It
appears I have a propensity for creating Ahsoka Tano related holidays and
celebrations! In 2015 I created the annual holiday, Ahsoka Tano Day. And although
I did not create the hashtag #TanoTuesday, I was the first to turn #TanoTuesday
into a weekly celebration. And of course there were my other installments which
included; #AhsokasDailyHoloImage, #AhsokaArtWeek, #AhsokaToyWeek, #AhsokaLooksWeek,
and the #AhsokasDailyHoloImage Fan’s Choice Week. However, all of those
holidays/celebrations focused mainly on celebrating the character of Ahsoka
Tano, and all she is and stands for. But I also wanted a day to celebrate the fans
of Ahsoka. Enter Ahsoka Fans Day! On March 2nd, 2016 I Tweeted that
March 2nd will forever be known as Ahsoka Fans Day, with the first
annual to take place on March 2nd, 2017 (thus making today the
fourth annual). I feel Ahsoka Fans Day is a fantastic complimentary holiday to
Ahsoka Tano Day. In January we celebrate Ahsoka, and in March we celebrate
being fans of Ahsoka.
George
Lucas, Dave Filoni, and Ashley Eckstein gave life and depth to Ahsoka Tano, for
which I am eternally thankful. But Ahsoka fans gave Ahsoka any entirely new
dimension. There is a seemingly endless list of way in which Ahsoka has touched
people’s lives, brought them countless moments of happiness, or inspired them
on a personal and/or creative level. For many a man, woman and child, Ahsoka
has been a rich and important part of life since she stepped out of that
Republic Shuttle on Christophsis in 2008. There is an uncanny allure and appeal
to Ahsoka that is truly infectious, and the magnitude at which fans gravitate
towards her is utterly remarkable. Ahsoka fans have a deep, palpable passion that
leaps out in so many forms. It’s amazing to watch. Thus, Ahsoka Fans Day provides
an annual tradition of celebrating our own Ahsoka fandom, while simultaneously
connecting and sharing our fandom with fellow Ahsoka fans across the globe.
The
significance of March 2nd lies in the two Coruscant-shattering
events that took place on this date. On March 2, 2013, The Clone Wars fifth
season came to an end with the airing of episode 5.20, “The Wrong Jedi”. The
episode ends with Ahsoka leaving the Jedi Order and walking away from Anakin.
It was also Ahsoka’s last “official” appearance on The Clone Wars and in
Lucas-era canon [I say “official”, as she
did appear in Yoda’s Force vision during the 6.12 “Destiny” episode in 2014].
Devastation, anguish and anger poured out from Ahsoka fans all over the world.
A piece of our hearts had been torn away from us. Two years later, on March 2,
2015 (after a few voice and hooded hologram teasers), Ahsoka “officially”
returns on the 1.13 “Fire Across The Galaxy” episode of Rebels, her first
appearance in Disney-era canon. It wasn’t the Ahsoka [look or story] fans were
expecting, but Ahsoka was back, and fans were given a second chance. The impact
and emotional potency of these two events was insane. From the soul-crushing
lows, to the elated tear-soaked highs, and everything in between, it was
intense. Need proof? Go watch the YouTube videos people posted during those two
nights and the days following each event. March 2nd had become a
date that had highlighted that palpable passion for Ahsoka I spoke of earlier.
It was Ahsoka fandom in its purest form, just that raw, unrestrained love and
inspiration. The perfect day to transform into a celebration of fans being
fans.
Everyone
is a fan for different reasons, and everyone’s fandom manifests itself in
different ways. Ahsoka Fans Day is meant to recognize and honor all types,
varieties, and levels of Ahsoka Tano fans, their fandom, and what their Ahsoka
fandom means to them.
Happy
Ahsoka Fans Day!
May
The Force Be With You
Here
are some AhsokaTanosLife #AhsokaFansDay images from over the years.
