While this tale doesn’t start long ago or in a distant galaxy, each year on May 4th, “Star Wars” related imagery, memes, and promotions seem to exert an irresistible pull.
May 4—or “May the Fourth,” as enthusiasts put it—has transformed into Star Wars Day over time, serving as an unofficial celebration of both the space saga and its expansive universe.
What does Star Wars Day entail?
Star Wars Day was established by enthusiasts as a playful reference to one of the movies’ most beloved sayings, “May the force be with you.” Understand it? Great! Now let May 4th also accompany you.
Although it isn’t an officially recognized holiday, it has gained such widespread recognition that even ex-President Joe Biden acknowledged it last year.
“Stars Wars” star Mark Hamill
was dropped by the White House just one day prior.
I believe this is a highly intelligent method for enthusiasts to demonstrate their devotion and affection for ‘Star Wars’ annually,” stated Steve Sansweet, who founded and currently serves as the executive chairman of Rancho Obi-Wan—a non-profit museum located in California known for housing the planet’s most extensive collection of ‘Star Wars’ collectibles.
How did it begin?
The expression “May the 4th be with you” began circulating among fans several years following the debut of the initial movie in 1977. It also cropped up in a 1979 UK campaign advertisement marking Margaret Thatcher’s triumph in becoming Prime Minister on May 4th of that same year.
For certain enthusiasts, Official Star Wars Day falls on May 25, marking the anniversary of the initial movie’s release. In 2007, the Los Angeles City Council went so far as to designate this day as Star Wars Day, though the
California Legislature
voted in 2019 to proclaim May 4 as Star Wars Day.
How has it spread?
On May 4th, the celebration unofficially took root among fans who spread the word through social media jests and movie screenings to commemorate the date. Over time, businesses also got involved, with various companies like Nissan and distilleries such as Jameson Whiskey participating by airing advertisements or sharing posts related to this event on their social platforms.
Disney
, which purchased Lucasfilm in 2012, adopted the day as an opportunity to enhance promotion of the franchise through merchandise sales, exclusive screenings, and various related events.
Not every “Star Wars” fan is thrilled with how widespread the former niche meme has gotten. Chris Taylor, a senior editor at Mashable and the writer of “How Star Wars Conquered the Universe,” refers to himself as a “May the 4th Grinch.” This moniker partly stems from his concerns over its increasing commercialization.
“I enjoy a decent dad joke as much as anybody else, but seriously, one can overdo it,” Taylor remarked.
What celebrations have been organized for this year?
This year, the celebration is taking place on both grand and modest scales.Disney+ is debuting the event.
new series
“Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld” is scheduled to release on the specified date, coinciding with the start of another franchise series’ second season.
“Andor.”
This comes after the announcement of a new standalone
“Star Wars” film installment
Ryan Gosling’s upcoming project is set to release in 2027.
Disney celebrates the occasion by releasing an array of new “Star Wars” products, including everything from lightsabers to accessories like necklaces and bracelets.
In recent years, many Major League Baseball teams have celebrated this day by hosting special events featuring “Star Wars” characters. As an illustration, the San Francisco Giants offered exclusive tickets for Saturday’s game which came with a bobblehead depicting pitcher Logan Webb as “Obi-Webb Kenobi.”
It’s challenging to locate a spot where May the 4th festivities aren’t taking place, whether it’s bakeries offering Star Wars themed cookies or concert halls playing the iconic soundtracks of these movies.
It’s a communitywide festival in New Hope, Pennsylvania, a place that bears the same name as the subtitle of the original “Star Wars” movie. This town, home to roughly 2,600 residents situated 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Philadelphia, intends to feature costumed figures around town along with eateries offering speciality dishes such as a “YodaRita.”
“I used to jokingly greet everyone with ‘May the Fourth,’ but elevating it to this extent has certainly boosted my ‘Star Wars’ geek credentials,” stated Michael Sklar, who serves as the president of the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce.
Andrew Demillo, The Canadian Press
