Life Day

Life Day is a Wookiee holiday celebrated by the inhabitants of Kashyyyk, the Wookiee home world in the Star Wars universe. Commemorated on the Wookiee planet every three years, it is a celebration of Wookiee culture, history, and the sanctity of life. Rich in tradition, reverence, and jubilation, Life Day was first introduced to audiences in the Star Wars 1978 Holiday Special, a variety show set in the Star Wars universe.

The day is marked with timeless ceremonies honoring the Wookiees' ancestors, known as the Tree of Life. The glowing tree is a significant part of Wookiee culture, symbolizing their deep connection with nature and their past. During Life Day, Wookiees and their non-Wookiee friends join together around this tree. They pay homage to the past and demonstrate their hope for a future of peace and harmony in the galaxy.

Life Day is also a time of gift-giving and singing ceremonial songs. Wookiees don their traditional red robes and engage in communal feasts, sharing special dishes like Wookiee-ookiees. The most prominent song sung during Life Day is 'Tree of Life,' sung as part of the ceremony around the Life Day Tree. The song is intended to bring about goodwill and compassion.

Life Day received a resurgence of popularity and acknowledgment during the first season of The Mandalorian series when the protagonist visits a Wookiee planet around Life Day. In the hugely popular online game Star Wars: The Old Republic, players can participate in a Life Day event full of festive activities.

Though a part of fictional lore, Life Day shares similarities with Earth-based holidays, such as Christmas and Hanukkah. Which often consist of gatherings, gift exchanges, and a focus on peace and goodwill. In the spirit of the Star Wars universe's diverse and connected cultures, Life Day embraces unity even amid tense intergalactic politics.