How a Parks and Rec Brunch Became Galentine’s Day

Galentine’s Day is a modern celebration of female friendship that originated not in ancient festivals but in the 2010 Parks and Recreation episode of the same name, where Leslie Knope hosts a pre–Valentine’s Day brunch for her female friends. Since then it has spread worldwide as a woman-centered alternative to Valentine’s Day, often celebrated on February 13 but sometimes any day to honor sisterhood and empowerment.