Feb. 13: A Holiday I Prefer Not to Celebrate
By Kristina Samulewski
Produced by Vishakha Darbha
Galentine’s Day, celebrated on Feb. 13, a day before Valentine’s Day, has been popularized as a day for women to celebrate their female friendships.
In this audio essay, the Opinion Audio news assistant Kristina Samulewski argues that rather than celebrating women, Galentine’s Day patronizes them, particularly single women. Samulewski makes the case for doing away with the pop culture celebration and instead refocusing Valentine’s Day on the universal experience of love — familial, platonic or romantic.
(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication in the audio player above.)
Credit…Illustration by Akshita Chandra/The New York Times; Photograph by Ania Lamboiu/500px, via Getty Images
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This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. Engineering by Isaac Jones with mixing by Pat McCusker. Original music by Isaac Jones and Pat McCusker. Fact-checking by Kate Sinclair. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski.
