Anna Daniels
Finally, The Star Wars Holiday Special approaches its climax (such as it is) when Chewie arrives home with Han, who trips a stormtrooper to death off the family porch in the silliest bit of self-defense ever seen in any war movie or holiday special. Reunited with his family at last, Star Wars‘ resident wife guy Chewbacca begins preparations for Life Day. Apparently, this involves everyone putting on red robes, grabbing some orbs, marching into a large open space and… standing there?
Oh, also, Princess Leia sings a song — a Life Day carol titled “A Day to Celebrate,” which just so happens to be set to the tune of John Williams’ Star Wars main title theme. That’s right: every time you hear that stirring anthem that symbolizes all of Star Wars, that towering giant of film history and American culture, know that in-universe, it is to Luke Skywalker what “Ding Dong Merrily on High” is to you.
But, like, what even is Life Day? In the intro to her song, Leia mentions “the promise of the Tree of Life,” which has never been mentioned before, but is presumably the extremely big tree near which they’re all standing. She name-drops harmony, joy, and courage, all in a vague, nondenominational sort of verbal snow globe. We then see a montage of scenes from Star Wars as all the characters apparently stand around and remember how rad Star Wars is. Maybe that’s the true meaning of Life Day: Star Wars is rad as hell.
Written by: Looper
