May The 4th Be With You…

Star Wars

Social media feeds everywhere will be flooded with Star Wars memes, puns, and the like on this special day that many have come to know as “Star Wars Day” or “May the 4th”. What originally started as a punny reference has become an international cultural phenomenon. How exactly did this unofficial ‘holiday’ come to be? What’s the point? In this blog, we will address these questions and provide some fun ways to celebrate May the 4th, 2021 at home.

The History Behind May the 4th Be With You

Clearly, the date was chosen specifically with the pun in mind being that “May the 4th” sounds like “May the Force”. According to the inter-webs, the first ever recorded use of the phrase was on May 4, 1979 when Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of the UK. It was recorded in an advertisement in The London Evening News congratulating her on her achievement. The phrase became popular on social media in 2008 when Facebook groups began using the phrase to celebrate what was then called “Luke Skywalker Day”. Then, in 2011, people began to organize public MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU… celebrations for the day. Events included game shows, tribute films, parodies, and more. Since 2013, The Walt Disney Company officially has celebrated the holiday with events at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. [1]

People all over the world now celebrate the day in various ways including public festivals and group celebrations. Many friends and families celebrate in their own ways in public and at home. There is no wrong way to celebrate Star Wars Day. Everyone has the freedom to find what works for them on this interesting unofficial holiday the world has come to know and love.

What’s the point?

The point is that millions of people all over the world have been personally affected by the Star Wars franchise in numerous different ways. Since the beginning, many friends and families everywhere have been brought closer together as a direct result of these movies, novels, and television shows being released. Most people have at least heard of or seen references to something that has to do with the Star Wars franchise. Celebrating Star Wars Day is a common way for human beings all over the world to unite together in a shared bond of fun, friendship, and familiarity.

Ways to Celebrate Star Wars Day at Home

  1. Watch Star Wars movies and series with your family. Whether watching classics or new, Star Wars movies and series are available on the Disney+ streaming service.
  2. Have a Star Wars costume contest using only items found in the household.
  3. Create fun arts and crafts or have a cooking challenge.
  4. Play music trivia with songs from Star Wars.
  5. Listen to Star Wars stories read by famous people.

You can find many arts and crafts as well as recipes and other cool stuff on StarWars.com.[2]

“When gone am I, the last of the Jedi will you be. The Force runs strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned.” -Yoda

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Day

[2] https://www.starwars.com/star-wars-day