The Greeks didn’t just contribute philosophy, medicine, astronomy, and mathematics to the world we know today. They also established that love comes in many forms. The Greeks believed that love could be expressed in six distinct ways. Marriage may be one, but the love we receive from our friends could be considered the most important.
We turn to our friends for advice, companionship, and comfort. Our closest friends may even have seen us in our oldest PJ set while we drink copious amounts of wine and whine about life. They are the ones who understand our souls more than a partner ever could.
Female Friends for Life!
The interesting thing is, it’s not just a social construct that makes us reach for our best friend’s number when things are going wrong. It’s science!
A study from the University of Los Angeles has found compelling evidence that women turn to their friends because of the mutually calming effect it has on us.
The average person responds to stress in one of the “f” ways. Fight, flight, freeze or fawn. It turns out that women have one more reaction to the introduction of oxytocin (released to counter when a stressor is introduced). We react by gathering with other women! Oxytocin induces anti-stress-like effects such as a reduction of blood pressure and cortisol levels. It increases pain thresholds and stimulates positive social interaction.
Dr Laura Cousin Klein found that when women engage in this “gathering” response after the release of oxytocin, even more oxytocin is released which calms us down even more!
Show Your Friends the Love
You have probably heard of Galentine’s day, but do you know how it came to be?
Leslie Knope from the sitcom Parks and Recreation created the celebration to spend time with the friends in her life. The word itself is a blend of gal and valentine.
Galentine’s Day has expanded into popular culture and women from all over the world have decided to spend some important meisie-minutes together to share the love. Leslie Knope suggests Galentine’s Day celebrations involving the exchange of small gifts and eating brunch.
We at HOMEMAKERS don’t really think it’s necessary to have brunch, nor to only invite your girls. Galentine’s should just be about celebrating the bonds of friendship, however you choose to do so.
We do, however, think we have the winning recipe right here: Six steps to Galentine’s fun.
Step One: Friend Love Location
Choose whichever friend’s home is the most central to all the attendees. The home doesn’t have to be huge, it must just have enough space in the living area to accommodate all the gals.
Step Two: Buddy Basics
Suggest a dress code! No matter what everyone always pretends, it’s super fun to dress up especially for an event like this. Does your friend group have a shared experience that can be turned into a theme? Maybe all of you met at university, so your dress code would be “student wear”. Maybe all of you went river rafting and had all walked away with cleaner sinuses and bruised bums. Fish out of water is a fun theme that can be interpreted in many ways. Just have fun with it!
Step Three: Signature Sister Sipper
Assign one or two attendees to create a signature drink for the occasion! Its colour, flavour or name could even suit the dress theme. There are many super fun virgin options of classic cocktails if you guys don’t want to spend the bucks on Ubers home.
Step Four: Fantastic Friendly Fun
Romper.com has the cutest list of jolly games to help bond the group even more. There are many options to do some proper bonding, but we think doing a paint-and-sip is the way to go. Buy some small, boxed canvasses, a few tubes of paint and let each friend paint the person on their left. You won’t believe how hilarious and endearing it is to see yourself through your friend’s eyes. No worries if you have some reluctant artists, there are some adorable Galentine’s designs that will be just as lovely to try and recreate.
Step Five: Secret Cupids
Just like a Secret Santa, consider assigning secret Cupids for this event. It’s loads of fun to receive something thoroughly thought out on Galentine’s day. The point is not really to buy what we would buy a partner on Valentine’s day, so leave the chocolates and flowers for now. Also, try to keep it cheap but thoughtful. Here are some ideas to get your brain buzzing.
Step Six: Firm Friendship Flicks
Everyone has their favourite love story, but friend-love is more concerned with what uplifts us. Don’t go for the run-of-the-mill Valentine’s film. Choose something that you can laugh or cry over with the people who are always there for your laughter and tears.
Our suggestions are:
Bridesmaids (2011)
Mean Girls (2005)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
Miss Congeniality (2000)
Legally Blonde (2001)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Hidden Figures (2016)
Steel Magnolias (1989)
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Gather the Gals (and honorary gals)
Galentine’s is really just about showing your love for the people who are always there for you. Enjoy this time together and remember to share the love with us on your socials at #homemakerssa!
