Ladies, it’s time for some real talk. Today is National Girlfriend Day, an annual event that rolls around every August 1.
Romantic partners will come and go. Jobs are won and lost. But no matter what happens, your girls will be there in a crunch. It’s a time to honor your “ride or die” crew of homegirls! So, why do we love our girlfriends so much? Because they’re like sisters but without any of the growing-up baggage. Plus, when times are tough, your girls will let you vent and when you’re done; they will offer up the support you need to get through.
Spa days, weekend retreats, pajama parties complete with wine and nachos are even better when your girlfriends join in the fun. This year on National Girlfriend Day, spend some delicious time gossiping about lovers past, present and future. Discuss your hopes and dreams in a really safe space, the circle of sisterhood.
History of National Girlfriend Day
It’s not known for certain who created National Girlfriend Day on August 1 but the strongest claim seems to stem from Mistress Susan who runs a luxury website. She says that she created and celebrated the date in 2004 as a chance for gal pals to express gratitude to each other.
The history of female friendships and gal pals is of course much longer than the day itself. Girls have been friends for so long that there is no way we can trace back to the first-ever female friends, so instead, we’ll mention some of the more notable gal pals from recent times.
The Edinburgh Seven were a group of female friends who fought to become the first women to go to medical school in the UK in the 1860s. Despite studying medicine at Edinburgh University they were barred from graduating and becoming doctors. Their determination put women’s rights on the national agenda and led to laws in 1876 that allowed women to study medicine at university. The Edinburgh Seven had paved for the way for the female doctors of the future.
Around the same time as this, Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were forming a friendship that would become revolutionary. The two were the founders of the women’s rights movement in the United States and were the trailblazers that pushed for white women’s suffrage. The two initially met in 1851 and it was in 1869 that they formed the National Woman Suffrage Association.
On a more sporty note, we raise a special mention for The Rockford Peaches, the founding members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1940s. Their achievements were a huge stride forward for female athletes in the U.S.
One of our favorite stories of female friendship involves Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, with Fitzgerald attributing her big break to Monroe? The singer tried to book a gig at the Mocambo in Hollywood in 1955 but the manager turned her away because she didn’t have enough “sex appeal.” Monroe called the manager and said that she would sit front row every night if Fitzgerald got the job, which would pull in the press and crowds that the manager craved. Fitzgerald would say later. “After that I never had to play a small jazz club again.”
More recently Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert showed that even the fiercest of rivals can be best friends. The two did battle in an incredible 61 tennis tournament finals during the 1970s and 1980s but were still the best of friends off the court and would often travel to tournaments together and hang out between matches.
Gal pals are always there for each other and have a history of fighting against the tide to achieve great things together. Make sure you take some time out on National Girlfriend Day to let your girlfriends know how much you appreciate them.
National Girlfriend Day Traditions
As this day is all about hanging out with your girlfriends the main tradition is to spend some quality time with your friends. People tend to spend National Girlfriend Day having fun with their girlfriends in and doing activities that they have previously bonded on together.
So, whether it is watching a movie, spending the night partying, going shopping, or eating out at a nice restaurant, the traditions of National Girlfriend Day are really the traditions that built that friendship in the first place.
