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- "Today is Empire Day, celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the galaxy's salvation, when our great Emperor Palpatine ended the Clone Wars and founded our glorious Empire."
- ―Imperial Holonet anchorman Alton Kastle
Empire Day was the day that Sheev Palpatine declared himself Emperor of the First Galactic Empire, bringing an end to the Republic.[4] It was also the day Ezra Bridger was born, and two days before the births of Luke and Leia Skywalker on Polis Massa. From the following year on, Empire Day became a holiday marking the anniversary of the rise of the Empire.[1] Festivities of the holiday included a parade on various Imperial-controlled planets, the playing of the Imperial anthem, "Glory of the Empire", as well as the airing of Palpatine with two Royal Guards at the Imperial Senate, but the footage used made the Emperor seem younger and more physically appealing than he actually was at the time of the speech.[1] Attendance to the festivities was mandatory.[5] On Coruscant, the holiday was the cap to a week of festivities known as Ascension Week.[6]
Behind the scenes
Edit
The term Empire Day was derived from a holiday within the United Kingdom and extended throughout the countries of the Commonwealth, celebrating the anniversary of the British Empire's formation between 1902 and 1958. Coincidentally, the holiday fell on May 20, which was also the day of the UK's premiere of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, which resulted in a "revival" of the holiday of sorts.[7]
AppearancesEdit
- Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy – A Graphic Novel
- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (First appearance)
- Revenge of the Sith Read-Along Storybook and CD
- Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 16: Burning Seas, Part IV (HoloNet image) (Appears in flashback(s))
- Ahsoka
- "The Voice of the Empire"—Star Wars Insider 170
- Thrawn
- Star Wars Rebels – "Empire Day" (First identified as Empire Day)
- Path of the Jedi: A Star Wars Rebels Cinestory Comic
- Star Wars Rebels – "Gathering Forces"
- Ezra's Duel with Danger
- Servants of the Empire: Imperial Justice (Mentioned only)
- "Assessment"—Star Wars Rebels Magazine 11 (Mentioned only)
- Leia Organa: Ordeal of the Princess (Appears in flashback(s))
- Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures – "Luke vs. Emperor Palpatine - Rise to Evil" (Appears in flashback(s))
- Aftermath (Mentioned only)
Non-canon appearancesEdit
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures – "Duel of Destiny" (Mentioned only)
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures – "Return of the Kyber Saber"
SourcesEdit
Notes and referencesEdit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Star Wars Rebels – "Empire Day"
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ Aftermath: Empire's End
- ↑ Rebels Recon: Inside "The Siege of Lothal" on StarWars.com (backup link not available)
- ↑ Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
- ↑ Thrawn
- ↑ An 'Empire Day' to Remember on StarWars.com
