| First Contact Day | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | Star Trek fans |
| Type | Secular |
| Significance | Celebrating Star Trek |
| Date | April 5 |
| Next time | April 5, 2027 (2027-04-05) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 1997 |
| Related to | Star Trek Day |
First Contact Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on April 5 to celebrate the Star Trek media franchise.
Fictional depiction
In the fictional Star Trek universe, as depicted in the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact, April 5, 2063, is the day of first contact between humans and aliens, specifically the Vulcans.12 The date was chosen by screenwriter Ronald D. Moore, and was based on his eldest son's birthday.3
Celebrations
Paramount, the owners of the Star Trek franchise, hosts a number of celebratory initiatives including virtual events and panels annually on First Contact Day.4 Fans, or Trekkies as they are termed, take to social media and use the hashtag #FirstContactDay, generally causing it to trend each year.5
The keel of the USS Enterprise (CVN-80), a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, was laid on 5 April 2022.6
References
References
- Salkowitz, Rob (2022-11-25). "Gifts For Geeks 2022: Fun Swag For Fans Of All Ages". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- Ford, Matt (2015-10-21). "Next Up: First Contact Day". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- "Origin Of First Contact Day Explained! (archived)". Star Trek. Archived from the original on 2013-04-08. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Staff, TrekMovie com. "Celebrate First Contact Day 2021 With Paramount+ Star Trek Celebrity Panels, Marathon, And More". TrekMovie.com. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- Dick, Jeremy (2020-04-05). "Star Trek Fans Are Celebrating First Contact Day Across Social Media". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- USNI News
- Wright, Tracy (2022-09-07). "'Star Trek' icon Nichelle Nichols' ashes to launch into space, son Kyle calls Enterprise mission 'great honor'". Fox News. Retrieved 2023-02-17.