National Twilighters Day is celebrated on September 13 in the town of Forks, Washington. Yet while this holiday is native to Forks, it represents a much more global, cultural phenomenon that resulted from Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight” book series. Interestingly, when Meyer published the “Twilight” series, the book only gathered fans among a teenage audience. But after Summit Productions obtained the rights to the books, they were converted to movies which became very successful and led to an unexpected increase in tourism to Forks, the setting of the movie. The locals welcome fans from around the world every year and host exciting tours around town that explore the locations Meyer faithfully described in her books.
History of National Twilighters Day
Catherine Hardwicke was in charge of the direction of “Twilight,” and Melissa Rosenberg wrote the script. The book is about how teenager Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) become close friends, and how Cullen and his family then try to keep Swan safe from a different group of dangerous vampires. The movie was shown in theaters for the first time on November 21, 2008.
Early in November 2008, Summit said that they had bought the rights to “New Moon,” “Eclipse,” and “Breaking Dawn,” the last three books in Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series. One day after “Twilight” came out in theaters on November 22, 2008, Summit announced that they would start working on “New Moon.” But in early December 2008, it was revealed that Hardwicke, who directed “Twilight,” would not be back to direct the second movie. Instead, Chris Weitz, who directed “The Golden Compass” and co-directed “American Pie,” was hired to direct “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” Before “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” came out in early 2009, Summit announced that they would start making “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.” David Slade, a new person, was hired to direct the third movie in the series.
The movies were a huge hit, and in April 2010, Summit confirmed that a two-part movie based on the fourth and final book in the series would be made. The first part came out on November 18, 2011, and the second came out on November 16, 2012, a year later. The “Twilight” movie had the biggest midnight opening in U.S. and Canadian box office history. It made an estimated $26.3 million in 3,514 theaters before it was shown in an additional 4,024 theaters.
National Twilighters Day timeline
Stephanie Meyer publishes the original “Twilight” series.
The soundtrack for the movie debuts at number one on the ‘Billboard 200.’
The second film in the Twilight Saga, “New Moon” shatters the Box Office Opening Day record.
The original score for “Twilight” is certified platinum and gets nominated for a Grammy.
National Twilighters Day FAQs
What was “Twilight” based on?
Stephenie Meyer claims that the concept for “Twilight” came to her in a dream on June 2, 2003.
Why is “Twilight” named after moons?
A closer look at these titles reveals the series’ story through a metaphorical moon cycle reflected in Bella Swan’s character journey. Although the “Twilight” series never explicitly addresses this, each of the individual installment titles can be seen as a reflection of where Swan is at in her journey.
Is “50 Shades of Grey” based on “Twilight”?
The “Fifty Shades” trilogy evolved from a “Twilight” fan fiction series. It was initially named “Master of the Universe” which E.L. James published episodically on fan-fiction websites under the pen name “Snowqueen’s Icedragon.”
National Twilighters Day Activities
Visit Forks
Take a tour of the local city in which the “Twilight” story is set. Learn about the community, their local cuisines, and the spots that heavily inspired the series.
Connect with other fans
Locals have created a central hub that is usually decorated on National Twilighters Day and serves as the central meeting point for fans. On September 13, you can join fans to gather in Forks, Washington for the celebration.
Rewatch the series
If you can find the “Twilight” films, then binge-watch them and whip up a bit of nostalgia. Or if you prefer books, you can pick one or all of the titles in the series and read them on National Twilighters Day.
5 Interesting Facts About Stephenie Meyer
The spelling of her name
She was named after her father, Stephen Morgan, who added ‘i’ and ‘e’ to the end of his name to name her.
She had a different profession in mind
Meyer initially considered becoming a lawyer.
A sweet love story
Meyer married her childhood friend — they first met when she was only four years old.
The inspiration for “Twilight”
“Twilight” was inspired by a dream Meyer had of a human girl falling in love with a vampire who had a particularly intense bloodlust.
Rejection
“Twilight” was rejected by nine publishers before it was finally published by Little Brown and Company.
Why We Love National Twilighters Day
It’s an opportunity for global fans of the series to connect
Whether it’s the physical community in Forks or the online fans of the series around the world, the day makes it easier for a wider audience to appreciate the author and the community that inspired the stories. Many fans visit the town after reading the books or seeing the films to enjoy the company of other fans and learn interesting facts about the town from the locals.
It’s a source of tourism for Forks
Meyer’s intriguing descriptions of Forks in her books, and the popularity of the “Twilight Saga” quickly made the town of Forks a tourist hub. Fans from all over the globe travel to the town to get a deeper experience of the story and take a tour of the town.
It's a day to celebrate great writing
For students of literature, this day is an opportunity to celebrate the cultural phenomenon that resulted from Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight” book series. Her depth of descriptive ability made the books epic and contributed to making the town of Forks famous.
National Twilighters Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | September 13 | Friday |
| 2025 | September 13 | Saturday |
| 2026 | September 13 | Sunday |
| 2027 | September 13 | Monday |
| 2028 | September 13 | Wednesday |
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