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First Contact Day

Celebrate First Contact Day - a day to honor the first peaceful encounter between humans and aliens. Make this day special with activities and events!
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When it is?
April 5
Location Icon
Country
United States
Introduction

Get ready to celebrate First Contact Day on April 5! This day commemorates the moment in Star Trek canon when human beings first made contact with an alien species. On this day, fans of the franchise come together to honor their favorite characters, storylines and moments from all across the universe. Whether you're a science fiction fan or not, it's hard not to be excited about celebrating such an iconic event that sparked hope for many people around the world for generations.

History of First Contact Day

First Contact Day Dates

First Contact Day Timeline

<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1966</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Star Trek Premier</div><div class='timeline-text'>"Star Trek," created by Gene Roddenberry, makes its debut on NBC, introducing viewers to hypothesized contact with extraterrestrial life.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1996</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Contact Film Release</div><div class='timeline-text'>"Star Trek: First Contact," the eighth film in the franchise, premieres. The movie narrates the saga of human's first interaction with aliens - the Vulcans, set on April 5, 2063.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1997</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Contact Day Concept</div><div class='timeline-text'>A year after the movie, fans began celebrating April 5th as "First Contact Day" in honor of the historical moment depicted in the movie.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2013</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Online Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>First Contact Day begins to receive widespread recognition over social media, marking its growth as a popular fan-led event.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Virtual Star Trek Convention</div><div class='timeline-text'>On April 5, fans celebrate the first virtual First Contact Day due to the COVID-19 pandemic, solidifying its place in geek culture.</div></div></div>

How to Celebrate First Contact Day

<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a viewing party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Grab some friends, pop some corn, and watch movies or TV shows related to space exploration. Trekkies should watch the latest Star Trek movies while sci-fi fans might prefer watching classic episodes of Doctor Who.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a trivia night</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather up your friends and challenge them with questions about space exploration, astronomy, and science fiction. You can make it even more exciting by offering prizes for the winners.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Make an interstellar meal</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Use First Contact Day as an excuse for an out of this world dinner. Make space inspired dishes like Alien Macaroni and Cheese or Starry Night Pizza.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit a planetarium</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a trip to your local planetarium and explore the stars, planets, and galaxies that make up our universe. You can also learn more about the history of space exploration and future plans.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Go stargazing</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Pack some blankets, snacks, and a telescope into the car and head out to a dark spot in the countryside for some serious stargazing. See if you can spot any constellations or shooting stars.</p></div></div>

Why We Love First Contact Day

<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It celebrates diversity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>First Contact Day is a day of celebration recognizing the contributions of all cultures and backgrounds to our diverse society. By celebrating this holiday together, we can remind each other that while we may have different beliefs and perspectives, at the end of the day, it is our similarities that bring us closer together.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It encourages learning & understanding</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>One of the main goals of First Contact Day is to promote learning about different cultures and to foster mutual understanding between groups. This holiday provides an opportunity for us to reach out to one another in order to bridge cultural divides and strengthen relationships with those who are different from ourselves.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It promotes peace & prosperity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The spirit of First Contact Day reminds us that when societies come together in cooperation, peace and prosperity follow. By celebrating this holiday together, we can continue making strides towards creating a better future for everyone regardless of culture or background.</p></div></div>

5 Fascinating Facts for Star Trek's First Contact Day

<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Zefram Cochrane, the Pioneer of Warp Travel</h3><p class='facts-content'>In Star Trek lore, Dr. Zefram Cochrane is recognized as the inventor of human warp drive, enabling faster-than-light travel. This technological advance is what attracted the attention of the Vulcan race, leading to humanity's First Contact.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Vulcans were the first extraterrestrials humans encountered</h3><p class='facts-content'>First Contact Day celebrates the first successful communication between humans and Vulcans. This historic event set a precedent for peaceful interactions with other alien species in the Star Trek universe.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Traditional Vulcan Salute and Greeting</h3><p class='facts-content'>In celebration of First Contact Day, fans often greet each other with the Vulcan salute— a hand gesture with split fingers forming a "V"— and the saying "Live Long and Prosper."</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>First Contact Day in the Star Trek Series</h3><p class='facts-content'>Throughout various Star Trek series, First Contact Day is referenced as a holiday on Earth. For instance, in the series "Star Trek: Voyager", the crew even makes a point to celebrate it despite being stranded in a distant part of the galaxy.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Impact of First Contact</h3><p class='facts-content'>After making contact with Vulcans, humanity underwent a rapid period of societal change and technological development, eventually forming the United Federation of Planets, a significant governing body in the Star Trek universe.</p></div></div>

First Contact Day FAQs

When is First Contact Day?

First Contact Day is celebrated on April 5th every year. In 2024, First Contact Day will occur on a Friday.

First Contact Day Dates

Year
Date
Day

2023

Apr 5

Wednesday

2024

Apr 5

Friday

2025

Apr 5

Saturday

2026

Apr 5

Sunday

2027

Apr 5

Monday

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