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Lifestyle | Wellbeing
By Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Feb 06, 2024
Cover Raise a toast to female friendships on Galentine’s Day (Photo: courtesy of Lush)
Move over Valentine’s Day! We’re raising a glass to female friendships the day before instead
With so many promotions and advertisem*nts geared towards Valentine’s Day, it’s easy to forget there is one other type of connection that are worth celebrating. And that’s Galentine’s Day on February 13—a day that toasts female friendships and the powerful bond women share, which is just one week away!
The term “Galentine’s Day” first made its way into pop culture through American TV show Parks and Recreation (2009-2015), in which Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope says it’s a time for “ladies celebrating ladies”. So, here’s your reminder to take this opportunity to gather your gal pals and make it a day to remember—regardless of whether or not any of you has a romantic partner, there’s no reason not to celebrate your friendship and the ups and downs you’ve faced together.
Here are some ideas, inspiration and events happening in Hong Kong that can serve as the perfect way to spend Galentine’s Day.
In case you missed it: Beauty game-changers: The best new make-up and skincare products you need in 2024
1. Afternoon tea at Asia Society Hong Kong
Above Blissful Nourishment Afternoon Tea at Ammo (Photo: courtesy of Asia Society Hong Kong)
For a day’s outing with your girlfriends that involve delicious treats and immersing yourself in culture, head to Asia Society Hong Kong, where you can catch an art exhibition showcasing the works of Chinese oil painter Pang Jiun, before settling down to enjoy the Blissful Nourishment Afternoon Tea at Ammo, a fine-dining restaurant nestled within Asia’s Society’s lush and beautiful premises.
The tea set comes with not only a selection of sweet and savoury treats—think grapefruit panna cotta and tea-smoked duck breast—but it’s also served with a side of beauty products. Each guest who order the afternoon tea set will receive a complimentary gift set consisting of a toner, serum, cleanser and more by Pretti5, a Hong Kong-based beauty brand inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Dates: until February 29; Address: Asia Society Hong Kong, 9 Justice Drive, Admiralty, Hong Kong
2. Raceday at Happy Valley
Above Celebrate Galentine’s Day by watching a heart-pounding horse race (Photo: Instagram / @sweetcil)
As Galentine’s Day—and Valentine’s Day—coincides with Lunar New Year celebrations this year, you can take advantage of this and head to The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Happy Valley racecourse, which will be decked with colourful cherry blossom displays, red lanterns and neon lights during race evenings in February. With the club’s Blossom Nights during its evening races at Happy Valley, there’s plenty of entertainment all round, from lion dances to games. Not to mention cute group selfie opportunities.
Dates: February 7, 15 and 21; Address: Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley
3. Flower arrangement and soy wax candle workshop
Hong Kong-based home décor and fragrance brand The Blomstre is hosting a flower arrangement and soy wax candle-making workshop to celebrate Galentine’s Day. The founders will teach you how to blend fragrances to create your own unique soy wax candles. You can customise the candles further by adding healing crystals and mica powder for a galactic effect.
Dates: February 3 and 4, 10 to 13, 17 and 18; Address: 17/F, Suite 1702, Wellborne Commercial Centre, 8 Java Road, North Point
4. Spa day for two at The Oriental Spa
Above Spa package at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental (Photo: courtesy of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental)
The Oriental Spa at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is offering a spa package, which includes a 90-minute Oriental Essence Massage for two, followed by a 60-minute Time ReverCell Facial Treatment also for two. Both treatments will take place inside the spa’s sanctuary suite, after which guests can spend quality time in the private jacuzzi pool inside the suite, while enjoying treats served by Spa Café and two glasses of non-alcoholic champagne by Amber. That’s not all, you’ll also get one skincare product from Swiss brand Dr Levy and a personalised engraved bracelet from Hong Kong brand Niin Jewelry.
Dates: until February 29; Address: 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central
5. Movie night, but make it fancy
Above Gourmet snacks, decadent ambience and movie marathon make for a perfect combo to celebrate Galentine’s Day (Photo: Getty Images)
How about a movie night at home with your BFF? But upgrade it with luxurious touches like gourmet bites, decadent candles and home diffusers to create a truly indulgent ambience.
Luxury fragrance brand Diptyque has launched a limited-edition Valentine’s Day candle set comprising two candles: Baies and Roses, whose floral notes and playful design can work just as well for a Galentine’s Day girl’s night-in. Or you can turn to Lush’s Queen of Hearts Lush Melt, made from Fair Trade Organic cocoa butter, which can be put in an oil burner to send delicate notes of rose, violet and geranium throughout your home. Complement the aromatic experience with luxurious treats—think artisanal caviar tarts, champagne or a limited-edition gourmet tea from Tea WG—and a movie marathon of all your favourite films.
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Topics
Galentine’s Day Valentine’s Day Hong Kong events Things to do in Hong Kong Female friendships
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or beliefs. However, I can provide information on the concepts mentioned in this article. Let's go through each concept:
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Galentine's Day: Galentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 13th, the day before Valentine's Day. It originated from the American TV show Parks and Recreation, where the character Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, introduced the concept as a day for "ladies celebrating ladies" and honoring female friendships.
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Valentine's Day: Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14th. It is traditionally associated with romantic love and is a day when people express their affection and love for their partners or significant others through gifts, cards, and special gestures.
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Hong Kong events: The article mentions several events happening in Hong Kong for Galentine's Day. These include:
a. Afternoon tea at Asia Society Hong Kong: Asia Society Hong Kong is hosting an art exhibition showcasing the works of Chinese oil painter Pang Jiun. Visitors can also enjoy the Blissful Nourishment Afternoon Tea at Ammo, a fine-dining restaurant located within Asia Society Hong Kong. The tea set includes a selection of sweet and savory treats and is served with a side of beauty products from a Hong Kong-based beauty brand called Pretti5.
b. Raceday at Happy Valley: The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Happy Valley racecourse is hosting Blossom Nights during its evening races in February. The racecourse will be decorated with colorful cherry blossom displays, red lanterns, and neon lights. Visitors can enjoy entertainment such as lion dances and games.
c. Flower arrangement and soy wax candle workshop: The Blomstre, a Hong Kong-based home décor and fragrance brand, is hosting a flower arrangement and soy wax candle-making workshop for Galentine's Day. Participants will learn how to blend fragrances and create their own unique soy wax candles.
d. Spa day for two at The Oriental Spa: The Oriental Spa at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is offering a spa package for two, which includes a 90-minute Oriental Essence Massage and a 60-minute Time ReverCell Facial Treatment. Guests can also enjoy the private jacuzzi pool and receive skincare products and a personalized engraved bracelet.
e. Movie night, but make it fancy: The article suggests having a movie night at home with luxurious touches. It recommends using gourmet bites, decadent candles, and home diffusers to create an indulgent ambiance. Luxury fragrance brand Diptyque has launched a limited-edition Valentine's Day candle set, and Lush offers a Queen of Hearts Lush Melt for a fragrant experience. Complement the movie marathon with treats like artisanal caviar tarts, champagne, or gourmet tea.
These are some ideas and events mentioned in the article for celebrating Galentine's Day in Hong Kong. Remember, it's always a good idea to check for the latest updates and availability of these events before making any plans.
