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Star Wars Day: May Fourth Activities, Events, And How To Celebrate

By Charisse Van Horn
Published on: 00:14 PST, May 4, 2016

Today is May 4, and it is also Star Wars Day. The celebration comes from the catchphrase in the original Star Wars movie, “May the force be with you.” This has been turned to “May the fourth be with you,” so on every May fourth, Star Wars fans worldwide celebrate Star Wars Day.

There are many ways to celebrate Star Wars Day, and some fans throw Star Wars-themed parties where fans watch the series. Others may choose to dress as their favorite Star Wars character or play Star Wars-themed games. The fun isn’t limited to friends and indoor activities either. Star Wars Day is celebrated around the world, and there are many events and organizations that participate. Check with your local community for Star Wars Day events, and you might be surprised at what you discover. Check with museums, weekend events, and look for costume contests as these are popular Star Wars Day events. Those who live near space centers might find Star Wars Day activities as well.

Check out these recipe ideas perfect for a Star Wars Day party. There are over 100 videos, so make sure to browse through the playlist, as there’s certain to be something you can put together in time for your Star Wars Day party or event.

Star Wars Day isn’t just a time for fun indoors and out — it’s also a time when many retailers decide to promote various sales. PlayStation is promoting a May Fourth or Star Wars Day sale on Twitter.

Here are some other examples of promotions and way people celebrate Star Wars Day.

While you might think that Star Wars Day originated with fans after the films became cult classics, it is credited to politics. The Star Wars movie first hit theaters on May 25, 1977. Two years later, in the London Evening News, a congratulatory message was placed to UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher that read, “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie Congratulations.” Margaret Thatcher won the election on May 4, 1979. The message was the first known publication of the play on words.

Over time, fans continued to use the saying, and when events coincided with May 4, the saying would resurface. In 2011, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, enacted the first organized Star Wars Day event, when the Toronto Underground Cinema celebrated with contests, movies, and more.

As Star Wars continues to be a global phenomenon, and more fans participated in events causing greater demand for participation in Star Wars Day. Today, it is common to find many theaters, museums, restaurants, and stores participating in Star Wars Day activities, events, costume contests, and sales. Some areas keep the Star Wars theme going throughout the weekend as well. There are also some Sith fans that celebrate May 6 as Sith Day.

It’s been 39 years since Star Wars graced movie screens, and with every decade, new Star Wars fans arrive on the scene. With Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm and the launch of new Star Wars movies, we could well see new films and generations of fans 100 years from now. Star Wars is known for having one of the largest fan bases worldwide, and there is no better time for fans to celebrate all that they love about the films, characters, and plots than to participate in Star Wars Day events and activities.

Are you going to do something special for Star Wars Day? How will you celebrate?

[Image via Matthia Cortesi/Shutterstock]

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