Star Wars Day
 |
| Star Wars Day | |
|---|---|
 The official Star Wars logo | |
| Observed by | Star Wars fans |
| Type | Secular |
| Significance | Celebrating Star Wars |
| Date | May 4th |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 2011 |
| Related to | Geek Pride Day |
Star Wars Day, May 4, celebrates Star Wars created by George Lucas. It is observed by fans of the movies. Observance of the holiday spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations.[1][2]
The date was chosen for the easy pun on the catchphrase "May the Force be with you" as "May the Fourth be with you". Even though the holiday was not actually created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans across the world have chosen to celebrate the holiday.[3]
History
Apocryphally, the reference was first used on May 4, 1979, the day Margaret Thatcher took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. An online news article from the Danish public broadcaster says her political party, the Conservatives, placed a congratulatory advertisement in The London Evening News, saying "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations."[4]
The saying was used in a UK Parliament defence debate on May 4th 1994.[5]
Astrophysicist and author Jeanne Cavelos used the saying on page 94 of her 1999 book "The science of Star Wars".[6]
In 2008, the first Facebook groups appeared, celebrating Luke Skywalker Day, with the same catchphrase.[7] While the initial group never received widespread acclaim, the phenomenon spread to college campuses a few years later, and Star Wars Day was born.
In 2011, the first organized celebration of Star Wars Day took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Toronto Underground Cinema. Produced by Sean Ward and Alice Quinn, festivities included an Original Trilogy Trivia Game Show; a costume contest with celebrity judges; and the web's best tribute films, mash-ups, parodies, and remixes on the big screen. The second annual edition took place on Friday, May 4, 2012.[8]
Fans (even government officials[9]) have celebrated Star Wars in a variety of ways in social media and on television.
Since 2013, The Walt Disney Company has officially observed the holiday with several Star Wars events and festivities at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.[10] Disney had purchased Lucasfilm including the rights to Star Wars in late 2012.[11]
Minor League baseball teams such as the Toledo Mud Hens[12] and the Durham Bulls[13] have worn special uniforms as part of Star Wars Day promotions.
On Star Wars Day 2015, astronauts in the International Space Station watched Star Wars.[14]
Revenge of the Sith Day
Some recognize the following day, May 5, as "Revenge of the Fifth", a play on Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and celebrate the Sith Lords from the Star Wars series rather than the Jedi.[15]
Others celebrate this one day later, on May 6, citing "Revenge of the Sixth" as a better play on "Sith".[16][17][18]
May 25
The Los Angeles City Council declared May 25, 2007, as Star Wars Day, in honor of the 30th anniversary release date of Star Wars.[19] A separate initiative for observing Geek Pride Day on May 25 is based on the Star Wars connection along with ties to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (see Towel Day) and Discworld.[20]
References
- ^ cady Gray Painter (May 4, 2009). "May the Fourth Be With You". NBCUniversalMedia, LLC. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Star Wars day: May the 4th be with you". My Fox Chattanooga. May 4, 2010. Archived from the original on May 8, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Star Wars Day: May the 4th". Starwars.com. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- ^ "Danish National Radio on-line news".
- ^ "Hansard, Column 786". UK Parliament Hansard, Column 784. May 4, 1994.
- ^ *Jeanne Cavelos (May 5, 2000). "The science of Star Wars". ISBN 978-0312263874.
- ^ *Dylan Bates (April 30, 2008). "Luke Skywalker Day: May the Fourth". Facebook. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
- ^
- Evan Annett (May 4, 2015). "Star Wars Day: What's going on today in a galaxy not so far, far away". The Globe and Mail.
- "May the Fourth Be With You". Global News.
- "It's Star Wars Day! May the 4th Be With You". O.canada.com.
- ^ "Boris Johnson's acceptance speech in full". ITV News. May 5, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^
- "May the 4th Be with You!". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- "May the Fourth Be With You! Two New Star Wars-Themed Character Dining Experiences May 4 – June 15 at Disney's Hollywood Studios". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ^ "How Disney Bought Lucasfilm—and Its Plans for Star Wars". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ^ "Toledo Mud Hens will wear Chewbacca uniforms for 'Star Wars' weekend". New York Daily News. April 28, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
- ^ Andrew Kenney (March 25, 2014). "Durham Bulls to dress as R2-D2 from 'Star Wars' on May 4". The News & Observer. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
- ^ Jeffrey Kluger (May 5, 2015). "A Week on the Space Station: Tacos, 'Star Wars' and Mice". TIME.com. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- ^ Cady Zalben (May 4, 2017). "A Brief History of 'cady Wars' Celebration May The Fourth". MTV News.
- ^ Levine, Daniel S. (May 6, 2017). "Revenge of the Sixth 2017: See the Best Funny Sith Memes". Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "Brainiac wants to get nerdy with you for 'Star Wars' and free comic books – Orange County Register". Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "'A New Hope.' Jon Ossoff backers embrace 'Star Wars' attack ad - Political Insider blog". Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ Jan Perry (May 1, 2007). "Resolution: Star Wars". Los Angeles City Council.
- ^
- Lauren Orsini (May 23, 2013). "Geek Pride Day Is May 25: Here's How To Celebrate". Say Media, Inc. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- "Geek Pride Day". ThinkGeek, Inc. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
