Every year on May 4, Star Wars Day is a much-loved celebration among followers of the enduring science fiction series. The occasion for fans to assemble and share their passion of the Star Wars world has grown into a cultural phenomenon. But what is Star Wars Day precisely, and how did it start?
Star Wars Day’s earliest days
The expression “May the Fourth be with you” is a a very popular play on the catchphrase “May the Force be with you” from the Star Wars films used by fans all around the world. Star Wars enthusiasts have been using the expression since the 1970s, the first time it was used in connection with a holiday was in 1979 finding it’s place amongst fans. The day after Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister of the UK, on May 4, her party ran an ad in the London Evening News with the slogan “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations.” The term has been linked to Star Wars ever since the joke became popular.
Following that, May 4th was used as an excuse by Star Wars devotees to watch movie marathons, dress up in costumes, and generally celebrate everything related to the franchise. In the era of social media, the holiday acquired even more popularity as followers of the franchise posted their love for the series online with hashtags like #MayTheFourthBeWithYou.
Star Wars Day celebrations
Rewatching the films is one of the most well-liked ways to mark Star Wars Day. The prequel trilogy—The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith—the most current trilogy—The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker—or the original trilogy—A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi—can all be watched by fans. Some fans even opt to watch The Phantom Menace through The Rise of Skywalker in order to see the full Star Wars saga in its entirety.
Putting on costumes is a common method to commemorate Star Wars Day. Fans may decide to dress up as their preferred movie characters, such as Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Han Solo, or Luke Skywalker. As characters from the extended Star Wars universe, such as Ahsoka Tano from the anime series The Clone Wars, some fans even make their own costumes or participate in cosplay as them.
Many fans commemorate Star Wars Day by preparing food and beverages with Star Wars themes in addition to movie marathons and costumes.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Day
It’s expected that Star Wars Day will continue to gain in popularity as the Star Wars franchise continues to flourish with new motion pictures, television episodes, books, and comics. Disney, which in 2012 purchased Lucasfilm, the maker of Star Wars, has recently used the occasion to make significant announcements and roll out fresh material. For instance, on Star Wars Day in 2019 Disney unveiled a teaser trailer for the upcoming Star Wars film The Rise of Skywalker.