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Galentine’s Day

By Anne Beggs
February 14, 2023

Galentine’s Day is February 13, yes, the day before Valentine’s Day. This is a special day set aside to honor female friendships. This holiday originated from the popular TV Show, “Parks and Recreation”, in 2010, as a day to get together with all your: Besties, girlies, gals, ladies, and whatever other terms of endearment there may be and celebrate the long-lasting kinships you share.

This holiday has gone mainstream, and you can google all sorts of merchandise and ideas on how to celebrate. Many include brunch and mimosas:

When I saw pajama party – I knew if I were to plan such an event, it would be a sleepover/read over. All my best friends and their favorite books of amazing women. Below are some excellent books of enduring friendships, and extraordinary women.

In the second and third books of Jonathon Posner’s trilogy, The Alchemist’s Arms and The Sovereign’s Secret, Lady Mary de Beauvais forms a very strong bond with her ‘protégé’ Olivia Melrose. They start with a strong dislike of each other, but after a particularly traumatic event they become more easy companions, then, after a series of further adventures together across the two books, they develop a very strong and lasting friendship. Galentine’s.

Emily Williams is one of the main characters in Under the Almond Trees, a real woman who was the author’s grandmother’s aunt. She and her lifelong friend and partner, Lillian Palmer, built houses all up and down the coast of Northern California, from Pacific Grove to San Francisco. Emily was the architect and Lillian created the copper light fixtures. They actually lived in a tent while doing all the construction on their first house in Pacific Grove. The house was built 1904 and still exists at 246 Chestnut Street. Galentine’s.

At the heart of Michal Strutin’s of Judging Noa is a deep friendship between Noa and Yoela, who was married off to an abusive man. So abusive that, rather than endure a slow death at his hands, Yoela fled into the desert where she knew she would be killed by rival tribes. Her death pushed Noa to greater commitment to fight for womens’ rights of inheritance. Galentine’s

It is important to Ana Brazil, that Fanny Newcomb has three women forging a solid friendship. ALSO…Fanny investigates because her favorite (female) student is murdered. So, there’s a solid theme of women working together and for each other in this book. Galentine’s.

Follow these links for more books about female friendships:

Bookbub

Bookriot

Modern Mrs. Darcy

Shepherd

 

Coffee, tea, and mimosas, as no one is driving. Everyone in comfy flannel jammies, make-up optional.  But, hey, there are plenty of other ideas out there.

 

My protagonist, Eloise, would embrace the concept. A day set aside to celebrate her sisters and female friends. The women that are there for her, and that she, in turn, holds most dear and protects. Galentine’s is non-secular, if they could get away with such a thing under the scrutinizing eye of the Church, they would most likely have to hold their Medieval Galentine’s Day under the guise of venerating a female saint…I can already hear Eloise and her pal, Gwyneth, laughing and hooting over Saint Gwyneth, the three-breasted.

This has segued into a whole new chapter or short story! It fits the building theme in Book Two and beyond.

Most likely, they will celebrate the Goddess Brigid and Saint Brigid. Both of these women are celebrated February 1. Both Brigids are venerated for poetry, healing, and more. The Goddess Brigid represents fertility, great feminine power, and Imbolc (the flicker of Spring quickens in the belly of winter, and the Goddess Brigid’s fiery arrow descends from the heavens), the midpoint between winter and spring. That is some potent reason to celebrate. Brigid’s ancient name, Breo-saighead, means fiery arrow. Eloise is all over that.

 

Not to be exclusive, there is a Bromance Day, and it is February 15. Next year Paper Lantern Writers might want to consider exploring that.

 

Until then, what are you doing this Galentine’s Day? You could be a Paper Lantern Writers trendsetter with your celebratory suggestions.

Written by Anne Beggs

Anne M. Beggs writes adventure romance and family saga set in Medieval Ireland. She is a member of Paper Lantern Writers and Historical Novel Society. For more about her books, mounted archery, and horses, please contact her on Facebook or Instagram @annitbella72

View Anne's PLW Profile

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