Legends encompasses the body of work of those who authors who were allowed to write Star Wars stories. George Lucas referred to it as a “sandbox” once in which these authors can make their own stories and characters but it was not part of the story as he saw it. Although he provided some guidelines, Legends has a very different philosphy, depicts a very different worldview and take on Lucas’ works which is the six movies and the clone wars show. Canon now is Lucas’ works and stories produced by disney, since Lucas sold Star Wars to them. Lucas does not see this canon as his own either, so you have three stories and universes in this sense: George Lucas’s story and mythology; other authors take on this; Disney-produced stories and mythology to Lucas’s. You are free to pick one, all, and anything between.

Canon is a part of the story that is 100% true to the universe. For example, the new hope, clone wars, those are "set in stone" and all new stories must be in line with what happened in there to not contradict anything (e.g. anakin having no father).

Other parts of star wars that still are a part of the universe, but don't have to be reliable, are legends. A lot of the old books have been made a part of the legends so disney can organize canon better - there are people dedicated to making sure there are no contradictions.

Hope this helps. :) Welcome to the wookiepedia!

Legends are stories from events that happened before the phantom menace, before the clone wars, before the fall of the galatic republic and, fall of the galatic empire and the rise of the first order. Some legends come in between them.

^ Uh... that's definitely not right

Legends does not exist in any relation to current Canon, particularly not the First Order, which is a wholly Disney Canon invention and has very little analogue within the old Legends

Legends is actually just all the content that wasn't the movies or 2008's Clone Wars TV show up until 2014, which included several comics, novels, and games across several different eras

A main feature of Legends was the entirely different story post-ROTJ, wherein the Imperial Remnant was left a fractured squabbling mess until it was, eventually, reformed under the rule of a prominent Imperial family, and the Jedi Order didn't crumble entirely either

Legends or as it was originally known as, The Expanded Universe (EU for short), was the official continuity from 1991 to 2014. It even went out of it's way to reincorporate older stories told from 1976 to 1990 (though a few stories so heavily conflicted they were classified as Secondary continuity where parts of it were Canon to Legends but other bits weren't).

It spanned stories from as far back 36,000 years before the films to 130 years after them.

Like current continuity, aka "Canon", it had better stories and some that were full of plotholes and very controversial stories. Overall though, the Expanded Universe post Return of the Jedi has the Original trilogy cast being far more successful and with families. Han and Leia stayed together and had 3 kids: Jaina, Jacen (they were twins, Jaina was older), and Anakin Solo.

Luke Skywalker eventually married Mara Jade and had a son with her named Ben Skywalker.

Luke Skywalker also successfully reestablished the Jedi Order.

It was based on Yavin IV originally but eventually went back to Coruscant... plus several other secret locations Luke set up so the Jedi couldn't be wiped out as they were before.

Luke trained adults originally and later kids, but never taken from their families. Luke actually encouraged family bonds and Jedi to form attachments, just not possessive attachments. Yes, a few fell to the darkside but overall his Order was one of the strongest in the orders history and very capable of helping most who fell return to the light. Kyp Durron, a clear inspiration for Kylo Ren btw, is one such example

Kyp is the one that looks like Kylo. He tried to destroy Luke's Order, blewup a several sons, got Vader's mask and tried to talk to it, and eventually got a crush on the girl who looked like Rey (Jaina Solo above) even though like in the Sequels he was a bit 10 years older too. Oh, he even had a hated Imperial redhead Admiral too.

Canon is new material produced by Disney, except for The Clone Wars TV show, Prequel Trilogy and the Original Trilogy.

I won't dive too deep into the lore, since that ruins the excitement of getting into it, if you do wish to explore the lore.

Legends is material produced prior to Disney's purchasing of Star Wars. It has a LOT of really good and intriguing stories, but it is highly contradictory and is REALLY goofy, and sometimes even dark, such as with the Legends Sarlacc Pit.

I'd recommend getting into Canon before you explore Legends, that way you have a taste of the lore that is still being made before you go into the deep end of the continuity pool.