Nicole D’Silva | The Chronicle
At Mason High School (MHS), love finds a new meaning on Valentine’s Day as students embrace Galentine’s parties.
MHS senior Emori Witmer-Gautsch hosted a Galentine’s party this year with her friends. She said she decided to get ready with her friends in her basement, get flowers, take cute pictures and go out to dinner.
“It’s something fun for me to do to reconnect with a lot of friends from a lot of different walkways I’m in with my different clubs and activities, and to celebrate them and the friendships that we have,” Witmer-Gautsch said.
Using Valentine’s Day as a celebration of her friendships, Witmer-Gautsch said she tried to show how much she cares about them.
“Everyone deserves to know that they are loved and valued,” Witmer-Gautsch said. “And I think something as silly as celebrating Valentine’s Day in a friendship way is an easy way to tell your friends that you care so much about them, and it’s a nice excuse to dress up and have fun with the girls.”
MHS junior Regan Stump said that she has Galentine’s parties every year, continuing the tradition this year. She and her friends gathered to take pictures and watch movies together.
“I like it more than having a Valentine because it truly shows that you have people always in your corner,” Stump said.
Witmer-Gautsch said that she had not hosted a Galentine’s party before this year, but was inspired by a friend who hosted one last year. She said she wanted to recreate the joy her friends felt after noticing the growing popularity of Galentine’s and her shift in perspective on the celebration.
“To me, I’ve definitely shifted the tone [of Galentine’s], especially inviting people who are in relationships,” Witmer-Gautsch said. “I’m not denouncing having a relationship one way or the other, but I think showing love to your friends is a really important thing, especially if it’s in a platonic friendship.”
Stump said that having the party is a way that she gets to connect with her friends. She also said that she values the meaning of the event.
“To me, Galentine’s means that I get to have fun with my friends and celebrate the people around me,” Stump said. “It’s important to me because I get to spend time with the people who love me, even if I’m single.”
