The Festival of the Ancestors was a special event that occurred on the planet Pasaana, a desert world. The Aki-Aki, the native inhabitants, observed this celebration every forty-two years, both as a tribute to their history and as an anticipation of what was to come. Although the Aki-Aki comprised the majority of those present at the festival, numerous individuals from other planets journeyed to Pasaana to participate in the festivities. According to C-3PO, the protocol droid, the festival was well-known for its vibrant colored kites and delicious sweets. Other activities at the festival included large group dances and dedicated spaces where the Aki-Aki could ceremonially burn representations of their ancestors to show respect and celebrate their lives. Approximately 500,000 people attended, with around 5,000 being visitors from other worlds. These off-world guests were welcomed, often receiving floral necklaces as a gesture of hospitality.
The Festival of the Ancestors was conceived for the 2019 film Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, the concluding chapter of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. While the movie indicates that the festival occurs every forty-two years, the reference book Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary and the Databank page for the Aki-Aki on StarWars.com both state that it is held every two years. However, the article "Star Wars Inside Intel: Holidays of the Galaxy" maintains the forty-two year interval.
Interestingly, the festival's 42-year cycle mirrors the time elapsed between the release of The Rise of Skywalker and the premiere of the original Star Wars film, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, which debuted in 1977.