Anti-Valentine’s Day gaining support: friends, not lovers, for dinner and drinks —hello, ‘Galentines’ Day
February 13, 2020
Maybe it was the Sex in the City movie that paired Carrie and Miranda together for a Valentine’s day dinner along with several bottles of wine after Carrie was humiliated at the marriage altar by Mr. Big that solidified the point that…most intimate relationships are not so romantic.
So why all the resentment over a ‘love’ holiday?
Divorce attorney, Michele Elmquist has seen her share of unhappy relationships and admits that even back at her own Houston office the ‘show’ is on whenever V’day is on the calendar during the work week.
“It seems like everyone watches to see who at the office is going to get flowers delivered to them—or first to brag about the expensive dinner that the husband or boyfriend arranged—this creates a lot of stupid pressure, competition and plenty of eye rolls,” Elmquist said.
It’s a pressure cooker for men too.
“If I don’t have something for my wife on Valentine’s Day…well, it’s not gonna be good, and she’ll think I don’t love her and it’s all kinda stupid,” said one guy who preferred to not share his name.
No sense in boring everyone with the history of Valentine’s Day because the event has ultimately turned out to be nothing more than just really good business for restaurants, chocolate factories and greeting card companies and it’s been wreaking havoc on relationships for decades.
More and more women have decided to nix Valentine’s Day in favor of “Galentines Day”…or, a great excuse to get together with best girlfriends and celebrate the people who really “get you” and who are there when…well he isn’t.
In fact, many clubs and restaurants have started to embrace not only “Galentines Day,” but “Anit-Valentines Day.”
“The relationship resentment gets harsh in here sometimes,” says Phoenix bartender Cory Field who works at an upscale watering hole that embraces the anti-love day patrons who simply want to forget the fact that they were ever in that relationship at all and if they wish, “Happy Valentine’s” to anything…it’s to their solo-hood.
Plenty of women feel the same.
“I think we are (at least I hope) just over it,” said Christy Perino a graduate student at Arizona State University.
“I would much rather spend the money for a guaranteed great time and enjoy embracing the love with my best friends,” Perino said.
Cupid is having an identity crisis.