You read that right. There’s a day dedicated to celebrating that remarkable woman in your life. But it’s not only for female romantic partners, either. National Girlfriends Day is a holiday for raising your glass and making a toast towards the special bond of friendship between the girls. May they be your dearest of friends, co-workers, BFFs, mothers, sisters, or sisters from different mothers. “Friendships between women are different than friendships between men. We talk about different things. We delve deep. We go under, even if we haven’t seen each other for years.” – Jane Fonda. After all, who better to celebrate than your ride-or-die crew? The girlfriends who have been there to cheer your achievements with you and support you to go through tough times and bad breakups. So, here’s what we’re going to do: Mark the calendar and save the date, so you don’t forget to take the day to express gratitude and love for your homegirls.
When Is National Girlfriend Day?
Female friendships may be something to be celebrated every day or on Friday night outs, but August 1st is the official National Girlfriend’s Day. According to Merriam-Webster, the term “girlfriend” initially appeared in 1859 and was initially defined as “female friend” or simply a “girl friend.” However, it was only in the 1920s when the word “dating” became famous, and sooner rather than later, the term “girlfriend” took the second meaning of a “female romantic partner.” With that said, National Girlfriends Day celebrates the unique connections, bonds, and appreciation between and for women, both romantic and platonic. Several other national days:
National Ex-Girlfriend Day – August 2nd (just the day after National Girlfriends Day!)National Boyfriend Day – October 3rdNational Friendship Day – first Sunday of August (same as Sisters DayInternational Day of Friendship – July 30thInt’l Day of the Girl Child – October 11thPrincess Day – November 18thDaughter’s Day – 4th Sunday of SeptemberBest Friends Day – June 8th
There is no shortage of special days to celebrate the women in your life on all levels.
Origins of National Girlfriend Day?
The exact origin of National Girlfriend Day is not known. According to the National Day Calendar, the earliest formal announcement of such a holiday was 2002. It was started by mother-daughter authors Kathleen Laing and Elizabeth Butterfield. However, it was celebrated on September 20th, right along with the publication of their book titled “Girlfriends Getaway.” So, who really created the National Girlfriends Day celebrated whenever August 1st rolls around? There are two theories and claims as to who made up this holiday:
Mistress Susan
The most substantial claim of creating the special day for all gal pals is from Mistress Susan, who runs the luxury website savionaire.com. She started celebrating #NationalGirlfriendsDay in 2003 after creating the day on July 1st that same year. It was initially a way to express gratitude towards girlfriends. But, before long, the special day also gave way for people to honor their significant others, both straight and gay.
Allie Savarino Kline and Sally Rodgers
Another claim was from a team that started the website sisterwoman.com, which is no longer running. Website team Allie Savarino Kline and Sally Rodgers began celebrating the special occasion in 2006.
Why Celebrate National Girlfriends Day?
Why do we need a special day to celebrate the women in our lives? Well, we’ll tell you.
The girls have been there for us through the ups and downs.
And let’s face it, there have been plenty of those in our life. And while all things have changed through the years, a few people have remained constant. They have been constantly loyal and supportive. The thing is, the best thing in a girl’s life is the other girl/s, her girlfriend/s. And these women deserve to be celebrated and appreciated for their unconditional love. “The proper office of a friend is to side with you when you are wrong. Nearly anybody will side with you when you are right.” – Mark Twain.
Your girlfriends are the Best!
Whatever you like doing or eating, there’s nothing better than doing it with your closes pals. Friday night outs? You bet they are going to be there with you. They are always in for a party. And they will also be there bringing you coffee the following day in case you drank too much last night. Spa days on Sunday? Expect pampering and endless gossip. They are your eating buddies, dancing buddies, drinking buddies, and more.
They are the girls you can count on for anything.
Family problems? Job problems? They will be there. Bad breakup? They will be bringing you ice cream and chocolates or letting you drink a lot of wine so you can spill the deets. Need to bury a body? Your girlfriends will be there, figuratively and sometimes literally, too.
A woman’s female friends make for a happy life. Science says so!
Female friendships relieve stress and also lower cortisol levels. And National Girlfriend Day is simply another day to reach out to your friends and reduce stress at the same time.
What Happens on National Girlfriend Day? How to Celebrate
In keeping with the original intentions for this holiday, which is to celebrate girls and girl friendships, be sure to let your gal pal know they are unique and important. While you’re probably already spending time together, virtually or otherwise, set this day aside to make them feel extra special, pampered, and appreciated. You know your girls and what you all like. But here are a few tips for celebrating National Girlfriend Day if you need some.
Plan a spa day with the girls.
Pedicures, manicures, facials, massages. Who can say no to some luxurious pampering that would surely be packed with laughter? And there are no reasons you can’t have the same relaxing day with the ladies without going out. How about having a spa day at home?
Consider having a day out with the ladies.
Karaoke is a fun girls’ night idea. Or maybe tour a museum or see a show. If you’ve been slacking in your workout routines recently, a day at the trampoline park will give you all the workout and fun you need. How about a food tour?
Book girlfriends’ getaway.
Maybe your schedules have aligned, and you have a few extra days to spend however you like. How about getting into that getaway you’ve been planning for years but has never really happened? National Girlfriends Day is another reason to check off that girls’ vacation on your bucket list.
Chill out at home, gossip, and get wasted.
Can’t go out? Why not do what you do best? Order pizza, gossip, and drink wine. Maybe you can even round up your girlfriends for a virtual wine tasting. Or you can throw a dessert night or a home-tasting party. Eating desserts is always better when your girlfriends join in the fun.
Watch some girlfriend movies.
You can celebrate by taking the time to get lost in some fun chick flick or go for gal pal movies. The ultimate guide for a movie night that celebrates the friendship between women and some women empowerment: Wine Country, Steel Magnolias, Mamma Mia, Bring It On, Someone Great, Bridesmaids, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Clueless, Hidden Figures, A League of Their Own, Charlie’s Angels, and Ocean’s Eight. While all these are great, remember that it’s not about what you do but who you do it with. The main tradition is spending time and celebrating with your best friend and other women friends. If it means a book club meeting or spending quality time sharing secrets over pie, then that is what National Girlfriend Day is for.
Final Thoughts on National Girlfriend Day
Unfortunately, national days such as this are not considered a real holiday in the sense that you’re not likely to get a day off to spend time and enjoy a glass of bubbly with your female friends, even if you ask the boss nicely. Still, it’s a fantastic chance to get together with your women friends (maybe after work) and schedule a weekend get-together, whether you have one or many. How do you plan on celebrating National Girlfriend Day with your friends? Don’t hesitate to drop some of your fantastic ideas below!
