May the Fourth Be With You: A History of Star Wars Day

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True fans don’t need a special day to love what they love. But for those of us who enjoy the epic space battles and magical powers of Star Wars, a little fun is always welcome! That’s what ‘May the 4th’ – now widely known as Star Wars Day – is all about. This fan-created holiday has a history stretching back long before social media, and it’s likely one of the oldest and most popular celebrations of its kind started by fans themselves.

Even though companies use May the 4th for advertising and merchandise, Star Wars Day is, at its heart, a celebration created by and for the fans. The fact that it started as a fan-driven event shows how strong and lasting its popularity is.

How Did Star Wars Day Start?

May the 4th, a date chosen because it sounds like the famous “May the Force be with you” line from Star Wars, has been officially celebrated as Star Wars Day since 2013. Disney, one year after buying Lucasfilm, announced May 4th as the day to honor the popular sci-fi series, building on existing fan traditions. Interestingly, the phrase “May the 4th be with you” actually originated as early as 1979.

Alan Arnold, who wrote the book Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Back, shared an interesting story: in 1979, the British Conservative Party congratulated Margaret Thatcher on becoming Prime Minister with a full-page ad in the London Evening News. The ad playfully said, “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie.” This was a reference to her inauguration date, May 4th, and showed how quickly the famous Star Wars phrase had become part of popular culture – just two years after the film’s release!

British politicians seem to enjoy making “May the 4th” puns, probably because UK elections are frequently held in early May. Back in 1994, MP Harry Cohen even used the pun in Parliament, jokingly calling it a terrible joke. More recently, in 2012, London Mayor Boris Johnson included the phrase in his victory speech. The phrase has become incredibly popular, turning into one of the most well-known fan-created holidays ever.

How Do Fans Celebrate Star Wars Day?

As a huge Star Wars fan, I always get excited for May the 4th! It’s awesome to see celebrations happening all over the world. Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge goes all out with special events, letting you really feel like you’re in the Star Wars universe. And Lucasfilm usually drops something new on that day too. Lately, they’ve been releasing cool short series like Tales of the Empire and Tales of the Underworld on May 4th. They even released something new in 2026 to celebrate!

Most Star Wars fans celebrate May the 4th in simple ways. Some just share a Star Wars joke or meme online, while others enjoy rewatching the movies, dressing up in costumes, or doing Star Wars-themed crafts. You can easily find lots of ideas for celebrating online.

Every year on May 4th, it’s now typical to see many Star Wars fans playing Battlefront II online. Even though EA no longer actively updates the game, fans enjoy the chance to play as their favorite characters with all features unlocked on this special day.

Star Wars Day and the Future of the Franchise

Dedicated Star Wars fans know that the balance between the Light and Dark Sides is crucial, so it’s understandable that the holiday has become heavily commercialized. Brands are naturally taking advantage of the franchise’s popularity by selling Star Warsthemed merchandise. However, this can actually be a good thing for shoppers. Disney often offers discounts around Star Wars Day, making it a perfect opportunity to buy gifts for the Star Wars* enthusiast in your family.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I’m so excited about what’s coming! May the 4th is almost here, and it feels amazing to have Star Wars back in theaters after seven years since The Rise of Skywalker. Plus, season two of Ahsoka is heading to Disney+ later this year, and it’s really building up what they’re calling the “Mando-verse.” Looking ahead, projects like Star Wars: Starfighter and Simon Kinberg’s new Episode X have me really hopeful that they’ll bring all the fans back together and keep the galaxy far, far away thriving!

The incredible popularity of Star Wars means there’s something for every fan, from longtime devotees to those just getting acquainted. May the 4th brings everyone together – it’s like an unseen connection uniting fans across the galaxy! Whether you’re looking for great deals or a reason to dress up and have a movie marathon, Star Wars Day is a celebration for everyone.

If celebrating Star Wars for just one day isn’t enough, you can extend the fun with “Revenge of the Fifth!”

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2026-05-04 18:37