As someone who has grown up with the Star Wars saga as a constant companion, I can confidently say that the holiday season is undeniably the best time to immerse oneself in the galaxy far, far away. From my very first encounter with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader on a cold winter’s eve, Star Wars has become an integral part of my festive traditions.
As the holiday season unfolds, people everywhere are adopting familiar customs or creating their own special moments. On a related note, Star Wars enthusiasts have been expressing their passion for the galaxy beyond our own for nearly five decades now. The phenomenon of Star Wars really took off with the May 25, 1977 release of “Star Wars” (later known as “A New Hope”), and while this initial event holds significant weight for fans, it’s during the winter months that the Star Wars saga has truly become a cherished tradition.
As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but feel that Star Wars embodies the essence of a summer epic, and my argument isn’t far-fetched. The original film, released in May of 1977, not only set the stage for the concept of a summer blockbuster by attracting hordes of viewers throughout the long, sunny season, but also immersed us deeply into the scorching landscapes of Tatooine, mirroring the intensity of real-world summer heat. Moreover, the subsequent installments in the original trilogy and the entire prequel trilogy were strategically released to mark the beginning of the summer movie season, further reinforcing this connection.
Fervent Star Wars enthusiasts always commemorate May 25th each year, acknowledging the day the original movie launched a galaxy far, far away. However, May 4th has evolved into an annual tradition as well, with numerous brands introducing fresh merchandise or exclusive deals to pay homage to this expansive franchise. The ubiquitous May the 4th celebrations have seeped into various aspects of popular culture, making it seem like Star Wars fans should celebrate in the summertime. Nevertheless, we firmly believe otherwise.
1977 saw an extraordinary moment for young Star War enthusiasts, as the immense popularity of the film’s action figures far outstripped the supply available. Despite George Lucas expecting a marketing boom following the movie, the action figure industry struggled to meet demand. To appease fans, Kenner released an $8 certificate that could be exchanged for the first four figures in the upcoming series, along with a cardboard display showcasing the figure lineup. This tradition of Star Wars toys has continued every December and holiday season, with distributors ensuring timely releases of highly anticipated items. The influence of these Star Wars toys is so potent that some fans are more acquainted with the toys than the films themselves.
For the very first time on screen, the actors from the blockbuster debut film came together for another official journey in 1978 during the special known as The Star Wars Holiday Special. Although it didn’t acknowledge any real-world festivals, it captured the essence of winter celebrations and was broadcast on November 17th that year. Despite Lucasfilm and Disney disregarding the events of this Special as official lore, fans have celebrated November 17th as the “Life Day,” a made-up holiday symbolizing the start of their festive season.
The following Star Wars installment, titled “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,” was released in May 1980, beginning with an expansive scene on the frigid planet Hoth. In this sequence, viewers witnessed Luke Skywalker engaging in a struggle against a wampa, observed Han Solo and Leia Organa exchanging heated words in subterranean tunnels, and were part of the Rebel Alliance’s resistance against the Galactic Empire and their formidable AT-AT walkers. The Battle of Hoth, with its snowy terrains, is often considered the most iconic battle within the series. Towards the end of 1980, the peculiar Star Wars merchandise trend persisted, as a holiday-themed album, “Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album,” was released in November. This album showcased original songs like “What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)” and “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” as well as Anthony Daniels, the actor who portrayed C-3PO, reprising his role and narrating the story of droids working to manufacture toys for “S. Claus.
Following the completion of the initial trilogy, further tales were told within what was initially called the Star Wars Expanded Universe (now referred to as Star Wars Legends). It was mostly younger fans who discovered the series and tuned into USA network in the ’90s during December to watch airings of the original movies. These screenings could either be a continuous marathon of all three films or separate showings spread over several nights, making the distant galaxy more immersive as we approached Christmas traditions such as unwrapping Star Wars gifts. In the late ’90s, Lucas also produced the Special Edition of the trilogy, featuring added and cut scenes, as well as improved visual effects. The re-release of Star Wars: A New Hope occurred in January 1997, with each subsequent film following three weeks after, creating an extension of the holiday season atmosphere rather than signaling the start of a new year, due to the promotional campaign for the releases at the end of December ’96.
The anticipation for the prequel trilogy was significant, but the hype around Disney producing a sequel trilogy following the events of “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” might have been even greater. The initial trailer for the first sequel, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens“, was unveiled on Thanksgiving in 2014, a full year and one month before its cinematic release. Not only did new Star Wars films become a consistent marketing focus during November and December, but they also sparked discussions within fandoms for years to come. Financially, the sequel trilogy, along with the first standalone film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story“, proved highly profitable for Lucasfilm, with all entries crossing the $1 billion mark worldwide except for “Solo: A Star Wars Story“, which was an exception as it debuted in the summer months on May 25, 2018.
With the launch of Disney+, Star Wars enthusiasm isn’t confined to the cinema anymore. The critically acclaimed series “The Mandalorian” premiered its first two seasons in November, setting the stage for the holiday season in those years. The exception to this trend is Season 3, which aired in spring 2023. Meanwhile, the debut of “Star Wars: Andor” was in September 2022, but its finale didn’t air until late November. Shows that received mixed reactions from fans include “Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi”, “Star Wars: Ahsoka”, and “Star Wars: The Acolyte”, all of which had summer premieres. Interestingly, “Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett” also stands out as it was a winter release that didn’t make a significant impact on the fanbase. Lucasfilm and Disney are taking a risk by releasing “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” in December this year, as well as securing multiple release dates for future years in December too.
In summary, there’s never a wrong moment to pay tribute to the universe beyond our own, but for numerous enthusiasts and their families, the festive period is when the tales of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader reach their zenith, and with just cause.
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2024-12-07 23:09