Prepare your Galentine's Day Celebrations, fret not about V-Day

Valentine’s Day is one of those love it or hate it holidays. Scratch that — it’s pretty safe to say most people loathe the holiday, especially those who are single. But it’s important to think of V-Day not as a time to emphasize love for a romantic partner, but a day to express love for anyone in your life. Still feeling anti-Cupid this week? A great alternative to Valentine’s Day is Galentine’s Day.

Coined by Leslie Knope, from the NBC series "Parks and Recreation," Galentine’s Day is not an anti-Valentine’s day at all, but a day for ladies to celebrate ladies. This alternative celebration is not necessarily exclusive to single ladies because even with a significant other, nothing compares to female friendship, and Galentine’s Day is a great way to show your appreciation.

In the show, Leslie kicked off G-Day with a boozy brunch featuring all of her gal pals. As cliché as it is, girls really do love to brunch, making the meal an obvious go-to ritual for the holiday.

Galentine’s Day falls on a Monday this year, so us Rutgers students might have to get a little more creative. As the key to a girl’s heart is food, perhaps an appropriate substitute would be a trip to Downtown New Brunswick for dinner.

If you’re not a stickler for following tradition, reschedule for the weekend when boozy brunch options will be offered, such as at The Dillinger Room on George Street. The restaurant offers a brunch special that includes two alcoholic drinks and an entree for $22.

Concerned about funding the outing? All Rutgers dining halls will be offering a "Chocolate Fantasy" themed dinner from 4-9 p.m. on Valentine's Day. This option may be especially appealing to a group of single ladies for G-Day because it's on Feb. 14.

Professing your love for your girlfriends doesn’t have to entail balling out on a gourmet meal. It’s the thought that counts, so even surprising a friend with a baked good from Fritz’s on Easton Avenue will suffice.

Consider having a get-together with your girl gang at your home or residence hall and ordering in or making a meal instead, candle-lit and all. Bonding over food is the best way to bond, and you can create some of the best memories in the kitchen with a bottle of cheap pink wine.

Dinner and a movie is a classic date-night ritual, so why not do it with your girls? Take advantage of a deal at RU Cinema, where tickets are only $5 for Rutgers students. In light of Valentine’s Day, the theater will be showing "50 Shades Darker" throughout the week, a movie really only you and your girls will appreciate. Here’s a plus — if you go with girlfriends, you won’t have to deal with the pressure of making out with your date right when the movie’s about to get juicy.

There’s a reason Leslie Knope called it the best day of the year — Galentine’s Day is just Valentine’s Day, minus the part that makes you feel lonely and miserable. Whether it be a G.N.O. or a quiet night in, a Galentine’s celebration will make you wonder why you ever stressed about having a date for Feb. 14 in the first place.