First Contact Day
{{Short description|April 5th Star Trek-themed observance}}
{{Infobox holiday
| image =
| caption =
| holiday_name = First Contact Day
| observedby = Star Trek fans
| type = Secular
| significance = Celebrating Star Trek
| date = April 5
| duration = 1 day
| frequency = Annual
| mdy = yes
| scheduling = same day each year
| firsttime = 1997
| relatedto = Star Trek Day
}}
First Contact Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on April{{nbsp}}5 to celebrate the Star Trek media franchise.
Fictional depiction
In the fictional Star Trek universe, as depicted the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact, April 5, 2063, is the day of first contact between humans and aliens, specifically the Vulcans.{{Cite web |last=Salkowitz |first=Rob |date=2022-11-25 |title=Gifts For Geeks 2022: Fun Swag For Fans Of All Ages |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2022/11/25/gifts-for-geeks-2022-fun-swag-for-fans-of-all-ages/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Forbes}}{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Matt |date=2015-10-21 |title=Next Up: First Contact Day |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2015/10/next-up-first-contact-day/626093/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=The Atlantic}} The date was chosen by screenwriter Ronald D. Moore, and was based on his eldest son's birthday.{{Cite web |title=Origin Of First Contact Day Explained! (archived) |url=https://www.startrek.com/article/origin-of-first-contact-day-explained |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408135147/https://www.startrek.com/article/origin-of-first-contact-day-explained |archive-date=2013-04-08 |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Star Trek |language=en}}
Celebrations
Paramount, the owners of the Star Trek franchise, host a number of celebratory initiatives including virtual events and panels annually on First Contact Day.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=TrekMovie com |title=Celebrate First Contact Day 2021 With Paramount+ Star Trek Celebrity Panels, Marathon, And More |url=https://trekmovie.com/2021/03/30/celebrate-first-contact-day-2021-with-paramount-star-trek-celebrity-panels-marathon-and-more/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=TrekMovie.com |language=en-US}} Fans, or Trekkies as they are termed, take to social media and use the hashtag #FirstContactDay, generally causing it to trend each year.{{Cite web |last=Dick |first=Jeremy |date=2020-04-05 |title=Star Trek Fans Are Celebrating First Contact Day Across Social Media |url=https://movieweb.com/star-trek-first-contact-day/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}}
The keel of the {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-80}}, a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, was laid on 5 April 2022.[https://web.archive.org/web/20220406015711/https://news.usni.org/2022/04/05/hii-lays-keel-of-future-aircraft-carrier-uss-enterprise USNI News]
See also
- Star Trek Day on September 8{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Tracy |date=2022-09-07 |title='Star Trek' icon Nichelle Nichols' ashes to launch into space, son Kyle calls Enterprise mission 'great honor' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/star-trek-icon-nichelle-nichols-ashes-launch-into-space-son-kyle-calls-enterprise-mission-great-honor |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}