Star Wars: Blogs | Smugglers Rants | Happy Birthday to You!

Smugglers Rants

by: janlomona

date posted: Sep 30, 2005 4:13 AM | updated: Dec 07, 2005 8:27 AM

Happy Birthday to You!

I have a real doozy for ya...
Luke and Leia - Same age, same blood, same DNA. So why didn't anyone think it was wierd that they shared the same birthday?
I mean, bit of a give away isn't it? I always thought Leia was older than Luke, until Jedi came out. Regal bearing, calm, collected manner, in control and able to handle any situation, compared to Luke who was a whiny, typically teenage dreamer with no direction in his life until Ben ambled along.
So, at the time of Star Wars they're both 19. Which means that by the time of Empire they're both 22.
Which is three birthdays.
Don't Star Wars folks celebrate birthdays? On my website Lightsabre they'd celebrate opening an envelope.
I guess one of them must have been given an alternative birthday, but which one? Is this something Ben, Bail and Yoda discussed on the Tantive IV? Seriously, it's a crazy as allowing Luke to keep the name Skywalker even though he was raised by the Lars family - more breadcrumbs in the trail that leads to their true heritage.
So tell me people - which one of them celebrated their birthday on the wrong day? Or did they just think nothing of it.
"Hey Leia, you're birthday is March 31st too? That's amazing, so's mine! And your blood type is A negative! Wow, that's a coincidence...and 2-1B just told me after our yearly physical that our DNA is a perfect match. What are the odds..."

http://blogs.starwars.com/galantesdiary/13

Click here to hide comments for this entry

	Darth Flibble1
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 4:57 AM well, as they're not identical twins their dna won't be a perfect match...

	Lord Flemm Ponderings of the Maw
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 5:00 AM I'm sure the Lars family came up with a date on which to celebrate Luke's birthday. Maybe around the time when Obi-Wan brings him to them at the end of Episode III? The same goes for Leia. Bail Organa must have set aside a date for her birthday. Then again, none of us really have any idea of knowing. It's all speculation.

	jazast
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 5:21 AM their birthdate was probably changed slightly by owen and beru , and by bail and breha organa

	jeditou
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 6:17 AM Maby they both didn't want to admit that they were brother and sister . They might of thought that they could still hook up . Think about EMPIRE the kiss brother and sisters shouldn't do those things

	Kenobi-fan The Jundland Wastes Journal
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 7:04 AM You should only use the Force for knowledge and defense, never for lighting your candles!

	TIE hunter exrordinair 2
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 7:26 AM Well even though they have the same dna and blood what would lead them both so a blood and dna test anyway? "C'mon Leia, let's see if our dna matches!" I don't see that happening. And so what if they have the same birthday? There's a guy in my french class who has the same birthday as me, do I think he's my long lost brother? No.

TIE hunter exrordinair 2

date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 7:28 AM

Maby they both didn't want to admit that they were brother and sister . They might of thought that they could still hook up . Think about EMPIRE the kiss brother and sisters shouldn't do those things

Ok, I REALLY think that wasn't going on there. In esb Leia and Luke don't even know they're brother and sister. And besides it wasn't that bad, I mean they weren't toungen or nothing, or were they? Ew I think I'm gonna be sick.

	bluejedi32 The Force Is All Around Us
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 8:21 AM Yeah I think that their adopted parents gave them the birthday of when they got the children not when they were actually born.

kieranhaylcon
The importance of Episodes 1 through 6 (part 1)

date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 10:20 AM

Well the biggest assumption in here is that they actually do celebrate Birthdays in the SW universe...lol I have never read in any of the extended literature anywhere that they celebrated a birthday, maybe took note of the day but never a party w/candles and cake lol...be kinda redundant for someone like Yoda you think? Or what about Chewie, how goofy would a bunch of Wookies with blowers and hats look sitting around a table blowing the candles out on a cake. haha, who knows maybe in some cultures it was celebrated but let me know you have any references to it. We also don't know what the standard for time (months/days) are in SW so you could be born Mugusta 87, 1983BBY. :P

	Kenobi-fan The Jundland Wastes Journal
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 10:56 AM Hey, if the Wookies can celebrate 'Life-Day', then I can imagine the average Republic citizen celebrating some form of periodic 'I'm-glad-to-have-been-born' day.

	mubos
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 1:24 PM 'I'm-glad-to-have-been-born' day. nice

	vadervuddy2 laugh it up fuzzball
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 1:58 PM sweet...

Yoda_mynameis

date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 7:16 PM

Well, first I must point out (seeing as though others didn't seem to notice the first comment) that only identical twins have matching DNA, so even if a DNA test was given, it wouldn't have proved a thing. Many people have the same birthdays, so it's really not so weird. I know a few people with my same birthday, and I've never thought that they might be my long lost twin. Perhaps this is why Luke realizes so quickly that Leia is his twin. He thought, "Hmmm, I have a twin sister....Leia has my same birthday.....hey! It's her!" Just a thought.

	DoubleDumbass
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 8:09 PM Every planet / moon / whatever orbits it's star at a different rate, distance, and speed. Since the Star Wars society encompasses NUMEROUS such planets, each one with a different orbit around a different star, maybe birthdays aren't that big a deal.

ithekro

date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 8:23 PM

Well also considering how many systems are in the Empire/Republic, and there was a war going on, there are bound to be lots and lots of war babies with exact birthdates. That and since Luke considers Tatooine his home and Leia considers Alderaan her home, the idea of being related is rather a distant thought to a person born on the same day as you are. Only Luke's connection to Leia though the Force in the Empire Strikes Back is the great clue for Luke when Obi-wan drops the bomb on him.

	steve256x
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 8:38 PM They didnt say in the movie when the twins were born. Maybe one was born at 11:59 and one at 12:01. So they might not have had the same birthday.

	PrincessLisaNT
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 8:45 PM

	darthjack66 Jedi Temple Invader
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 8:47 PM I don't really know if they were too worried about celebrating birthdays.

	Darth_RaiderII
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 9:23 PM Well, Count Dooku knew he was 83 in the ROTS novel...

	KingoftheATATs
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 9:46 PM They probably never found out each other's birthdays until after they knew they were siblings. They just didn't ask, or it never came up in a conversation. Who knows? Great blog by the way.

	Siilos Vast
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 9:57 PM Maybe birthdays were skimmed over during Imp occupation. It was probably changed by Owen and Beru or Bail and the Queen... or both. Good blog though.

Valin Kenobi
Stars To Fill My Dream

date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 10:17 PM

I know like 3 people who share my birthday, so that fact alone wouldn't be a giveaway (especially in a galaxy with quadrillions of inhabitants). L&L would regard it as an interesting coincidence but little more.

Same goes for blood type (if indeed twins have the same type, I really don't know how that works).

And I doubt anyone would have had a reason to compare their DNA. Remember, there was a big war on, and they had far more pressing concerns.

Perhaps this is why Luke realizes so quickly that Leia is his twin. He thought, "Hmmm, I have a twin sister....Leia has my same birthday.....hey! It's her!" Just a thought.

Excellent point, Yoda_mynameis!

jedi_339

date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 11:42 PM

The DNA remark, well they, as has been pointed out would not have the same DNA, as only identical twins have the same DNA, Luke and Leia are what is known as fraternal twins. (when the mother releases two eggs and the sperm fertilise the two different eggs, compared to one fertilised egg splitting into two(identical), or in the case of siamese twins not completely splitting), however nice thought. The birthday issue, I live in Australia, and I share the same birthdate as the friggin' prime minister John Howard, how much does that suck, but no many people at my school have my birthdate and they are the same age as me, I hope they're not related 'cause some of 'em are bloody hot. Nice blog though.

	mubos
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 2:59 AM even identical twins dont have the excact same DNA they have subtle and small diferences

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 3:09 AM

wow, people, thanks for all the replies. Some very insightful comments here which is what we all look for in a blog reply I guess.
True, there's no real reaosn for them to be too suspicious. Luke wssn't looking for a sister until Jedi, and given that they were raised on different worlds then I guess birthdays, dates etc would mean little (although they are the same age, no getting away from that).
As for the DNA bit, very true, non-identical twins aren't precisely the same, but they would doubtless be practically the same. But thats semantics, the birthday issue was the big question. Cheers guys for putting this blog at number 8 in todays most popular blogs on the site!

	jekkjekktarr Tales of The Jekk Jekk Tarr
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 7:18 AM We never would have cared about them kissingin ESB if RoTJ hadn't come along. Did we see that coming then? No we did not.

	Deadman_9 Fun Vs Canon
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 8:45 AM A good point. Though they wouldnt have the same dna, everyones dna is different, that is why it's important.

	kparks3@houston.rr.com What is the Best fight?
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 8:45 AM they are twins of course they have the same birthday , you don't know they are twins till the 6 but in the star wars universe they don't celebrate holidays

	Rustar Landos Chronicals of a Madman
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 9:48 AM actually there are celebrated holidays, from planet to planet at least, though i dont think that there are any galxial holidays. Wookiees celebrate Life Day, and there are many other species that have holidays as well

jediracer41
Jediracer

date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 9:49 AM

as to DNA...yes, i'm sure there would be several similarities, but they're two different people, unlike identical twins. all you have to do is LOOK at them to know their DNA is completely different. same birthday probably isn't that atypical...when you consider that there's trillions of beings in their universe, there's probably billions of beings that have the same birthday as Luke and Leia. Also a good point about differentiation between star system cycles. I very much doubt Alderaanian years are the same as Tatooinian years. While there's probably a time standard throughout the Republic, birthdates could be highly subjective.

	jediracer41 Jediracer
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 9:49 AM Another point that people might not have raised--they might not have known what their birthdays were. Leia doubtless did because Bail Organa was present at the time of her birth, but the Lars would not have known, necessarily.

	independentjac "How long can any man fight the darkness, before he finds it in himselft?"
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 9:57 AM Did you know that if you take 20 people there is a 1 and 2 chance of someone sharing a birthday? its true. if the rebels have 1000 people 25 people share birthdays(or somthing like that). It is not very un-common. I know this because I am good at math

	Animaniac24 Galactic Musings
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 11:32 AM Hey, thanks to this blog, the main page says 'Happy Birthday to You' on my birthday. Cheers! A24

	masteroftheforce Obi-wan's lightsaber switch
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 11:42 AM This blog was great. If for nothing else but the thoughts of Luke and Leia comparing DNA. I wonder if they ever thought back to that kiss in ESB when they realized they were related?

admiraljade

date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 12:37 PM

Actually, in one of the Young Jedi Knights books (Shards of Alderaan), Jaina gets a brilliant idea to go to the Alderaan asteroid field and find a piece of the center of the planet to give to Leia for her birthday! What kind of bugged me though was that Luke didn't celebrate his, he just showed up for the little family party. You'd think that they would have figured out that they'd have the same birthday, seeing as they are twins. They could have just picked a day and shared it. So, they really do celebrate birth days in Star Wars.

	DARTH_LASANGAIS
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 1:45 PM in the episode3 novel obi1 says to dying padme : first a boy...& a girl .& than she names them l-luke & l-liea so luke was born first( i think )

	Darth Sora16
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 2:30 PM They won�t have the same DNA.Birthdays yes possibly changed like Silios Vast said.Blood type same.(I think). Great Blog.Never would�ve thought of it.

V8derl1ves

date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 2:32 PM

It's blogs like this that ruin it. I mean really let it go. I know many people with the same birthday as mine and we don't think we're twins. DUH!!!!!! Not only that when Luke reveals it to Leia she says I've always known. As far as luke being the way he is his aunt says he has to much of his father in him. Does everything have to be spelled out he's RECKLESS. Just like Anakin. Leia was raised into royalty grew up with manners around important people not on a farm like her OLDER brother.

	jedijonathan14 I am a telepath...look out
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 5:05 PM I think the planets all just count how many times the sun comes up and down and has a certain number for one year. like how we do. This is just a guess. Great blog... very popular...

Sith lord Pat

date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 7:11 PM

It could be similar to what used to happen to adopted kids or still does im unsure. Their birth certificate was out by 3 months or 3 years or something like that making the change to their date of birth. (note this happed over 70 years ago or something and me only being 18 im not a well of knowledge on the matter but this happened to my great uncle) therefore not knowing their real date....just a thought.

jedigauardian

date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 8:20 PM

I agree with the fact about identical twins being the only people in the world who have the same DNA. HMMMMMMMMMMM. Well, from what I have gathered about the Jedi is that they never really worry too much about their age, yet they seem to know how old they are. Like in the Jedi Apprentice special edition #2 the followers, qui-gon was in his late 40's i think, and obi-wan was either 17 or 18. and in part two of the same book, obi-wan was in his 30's i think, and Anakin Skywalker was 13. SO i think that they know how old they are, although they do not exactly celebrate birthdays.

MasterJa DaCar

date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 8:25 PM

Birthdays are mentioned in passing, such as: The Phantom Menence and Return of the Jedi. I believe birthdays only had signifigance to the Jedi. To help determine who was the right age to train to become a Jedi Knight or head to the Agriculture Corps. If you think about it that was the only time age was an issue. So in the grand scheme of things ; In the Star Wars Universe BIRTHDAYS ARE UNIMPORTANT

	darth_chaos1
date Posted: Oct 01, 2005 9:06 PM my sisters are identical twins, who share dna. fraternal twins can be different hair, gender, race eyes size, etc.

Darius, Lord Of The Sith
Thoughts From Darius

date Posted: Oct 02, 2005 12:59 AM

How is that Owen and Beru would know the exact date that Luke was born? We don't see any exchange happen between them and Obi Wan, so there is no reason to think that they knew the exact birhday. In ANH, they don't seem to want to discuss any of Luke's past with him, so there is no reason to think that Luke would even know his real birthday. As for Leia seeming more mature, she probably was. She was raised by a royal family and educated. Also, her mother was queen at age 14 and seemed very mature, so there should be no issue that she and Luke are the same age, but she seems more adult.

	jainasolo104
date Posted: Oct 02, 2005 5:47 AM I really don't think birthdays really matter in StarWars.But thats just my opion.?:l

CatherineSkywalker

date Posted: Oct 02, 2005 5:51 AM

Hey they are brother and sister, how can they get the same DNA while gender is different?
Never tell me the odds......

And if Owen and Beru consider the day Luke arrive is his birthday, that is the same or next day he was born, Naboo isnt far from Tatooine. Bail knows when Leia was born, so if they really celebrate birthday they got to know they were born around the same date. Just a thought.

jetsvaoe
Execute order 66

date Posted: Oct 02, 2005 5:53 AM

Great Blog
I don't think, I could be wrong, that they celebrate there b days in star wars. They may have got different b days when they where separated. Owen and Beru didn't know when Luke what born and i don't think Obi-wan told them so Luke must have a different b day. Leia probably has the same b day because Bail was there when she was born. No will never really know.
CJ

	shatterpoint282 ''This Party's Over ''
date Posted: Oct 02, 2005 10:40 AM The jedi celebrate the 13th b-day , masters give their padawan a gift .

	jedimaster011090 Banan DaLos
date Posted: Oct 02, 2005 11:11 AM IT'S A MOVIE!!

Captain Yossarian
Captain Yossarian's Super Happy Fun Place

date Posted: Oct 02, 2005 12:22 PM

Do Tatooine and Alderaan run on the same date system though? If not then the days they had for their birthdays would be different if they celebrated them according to the date on their homeworld. Alternatively you just have to chalk it up to 'no-one thought it was coincidental enough to read anything into it' or that Luke and Leia were never together on their birthday and being in the rebellion they might not have bothered with a celebration. Or, their adoptive parents just chose a day for them.

Please log in to post comments