Today is Star Wars Day. It’s the day when fans get together to nerd out and wish each other “May the Fourth be with you” – a pun on the classic Star Wars line, “May the Force be with you.” It may seem strange that a simple pun could lead to such a massive celebration, but in a galaxy far, far away, anything can happen.
The Origins of “May the Fourth be with You”
It may seem like Star Wars Day is a fairly recent phenomenon, but the phrase “May the Fourth be with You” is almost as old as Star Wars itself. Supposedly, it was first used in 1978, just one year after the first Star Wars movie came out, with fans using the phrase to greet each other on the Fourth of July. The next year, the phrase “May the Fourth be with you” was used to congratulate Margaret Thatcher for becoming Britain’s first female prime minister.
In addition, Randy Thom, a sound recordist on Return of the Jedi, recalled coming up with the pun when his team was recording the redwood forest used for Endor. It happened to be May 4th, and the team took it on themselves to write a message to Lucasfilm every May 4th.
Star Wars Day Becomes a Phenomenon
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when Star Wars Day became the phenomenon that it is today. In 2005, when Revenge of the Sith had its initial theatrical run, a Fourth of July advertisement used the phrase “May the Fourth be with you” to encourage audiences to see the movie again for Independence Day. As years passed, and especially since Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, the unofficial holiday started by fans began to get official attention.
Now, the official Star Wars website has an entire page dedicated to Star Wars Day, providing crafts, recipes, and of course, advertisements for current Star Wars projects. Retailers prominently display Star Wars merchandise around May 4th, and even video games have special events centered around May 4th. Star Wars Day is also marked as a holiday on official Star Wars calendars, cementing the day as an international celebration.
May the Fourth be with You!
Of course, Star Wars Day first and foremost belongs to the fans. Fans created the pun, and fans created the day. It’s a day when people can find camaraderie with each other through a shared love of all things Star Wars. In a world where political and internet culture divides people more and more, the love of a galaxy far, far away can help bring people together. May the Fourth be with you!
