It is February 13, the day before Valentine's, and like many other women across the world, I am preparing to host a Galentine's night. My invitations have been sent, the pyjamas and gifts have been bought and the food menu has been created,

Happy Galentine's Day! Where Valentine's Day is all about the romance, Galentine's Day is all about the female friendships you have.

Here's what to know about the holiday and its origins. This year, Galentine's Day will be celebrated on Thursday, Feb. 13 ― the day before Valentine's Day.

Galentine's Day was originally introduced by the fictional character Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, in a “Parks and Recreation” episode airing in 2010. The “holiday” eventually made its way into the real world, and has become increasingly popular with time.

While it may be tempting to focus solely on Valentine’s Day, celebrating Galentine’s Day is a worthwhile tradition to keep.

Galentine’s Day is celebrated on Feb. 13 each year, and this year, it lands on a Thursday. While Galentine’s Day is not an official holiday, research from National Today shows searches for Galentine’s Day have increased 400% (with Missouri ranking No. 1 in looking it up, followed by Virginia, Louisiana, Colorado and Arizona) since 2015.

The Amy Poehler-led NBC sitcom aired an episode called “ Galentine’s Day ,” named after an annual “women’s-only marathon bonding session” created by Poehler’s ever-optimistic Leslie Knope. On the show,

Friendships often takes a back seat to romantic relationships. Here's a look at how Americans experience platonic love.