We could try to explain Galentine's Day, but why not leave that to  the Deputy Director of Pawnee City Department of Parks and Recreation (and holiday inventor) Leslie Knope.  Leslie is the hardest working woman in government, but she's also an eternal optimist who knows how to celebrate life.

So once a year, thanks to Ms. Knope, we celebrate Galentine's Day.  February 13th has become the annual day for ladies to celebrate friendship.  In Pawnee that means eating a lot of waffles, but here are a few other Galentine's Day ideas to get you started.

Galentine's Day at the Pub
That's right.  Belly up to the bar and order a round of apps and drinks for you and your ladies for a night out that requires very little planning and no clean up.

Galentine's Day Breakfast
Leslie would heartily approve of this choice.  Pick your favorite local restaurant, make a reservation, and brunch your hearts out.

Galentine's Day at the Movies
A movie date with your ladies works best if there's a guilty pleasure film playing (Magic Mike, anyone?) because no one wants to celebrate by watching the year's best tearjerkers.  Have a little fun!

Galentine's Day Painting Party
Wine and painting parties are all the rage these days, but they're also one of the easiest events to duplicate at home.  Buy a stack of cheap canvases (or a pad of watercolor paper), a pile of cheap brushes (everyone's got at least a few lying around), a bunch of acrylics (not oil paints!), and have each lady bring a snack to share.  Painting can be freestyle or you can print out a few ideas for inspiration.

How will you celebrate Galentine's Day?

It’s a brand new year, which means there are at least 365 chances to do something awesome in 2016.  Let’s start off with some random January holiday inspiration, shall we? 
 
Random January Holidays
January is Independent Bookstore Month (and National Book Month… handy!)
January is also International Creativity Month
And Letter Writing Month (in conjunction with Universal Letter Writing Week for those with alien penpals)
And National Candy Month
And National Hot Tea Month
And National Polka Month
And National Skating Month
(We’re getting so many ideas our heads are spinning!)
 
Jan. 1 Betsy Ross’ birthday (Miss Adventure’s homegirl)
Jan. 1 US Bowling Day
Jan. 2 Swiss Cheese Day
Jan. 3 JRR Tolkein’s birthday (and the birthday of the drinking straw… coincidence? Probably)
Jan. 4 Trivia Day (now you know the answer to “When was JRR Tolkein’s birthday)
Jan. 5 Great Fruitcake Toss (we’re going to find out exactly where this happens!)
Jan. 6 Bean Day
Jan. 8 Elvis Presley’s birthday (uuh huh)
Jan. 10 Peculiar People Day (or Every Day at TDA Headquarters)
Jan. 13 Make Your Dreams Come True Day
Jan. 15 National Humanitarian Day
Jan. 16 National Nothing Day (?)
Jan. 18 Winnie the Pooh Day
Jan. 19 Popcorn Day
Jan. 20 Take a Walk Outdoors Day
Jan. 21 Squirrel Appreciation Day (poor, underappreciated rodents)
Jan. 22 National Polka Dot Day
Jan. 25 National Opposites Day
Jan. 26 Groundbreaking of Disneyland in 1954
Jan. 27 Mad T Party Day
Jan. 28 National Blueberry Pancake Day
Jan. 28 Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
Jan. 29 National Puzzle Day
Jan. 31 Backwards Day
 
Leave a comment below telling us which holiday you’re excited to celebrate!

We never turn down an opportunity to celebrate something.  Arbor Day?  Time to pull out the Jason Mraz concert tee of the pine tree riding a bicycle!  Mickey Mouse's birthday?  Let's head to Disneyland!  The anniversary of Luke and Laura's wedding?  Bring on the General Hospital binge marathon!

One of the main branches of Adventure is interaction.  Having an adventure together is probably the most fun way to connect with other people besides, you know, literally "connecting" (wink wink).  Every time you put on an Ugly Christmas Sweater you are actively participating in Adventure and thus, Life.  And, as an added bonus, you are entertaining the people around you.

Now let's talk about December.  We hear that there's this big holiday with, like, twinkle lights and candy canes?  Jolly guys and red-nosed reindeer?  Gingerbread houses and randomly singing it the streets?  Spending way too much time in Target because gifts?  Okay, just kidding, we love Christmas.  Like, A LOT.  But, guess what - there are a lot of other Random Holidays waiting to be celebrated in December too.  Don't let them suffer because they happen to occur in the same month as the Best Holiday Ever!  Support your favorite Random Holiday today... or on whatever day it happens to actually be on.  I think this paragraph is getting away from us.  CHRISTMAS!

Random December Holidays
December is Art and Architecture Month
December is also Learn a Foreign Language Month
And, of course, Cooked Grasshoppers Month

Dec. 1 National Pie Day (not to be confused with Pi Day)
Dec. 1 Eat a Red Apple Day
Dec. 2 Business of Popping Corn Day
Dec. 2 Play Basketball Day
Dec. 2 National Fritters Day
Dec. 3 The Birthday of Neon Lighting
Dec. 4 National Cookie Day
Dec. 4 Wear Brown Shoes Day
Dec. 4 National Dice day
Dec. 5 Bicycle Riding Day (this one must have originated on the West Coast)
Dec. 5 International Volunteer Day
Dec. 5 Walt Disney's Birthday
Dec. 7 National Cotton Candy Day
Dec. 7 Marshamallow Peeps Day (Really?  In December?)
Dec. 8 National Brownie Day
Dec. 9 National Pastry Day
Dec. 11 National Knitter's Day
Dec. 12 Gingerbread House Day
Dec. 13 National Cocoa Day
Dec. 14 First Miniature Golf Course opened
Dec. 16 National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
Dec. 17 Cookie Cutter Day
Dec. 18 Play Bingo Day
Dec. 21 Birthday of the Crossword Puzzle
Dec. 22 World Peace Day
Dec. 22 National Haiku Poetry Day
Dec. 26 National Candy Cane Day
Dec. 27 Visit the Zoo Day
Dec. 27 National Fruitcake Day (ew)
Dec. 28 Eat Vegetarian Day
Dec. 28 National Chocolate Day (we swear we're not making these up - although this one does sound like us)
Dec. 29 Opposite Day

Leave a comment below telling us which holiday you're going to celebrate!