Vanshika Dhyani writes about the nostalgia of Valentine’s day and shares how to throw a crafty soirée in a celebration of love and friendship.
Valentine’s Day as an adult can be a bit of a bummer. In the face of consumer culture, it has come to be synonymous with pasty flowers and impossible to make dinner reservations. Although the rise of recent holiday subcultures like Galentine’s and Selfentine’s has shifted power away from commercialised celebrations, no subcultures have successfully erased the nostalgia associated with the connection of chocolate to the holiday.
I will always associate the day with fond childhood memories of waking up to heart shaped chocolates on my pillow, exchanging cute letters with classmates, and drawing hearts in my notebook. My Valentine’s Day tradition was to host a slumber party. We wore matching PJs, baked red velvet cupcakes and marathoned an insufferable amount of romantic comedies.
For me, the true spirit of Valentine's Day lies in honouring loved ones, and that is why I have created The Ultimate Guide to a Platonic Palentine’s Day Pajama Party.
We start simple with decoration and invites.
Decor is always to taste, I prefer the simplicity and warmth of fairy lights, fresh flowers and sweet-smelling candles. For invites, the graphic design software Canva is my go to. I take to Pinterest for inspiration, and use multiple shades of pink and red for my design. You can send it to them digitally, but I prefer to take a print, fold it neatly and send it on its way in an envelope (bonus points if you seal them with a lipstick kiss).
Next, think of snacks, drinks, and dinner.
For snacks, I like to plan an activity that we can do together. In previous years, we have toasted marshmallows, baked heart shaped pizzas, decorated cupcakes and put together charcuterie boards.
For drinks, I like to do pink lemonade and sparkling watermelon juice. They are great non-alcoholic holiday-themed alternatives to Rosé and red wine.
For dinner, I order in, or create a potluck-style meal, to accommodate everyone’s dietary restrictions and food preferences - but so long as your meal is loved (see what I did there?) your dinner will be guaranteed to be a success.
Last task is to pick movies, match PJs, and plan activities.
I get each of my guests to send me one name, and I write them on pieces of pink paper and toss them into a bowl. The movie is decided on the spot with a lucky dip.
There are a few ways you can go about matching your PJs. You can get the same ones or you can match them by colour. And if you are looking to do this on a budget, you can make matching paper cutouts or bows with red ribbon for all your guests. Simply attach them to a safety pin, and offer them as a welcome present.
For activities, consider these craft options and games.
Paint Candles: All you need are taper candles, paint, and paint brushes.
Make Cards: Get a pack of greeting card material, magazine cutouts, colourful pens, glue sticks, and scissors.
Vision board: In true Valentine’s Day spirit, make a vision board of things and people you love and want more of in 2025. Essentials: Pinterest, Canva, and the internet.
Games: Newspaper Dance and Musical Chairs are my two favorite games for this holiday. You can also play a love themed treasure hunt by naming different areas of your house and making clues. Setting up a treasure hunt is really fun and easy.
And there you have it, the perfect way to relive the nostalgia of Valentine’s Day and honour your loved ones. What I love about this Pajama Party is that it is equally fun to organise for your family as it is for your friends!