Do we really have the Tories to thank for Star Wars Day?
Annual ‘May the fourth’ bash may owe existence to Maggie
In a galaxy not so far away – the Milky Way, to be exact – there exists a day that unites sci-fi fans from every corner of a little blue globe they call Earth.
That day is none other than Star Wars Day, celebrated on May the fourth each year – a wry nod to a certain famous phrase from the Star Wars movie universe. But how did this intergalactic phenomenon come to be?
The saga begins in 1977 when George Lucas unleashed upon the world a cinematic masterpiece that would forever change the landscape of popular culture: Star
Wars (which eventually became Episode IV–ANew Hope).
With its iconic characters, thrilling space battles, and timeless message of good versus evil, Star Wars captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences everywhere faster than the Millennium Falcon making the Kessel Run.
As the years went by, the Star Wars franchise expanded, spawning sequels, prequels, spin-offs, books, comics, toys, and a holiday special that Lucas would perhaps rather forget.
For those raised on the moon of Alderaan (“that is no moon!”) the origins of Star Wars Day can be traced back to the fact “May the fourth” sounds strikingly similar to “May the force be with you” – a phrase which is uttered by many a good Jedi in the movies.
Ridiculous as this may sound, we have Margaret Thatcher to thank for Star Wars Day. Well, sort of.
The first recorded use of the phrase “May the fourth be with you” dates back to May 4, 1979.
On this day, the Conservative Party took out an advertisement in the London Evening News to congratulate the Iron Lady on her election as Prime Minister.
In an obvious hat tip to the first Star Wars film, released just two years prior, the ad read: “May The Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations.”
Star Wars Day, however, would not truly take root until after the release of the fourth instalment in the series, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, in the late 1990s.
With the internet in its infancy, it was at this time that franchise fans began to organise mass events to celebrate their love for the saga.
According to legend, the first official May the fourth celebrations took place in 2001 at the Toronto Underground Cinema, where Star Wars fans held a costume contest and movie marathon. The annual May the fourth celebrations were further solidified in the 2010s, with the day earning its very own hashtag on Twitter (now X) and companies and brands the world over falling over themselves to join in the fun.
Lucasfilm itself eventually embraced the holiday, recognising May the fourth as an official day of celebration for fans around the world. The company began releasing new content, announcements, and exclusive merchandise on Star Wars Day, further cementing its place in geek culture.