A Parks and Recreation Galentine's Day reunion just happened. February 14th is, as everyone knows, Valentine's Day. An official holiday created in order to celebrate love that can be great for those who have love in their life but can be a bit frustrating for those who don't. Galentine's Day, an unofficial holiday created by Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation, serves as a counterpoint to the official holiday and takes place on February 13th every year. As explained in the show, it's "ladies celebrating ladies." And some of your favorite ladies from the series reunited for Galentine's Day this year.
As documented in an Instagram post by Aubrey Plaza, who played April on the series, she reunited with Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones and Kathryn Hahn, who appeared on later seasons of the series as Jennifer Barkley. The ladies of Parks and Rec looked quite happy to be with one another for Galentine's Day and Plaza expressed as much in the caption she provided with the reunion photo.
"happy happy galentine's day. these women keep me alive."
If you're not familiar with the unofficial holiday known as Galentine's Day, it comes from the season 2 episode of Parks and Recreation of the same name. In the beginning of the episode, Leslie Knope is celebrating the holiday with a group of ladies from Pawnee. She gives them all incredibly thoughtful, personalized gifts, and then Leslie's mom tells a story of falling in love with a man she met in her youth. Here's how Lelie explains Galentine's Day in the episode.
"Oh, it's only the best day of the year. Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It's like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas."
Even though Galentine's Day started out as something fictitious, it's since been embraced by many and now may as well be an actual holiday. It feels like we're this close to getting Galentine's Day cards from Hallmark. The Instagram account for Amy Poehler's Smart Girls also celebrated Galentine's Day by asking people how they were planning on celebrating the day.
"We want to know how you are celebrating #galentinesday . Tag @amypoehlersmartgirls in your post to show us, and for a chance to be featured on our Instagram story!"
Kathryn Hahn's Jennifer Barkley wasn't part of the Parks and Rec cast during season 2 of the series, so she wasn't in the Galentine's Day episode. That said, it's doubtful any fans of the series or the unofficial holiday are upset that she decided to join in on this reunion. The Galentine's Day gang certainly seems happy to have her there. Just some great ladies celebrating other great ladies. Maybe we can get a full-on Parks and Recreation reunion next? You can check out the reunion photo, courtesy of Aubrey Plaza's Instagram, for yourself below.