A Time For Celebrating Panhellenic Sisterhood
by Carole Jurenko Jones, Alpha Delta (U of Alabama), 2019-2021 NPC Chairman
WHAT IN THE WORLD? Galentine’s Day… when I first heard about this event on a morning news show, I thought, “Good grief, another holiday for the retail world.” But, the more I thought about it, what a great way to celebrate Panhellenic sisterhood.
According to The New York Times, Galentine’s Day, celebrated on Feb. 13, is for celebrating sisterhood with your women friends, whether single or not. The celebration was created by Leslie Knope, the “Parks and Recreation” fictional main character played by Amy Poehler. She invented the holiday as a tribute to her close girlfriends and hosted a waffle brunch.
I’m going to digress for a moment. My spring 2020 calendar was chock full… until March happened. The last in-person meetings I attended for NPC were the Annual Membership meeting and Board of Directors meeting in Dallas March 7 and 8. After returning home, my husband and I were looking forward to our annual ski trip to Park City, Utah. On the morning of March 15, while getting ready to leave for the airport, all the ski slopes closed resulting in the trip being canceled. While I was relieved that I didn’t have to board an airplane during a time of uncertainty, it was just the beginning of all my travel coming to a halt. My spring calendar had included speaking at the Nashville Alumnae Panhellenic scholarship luncheon, Northern Virginia Panhellenic luncheon and the Houston Panhellenic scholarship luncheon. The time spent with Panhellenic sisters was stripped away.
All of this to say, NPC collegians and alumnae across North America are experiencing the same thing – in-person meetings and celebrations have moved to Zoom and travel is limited. Many of us are tied to our computers as we work or take classes and attend meetings virtually, and Galentine’s Day gives us the perfect opportunity to take a break to connect with our Panhellenic friends and celebrate sisterhood.
If we weren’t in the midst of a pandemic, ideas abound for gatherings with sister friends including pink-themed parties, dinner or brunch at a fancy restaurant or a group mani-pedi. But this year, with most of us staying at home, take the celebration virtual:
- Order your favorite meal and enjoy a chat while you eat.
- Play trivia together online.
- Watch/stream a movie together.
- Take a virtual class – exercise, cooking or baking.
- Organize a secret cupid gift exchange.
There’s no wrong way to celebrate our Panhellenic sisterhood, and taking advantage of Galentine’s Day is the perfect time to acknowledge the lifelong bond of sorority membership and the experiences we share.