Valentine’s Day, usually opting for more indoor events like watching movies or spa days. Enjoy the peace and quiet as you take in beautiful scenery, and take pictures of the view without people blocking the way. Additionally, there are a myriad of scenic hiking trails scattered throughout Santa Clara County, including Fremont Older, Rancho San Antonio, San José Municipal Rose Garden and the Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve. With all these options, it’s hard to get bored.
A third option is to make Valentine’s cookie boxes. This is the perfect activity to participate in solo, as it allows for creative freedom and relaxation. In the end, you even receive a sweet reward for your efforts. The Journal of Positive Psychology found that spending time on simple creative acts on a daily basis can lead to more positive psychological functioning, so it is important to make room for experimentation. Cookies come in all shapes and sizes, so let your imagination run wild as you create! On the simpler side, try sugar cookies or butter cookies. To be bolder, try stuffed red velvet cookies or Valentine’s Day Funfetti and M&M cookies.
Last year, Yang baked a large batch of red and yellow M&M cookies for Valentine’s Day, individually wrapped them with pretty bows and handed them out to her friends. She was met with enthusiastic appreciation and genuine joy.
“It was really fun because I like baking,” Yang said. “It was just exciting to see them eat it, and then say ‘Wow, this tastes so good!’”
Finally, take advantage of Valentine’s Day sales. As with all holidays, businesses run marketing campaigns during this time of year on everything from themed gift bundles to artificial flowers. In 2023, Dunkin Donuts ran a campaign where members could unlock a free drink on Valentine’s Day, and this year, they’ve released a host of new cookie and donut flavors. In 2022, Crumbl Cookies ran a Crumbl Valentine’s campaign, where each cookie pack came with 12 free cookie cards to give away to friends and family. These promotions are everywhere, and it can be fun finding and taking advantage of such deals.
Romantic dinner dates are not the only thing you can do on such a versatile holiday. Hopefully, these alternatives inspired you to do something different this year.
“It’s a cute holiday,” junior Alice Yan said. “I really like it. It’s fun and an excuse to get gifts for loved ones.”
