Extraterrestrial Culture Day

Every year, on the second Tuesday of February, a unique celebration takes place that encourages the humans of Planet Earth to look beyond this specific world and consider the possibilities of life that might be far beyond.  

This celebration is known as Extraterrestrial Culture Day. It’s a day dedicated to recognizing the existence of extraterrestrial cultures and the relationship that humans actually have with the cosmos. It’s a day to ponder the mysteries of the universe and to appreciate the vastness of the world beyond, and the place that humans have within it.

Extraterrestrial Culture Day is a time to acknowledge, celebrate and honor all past, present and future extraterrestrial travelers, in an effort to strengthen ties between all known and unknown citizens of the universe!

History of Extraterrestrial Culture Day

Extraterrestrial Culture Day was founded by the New Mexico Legislature in 2003 and it comes along with a fascinating history that is deeply rooted in one of the most famous UFO incidents in the world: The Roswell Incident.

Roswell is a place that has become synonymous with UFOs and extraterrestrial life due to the famous Roswell Incident more than 70 years ago. This mysterious event occurred on July 8, 1947, during a severe storm when an unidentified flying object reportedly crashed near the home of rancher William Ware Mack Brazel.

The incident would have remained unknown to the general public if not for Brazel, who discovered fragments of metal and a large number of unusual substances that regained their original form even after being crumpled and rearranged.

Government scientists later determined that a weather balloon had crashed, but the incident remains shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Major Marcel, who was also involved in the investigation of the incident, asserted that the US government concealed the existence of the alien aircraft. Still, the 1947 Roswell Incident remains unexplained and mysterious, fueling speculation and theories about extraterrestrial life.

The celebration of Extraterrestrial Culture Day was proposed by Daniel Foley, a native of Roswell, New Mexico. Foley believed that acknowledging something that “did or did not happen” decades ago would contribute to the recognition of the state of New Mexico and its unique place in the history of UFO phenomena.

How to Celebrate Extraterrestrial Culture Day

Celebrating Extraterrestrial Culture Day can be a fun and enlightening experience. Here are a few suggestions:

Pay a Visit to Roswell, New Mexico

One of the best ways to celebrate Extraterrestrial Culture Day might be to travel to New Mexico, the place that initiated the celebration of the day. The town is filled with artwork, memorabilia and nods to the E.T. incident that put this little town on the map. While there, consider a number of activities like trying to locate the Roswell crash site.

It is also certainly possible to visit a number of other sites of extraterrestrial interest, including the International UFO Museum and Research Center, which opened in 1992. The museum is dedicated to the collection and preservation of materials and information related to the Roswell Incident and other unexplained phenomena related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

There is certainly no shortage to the number of alien-themed things a person can do to be entertained in this town! Roswell offers a funny welcome sign when entering the city, which many people use as a photo opportunity, as well as an indoor amusement park called the Roswell UFO Spacewalk. Add to that the Alien Zone Area 51 that is chock full of interactive experiences and photo ops with “real” aliens, and there’s plenty to be done to celebrate Extraterrestrial Culture Day there!

Watch Some Alien Movies

Another way to celebrate Extraterrestrial Culture Day might be to watch some favorite alien movies. Some of these films can help humans to explore the possibility that there might truly be extraterrestrial life and then consider our interactions with them. Such stories can also spark interesting discussions between friends and family members about the existence of life beyond Earth.

In celebration of the day, check out some of these classic titles that would be ideal to watch anytime but particularly perfect for this occasion.

• Alien (1979). Featuring stars like Sigourney Weaver and Tom Skerritt, this story follows the crew of a spaceship who comes up against a violent extraterrestrial being.
• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). A much more heart-warming story, this one shows the relationship between a small alien being and his accepting friends who are children. Starring Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas.
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Richard Dreyfuss stars in this classic Steven Spielberg film about a group of folks who try to initiate contact with aliens on a UFO and eagerly pursue the truth.
• Arrival (2016). A much more recent UFO film, this one offers an interesting peek into the idea of what it might take to be able to communicate with extraterrestrial beings. Featuring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.

Educate Yourself and Others

Use Extraterrestrial Culture Day as an opportunity to learn more about the universe and the search for extraterrestrial life. There are numerous documentaries and books available that delve into these topics. Share this knowledge with others to raise awareness and foster a greater appreciation for our place in the cosmos.