A wise, aged Yoda figure seated on a moss-covered rock, surrounded by lush greenery and soft, shimmering light filtering through the trees, exuding tranquility

National Talk Like Yoda Day celebrates the unique speaking style of the beloved Star Wars character Yoda by encouraging people to rearrange their sentences in his distinctive object-subject-verb pattern.

Quick Facts

  • When is it?: May 21st annually
  • Tagged as: Fun Holiday, Pop Culture Holiday
  • What’s the hashtag?: #TalkLikeYodaDay
  • When was it founded?: Around 2003
  • Who founded it?: Unknown, emerged from Star Wars fan community

History

The holiday commemorates the release date of “The Empire Strikes Back” on May 21, 1980, which marked Yoda’s first appearance. The wise Jedi Master quickly became a cultural icon, known for his peculiar way of speaking called “Yodish.”

Timeline

  • 1980: Yoda debuts in The Empire Strikes Back
  • 2003: First unofficial celebration of Talk Like Yoda Day
  • 2021: Holiday gains worldwide recognition through social media

Dates for 2025

YearMonthDateDay
2025May21Wednesday
2026May21Thursday
2027May21Friday
2028May21Sunday
2029May21Monday
2030May21Tuesday

How It’s Observed

People celebrate by speaking in Yoda’s syntax pattern, watching Star Wars movies, organizing costume contests, and sharing Yoda quotes on social media. The basic rule is to place verbs and subjects at the end of sentences.

Fun Facts About Yoda

  • A deep-sea worm, Yoda purpurata, was named after him
  • Frank Oz, a Muppets creator, provided Yoda’s voice
  • The character’s puppet was modeled after Einstein
  • His eyes are a unique amber color, mixing yellow and green

Quiz

  1. What is Yoda’s speech pattern called?
  2. In which Star Wars movie did Yoda first appear?
  3. Who voiced Yoda in the original films?
    (Answers: 1. Yodish 2. The Empire Strikes Back 3. Frank Oz)

FAQs

Q: How do you speak like Yoda?
A: Follow the object-subject-verb pattern. For example: “A Merry Christmas you must have.”

Q: What’s Yoda’s most famous quote?
A: “Do or do not. There is no try.”

Related Holidays

  • Star Wars Day (May 4th)
  • World Meditation Day
  • Talk Like Jar Jar Binks Day
  • National Numeracy Day