Star Wars Day: Was the 4th With You?
As Star Wars fans, not only do we have an unconditional love for a saga that continues to tell its story nearly 40 years on, we also have a special day to celebrate the greatest story ever told that is recognized by millions of fans the world over, so let’s talk about that for a few moments….
May the 4th, or as it’s officially called by fans “Star Wars Day” seems to have been a “thing” now for a long time, but in fact it never really gained traction and developed momentum worldwide until this age of the internet and social media has come to dominate our lives, and now it is a hotly celebrated day by fans everywhere.
As much, and as heavily, as Star Wars Day is celebrated and revered by fans, neither George Lucas, Lucasfilm, or even Disney has ever really officially DECLARED the day as an official event, but after Disney acquired Lucasfilm, they then in 2013 began to seriously recognize it for the fans with an official acknowledgement of this day that fans have chosen, and Disney has celebrated it ever since. This is not to say that Lucasfilm, and more importantly, George Lucas ever snubbed the day by any means, for they have always smiled and silently nodded to the fans for their reverence to the franchise and their ingenuity to actually created a special day just for Star Wars. George Lucas was likely (initially) very amused with it, but it no doubt only added to his already full schedule of event appearances and interviews while still having to make time for real work!
The first ever reference, which may (or not) have been a tonque-in-cheek allusion to Star Wars was in 1979 when Margaret Thatcher won the election and became Great Britian’s first ever woman Prime Minister. The reference was published in a London newspaper as a congratulatory announcement by her party which, as you may know, read;
“May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations.”
It is likely that the reference was initially missed by the masses, but as time progressed it became the Star Wars cultural reference, and the rest (as they say) is history.
As I write this on May 4th, I wonder what the rest of the world will be doing today and/or this evening to celebrate their favorite galaxy far, far, away. Most diehard Star Wars fans will have a personal celebration, whether it be wearing a Han Solo shirt to work, or even partaking in a Star Wars saga movie marathon from the comfort of their own homes.
Some fans even attend a Star Wars costume party every year to rub elbows with the likes of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and even Vader himself, but still others will just simply wish the best of the 4th for you. This author and his wife will be digging out our ROTJ Luke and Mara Jade costumes that we wore to Celebration Anaheim last year, our 29 year old daughter will be donning her personally assembled Rey costume, and we’ll be attending a local Star Wars Day costume party as a happy little family, and yes, if you’re reading between those lines, It’s what I’m hoping for!
At any rate, all of us here at Star Wars News Net hope that you all had a wonderful (and safe) May the 4th. Let us know in the comments below just what YOU did to celebrate that galaxy far, far away!
I walked into the kitchen yesterday morning at 6:30am and found this from my wife. Blue milk and chocolate covered pretzel “lightsabers” She absolutely nailed it. I am one lucky guy.
That’s… That’s A wife!
Someone is missing out on a great “I Know” opportunity!
Your wife wins everything.
Wife goals.
We built a full replica of the cantina and, last night, we had a wake for Han Solo complete with a New Orleans marching band in procession as we carried the empty carbonite slab in effigy, through a cheering crowd. It was glorious! May the 4th be with us all! Here is a video from last year…
https://vimeo.com/156661160
Teach me!
Show me again.
“What did you guys do on Star Wars day?”
“I watched the movies.”
“Oh, cool! You?”
“I went to a costume party.”
“Awesome! You?”
“Built a replica cantina and held a wake for Han Solo with an actual marching band and a huge cheering crowd.”
“…O-O”
You win.
I unfortunately was very Ill on star wars day. Hence I’m doing the ultimate 7 movies marathon today and tomorrow…
I am a student minister part time, so I had a little TFA viewing party with my middle school and high school students last night with some popcorn. Fun times.
Worst…May 4th….ever….no Episode VIII title….no new Rouge One footage…weak
Not as weak as your spelling !! LOL It surprises me how a lot of us cannot spell ROGUE…and we are only months away. I bet afterwards, when the merchandise is en-grained into our minds, we will be able to.
What if he’s French and thought it was “Red One”? I bet you’d feel bad now!
I could be wrong, but I think “engrained” is one word without a hyphen.
Damn, everyone did such cool things. All I did was play SWtOR while multitasking some D&D on the side.
The day should be May 25th. A day of actual significance to Star Wars, the date Star Wars was first shown to the world rather than just a pun.
May not be Star Wars Day, but I’m sure a lot of fans still celebrate Star Wars’s birthday!
Pun is catchy and makes people remember the date more.
I wish I could agree with that sentiment, and maybe I’m a party pooper, but that pun is just a little too cute and lacking in imagination for my taste.
That being said I think everyday can be a day to celebrate Star Wars.
yes, you are. Now use your mega brain to wow us with something that you think isn’t cute and lacking imagination!
Every day IS a day to celebrate Star Wars. At least it is for me.
Why does everything have to have a huge imagination behind it? May 25th doesn’t have a huge imagination behind it either, it’s just when the first ever SW was released. It’s only been a thing for 5 years anyway.
No it shouldn’t. Its a play on words and it works. Its silly but fun.
Was hoping they’d have a Rebels marathon on the official site but no such luck.
Luke looks kind of like Plato in that pic which I guess is sort of apt.
I thought Plato was a brand of dishwashing detergent until I discovered Smirnoff.
That’s why God invented Zima.
A doctor once told me I would never run a Marathon again. Traffic accident. It took nine years of waiting, but then i was healthy enough and did it. Guess the date?? May 4th… Kind of destined to be. The Force is strong in this one….