To celebrate, treat yourself to a cup of tea – Earl Gray, hot of course – because today is Captain Picard Day.
First mentioned in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the event has spilled over into the real world, where it appears in the Trek journals alongside First Contact Day (April 5) and Star Trek Day (April 8). September) stands. fans around the world.
Here we explain why June 16th has become an annual celebration for the legendary commander of the USS Enterprise-D and what you can do to celebrate the occasion.
Related: Star Trek Streaming Guide: Where to Watch the Star Trek Movies and TV Shows Online
Captain Picard Day: Origins
Our first encounter with Captain Picard Day was in “The Pegasus,” an episode of the seventh season of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” The cold opening reveals that each year the children aboard the Enterprise celebrate the ship’s captainship by hanging banners and entering a competition to create pictures and models of their hero. “It’s one of the kids’ favorite school activities,” explains counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis). “They look forward to it all year.”
Unfortunately, Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), the ship’s captain, who is notoriously uncomfortable around children, isn’t keen on the idea of being put on a pedestal by the younger crew members. “I don’t understand why we have to do this every year,” he complains. “I thought the teachers agreed last year that they wouldn’t do it anymore.” Sorry, Jean-Luc…
Picard diligently fulfills his duties and crowns seven-year-old Paul Menegay as the grand prize winner. However, one can’t help but feel that the captain is somewhat relieved when Admiral Margaret Blackwood calls to send the ship on a new mission – although she seems unperturbed when he tells his boss he’s “a role model” for the children. “I’m sure of it,” comes Blackwood’s dry desert reply.
The day was mentioned several times in subsequent Star Trek episodes. Season 1 of Star Trek: PicardMemoryrevealed that after the Enterprise-D crash-landed on Veridian III, Jean-Luc kept the Captain Picard tag banner and kept it in his vault in the Starfleet Museum’s Quantum Archives. Meanwhile, in The Star, Ensign Brad Boimler referenced the Trek: Lower Decks episode “Cupid’s Errant Arrow” event.
It’s also worth noting that Picard tried to deflect his first officer’s taunt by suggesting a Commander Riker Day be arranged for the following month. Unfortunately, there is no record in canon as to whether or not the spin-off event happened.
Captain Picard Day: Why June 16th?
June 16 is simply the Gregorian calendar equivalent of the date in the calendar of the “Trek” universe, stardate 47457.1, as mentioned in “The Pegasus”. Although there is some ambiguity about the exact date – translating “Star Trek” star data is an imprecise science – June 16 is now generally accepted as the “official” Captain Picard Day.
Captain Picard Day: Here’s how to celebrate the occasion
How you pull it off is entirely up to you, although in years past fans have thrown themed parties and created their own Picard-style artwork. In 2019 StarTrek.com The celebrations expanded into an entire Captain Picard week, with activities like Make Your Own Picard with Lt Barclay, a Feelings Retreat with Counselor Troi, and—of course—wine tasting.
For many Trekkies, however, the best way to celebrate the big day is with a marathon of classic Jean-Luc-themed TNG episodes or a binge on the brilliant third season of Star Trek: Picard. It’s also possible to buy Captain Picard Day Merch from the official Star Trek shop.