The Power of Female Friendships: A National Girlfriends Day Gift Guide

A girlfriend is there in times of need and in times of triumph. They know your weaknesses, applaud your successes, and care for you in their own special way. That is why two friends, Allie Savarino Kline and Sally Rodgers, created National Girlfriends Day in 2006 to be celebrated the first Sunday every August.  

Fun fact: the term “girlfriend” was first used in 1859 to describe a woman's close female friend. It wasn’t until the late 1800s that it took on a more romantic meaning. That is why National Girlfriends Day honors the special bonds that women share with one another. 

Why Celebrate National Girlfriends Day? 

Expressing appreciation for the women in your life can be impactful for a number of reasons. For the friend since childhood, a reminder of how strong your bond is. For a family member, an expression of your unbreakable connection. For a classmate or co-worker, a representation of how their hard work has not gone unnoticed. 

National Girlfriends Day is meant to promote strong friendships by setting aside a day to celebrate the women in your life. According to the National Day Calendar, “In its simplest form, National Girlfriends Day celebrates the unlimited ways life is better with our girlfriends in it.”  

In this guide, we will offer our favorite ways to celebrate the fantastic females in our lives. 

Best Flowers for National Girlfriends Day 

The traditional color of friendship is yellow, symbolizing the warmth of the sun by spreading positivity and optimism. Various cultures have their own interpretations of yellow flowers, from the Egyptian belief that they represented the energy of the sun and its ability to bring forth new beginnings, to ancient China’s use of yellow flowers specifically for the emperor to reflect his authority. As Western culture embraced the bright blooms to represent friendship, they became traditional gifts to receive for a number of milestones. 

Yellow roses convey platonic affection, making them an excellent gift for girlfriends. They are a simple yet effective way to celebrate a shared bond. Our classic Long Stem Yellow Rose Bouquet makes a welcome gift for any loved one. If yellow isn’t their color, our Complete Rose Color Meanings Guide can help you decide the message you want to convey to your girlfriends.  

Sunflowers can captivate your girlfriends with their rich history tracing back to ancient Greece. They can embody joy, devotion, and resilience. The Joyful Smiles Bouquet was recently a viral hit on TikTok, featuring a yellow smiley face mug and paired with daisies and snapdragons.  

Gerbera daisies, yellow in particular, indicate happiness that comes from relationships with others. Daisies come in a variety of bright blooms meant to express cheerful sentiments, and our Kaleidoscope Bouquet makes for a gorgeous way to spread joy.  

Choosing a bouquet to match your girlfriend’s personality might seem intimidating, but Proflowers has you covered! Flowers have their own language that traces past the Victorian era but became commonly used in the 1800s to share sentiments deemed unacceptable to share openly. If the flowers mentioned above do not feel like the right gift for your girlfriends, our blog post on flower meanings can help you choose a flower that more closely matches them. 

Unique Gift Ideas for National Girlfriends Day 

Looking for something to compliment the bouquet you’ve chosen? No problem! Proflowers offers an assortment of add-ons during the checkout process. Mylar balloons, boxes of chocolates, and plush bears are just a few of the upgrades we provide.  

Flowers not their favorite? Our gifts and plants are the perfect alternative. Girlfriends who appreciate a sweet treat might enjoy our Belgian Chocolate Covered Mini Donut Bouquet while girlfriends with a green thumb will appreciate a mini orchid.  

If your girlfriends are more of the adventurous type, planning an outing could be an ideal way to celebrate together. Nature walks, brunches, or wine tastings are just a few examples of places to visit. If they prefer indoor activities, an at-home spa day or movie marathon is just the right amount of relaxation. (Our movie recommendations are The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants or Crossroads!)  

Don’t forget to personalize your gift! Send along a handwritten message or compile your favorite photos for an extra special touch.    

No matter how many girlfriends there are in your life, the value of their friendship is priceless. National Girlfriends Day is a day to nurture those bonds, and to remind the women in your life how essential they are.