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| relatedto = [[Geek Pride Day]]
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'''''Star Wars'' Day''' is an informal [[Lists of holidays|commemorative day]] observed annually on May{{nbsp}}4 to celebrate the ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[media franchise]] created by filmmaker [[George Lucas]].<ref name="NYTimes2024"/> Observance of the day spread quickly through media and [[grassroots]] celebrations since the franchise began in 1977.<ref>{{cite web |title=May the Fourth Be With You |url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/around_town/the_scene/Forced-or-Not-Theres-a-Star-Wars-Day.html |first=Alicia Gray |last=Painter |publisher=NBCUniversalMedia, LLC |date=May 4, 2009 |access-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myfoxchattanooga.com/dpps/entertainment/star-wars-day-may-the-4th-be-with-you-dpgoha-20100504-fc_7371587 |work=My Fox Chattanooga |title=Star Wars day: May the 4th be with you |date=May 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508193201/http://www.myfoxchattanooga.com/dpps/entertainment/star-wars-day-may-the-4th-be-with-you-dpgoha-20100504-fc_7371587 |archive-date=May 8, 2010 |access-date=May 8, 2013}}</ref>
The date originated from the [[pun]] "''[[May 4|May the Fourth]]'' be with you",
The release date of the original ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' movie, May 25, 1977, is celebrated by some as [[Geek Pride Day]].<ref name=":0" />
== History ==
The first recorded reference of the phrase being used was on May 4, 1979, the day after [[Margaret Thatcher]] [[1979 United Kingdom general election|was elected]] as [[Prime Minister]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. Her political party, the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], placed a congratulatory advertisement in the ''[[The Evening News (London newspaper)|Evening News]]'' saying "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations."<ref>{{cite news|last=Whalen|first=Andrew|date=May 3, 2019|title=Star Wars Day 2019: How Margaret Thatcher Launched 'May the Fourth Be With You' Holiday|work=Newsweek|url=https://www.newsweek.com/star-wars-day-2019-may-fourth-be-you-margaret-thatcher-history-explained-1414528|access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Chan|first1=Tim|last2=Anderson|first2=Sage|date=April 30, 2020|title=May the 4th Be With You: The Best Merch, Toys and Collectibles for 'Star Wars' Fans|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/best-star-wars-toys-gifts-collectibles-828847/|access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Iervolino|first=Stephen|date=May 4, 2017|title=May the Fourth be with you: Everything you need to know about 'Star Wars' Day|work=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/fourth-star-wars-day/story?id=47190427|access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref>{{Dubious|Thatcher_advert/_Hansard?|date=May 2021|reason=exact wording and date may be incorrect}}
In the 1988 episode of ''[[Count Duckula]]'', "The Vampire Strikes Back", a space-faring superhero, Tremendous Terrance, asks Duckula the date and is told, "May the Fourth". As Terrance departs, he tells all below, "May the Fourth be with you."<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Vampire Strikes Back|series=[[Count Duckula]]|network=[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]|date=December 6, 1988|season=1|number=14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vampire that hates the sight of blood! |work=Derby Daily Telegraph |date=August 26, 1988|page=16|quote="Count Duckula is in the tradition of the brilliant one-liners. In ''The Vampire Strikes Back'' in which he himself and Nanny lost in space and he asks someone for the date. On being told: 'May the fourth' he replies: 'May the fourth be with you.' The programme will go out on Tuesdays at 4.45 pm starting from September 6."}}</ref>
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The phrase was used in a [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] defence debate on May 4, 1994.<ref name=maythefourth>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-05-04/Debate-6.html#Debate-6_spnew7|title=Hansard, Column 786|date=May 4, 1994|work=UK Parliament Hansard, Column 784}}</ref>
Astrophysicist and author [[Jeanne Cavelos]] used the saying on page 94 of her 1999 book ''[[The Science of Star Wars (book)|The Science of Star Wars]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=The science of Star Wars|author=Jeanne Cavelos|year=2000|publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0312263874|url=https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155434760425312&id=516410311}}</ref>
In 2008, the first Facebook groups appeared, celebrating Luke Skywalker Day, with the same catchphrase.<ref>{{cite web|title=Luke Skywalker Day: May the Fourth|author=Dylan Bates|date=April 30, 2008|access-date=May 4, 2017|publisher=[[Facebook]]|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/16743711387/}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Star Wars Day: What's going on today in a galaxy not so far, far away|author=Evan Annett|date=May 4, 2015|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/star-wars-day-whats-going-on-today-in-a-galaxy-not-so-far-far-away/article24236432/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=May the Fourth Be With You|work=Global News|date=May 5, 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrAr4eiiLLw}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Rourke |first=Patrick |date=May 4, 2013 |title=Today is May the 4th and this means it's international Star Wars day! {{!}} canada.com |url=https://o.canada.com/technology/internet/its-star-wars-day-may-the-4th-be-with-you |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508081910/https://o.canada.com/technology/internet/its-star-wars-day-may-the-4th-be-with-you |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |access-date=May 21, 2022 }}</ref>
Fans (including government officials, such as [[Boris Johnson]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Boris Johnson's acceptance speech in full|url=http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-05-05/boris-johnsons-acceptance-speech-in-full/|publisher=ITV News|access-date=May 8, 2013|date=May 5, 2012}}</ref>) have celebrated ''Star Wars'' in a variety of ways in social media and on television.
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[[Major League Baseball]], association football, and [[college sports]] teams have paid tribute to ''Star Wars'' in different ways.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33855215/sports-teams-athletes-celebrate-star-wars-day-creative-ways|title=May the Fourth Be With You: Sports teams and stars celebrate Star Wars Day|date=May 4, 2022|website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Share |url=https://kslsports.com/485503/star-wars-day-byu-football-stormtrooper-helmet/ |title=Star Wars Day: BYU Football Celebrates With Stormtrooper Helmet |publisher=Kslsports.com |date= May 4, 2022|accessdate=May 5, 2022}}</ref> [[Minor League Baseball]] teams such as the [[Toledo Mud Hens]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/minor-league-team-wear-chewbacca-uniforms-article-1.1329729|title=Toledo Mud Hens will wear Chewbacca uniforms for 'Star Wars' weekend|date=April 28, 2013|location=New York|work=Daily News|access-date=May 3, 2014}}</ref> and the [[Durham Bulls]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/03/25/3732418/durham-bulls-to-dress-as-star.html|title=Durham Bulls to dress as R2-D2 from 'Star Wars' on May 4|author=Andrew Kenney|date=March 25, 2014|publisher=[[The News & Observer]]|access-date=May 3, 2014}}</ref> 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''.<ref name="Kluger 2015">{{cite news|author=Jeffrey Kluger|title=A Week on the Space Station: Tacos, 'Star Wars' and Mice|website=
In June 2021, it was announced that [[Carrie Fisher]] would receive a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 2022. She received the star on ''Star Wars'' Day, May 4, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prudom |first=Laura |date=May 4, 2023 |title=A Force to Be Remembered: Mark Hamill Praises Carrie
== Disney ==
Since 2013, [[The Walt Disney Company]] has officially observed the holiday with several ''[[Star Wars]]'' events and festivities at [[Disneyland]] and [[Walt Disney World]].<ref>{{cite web|title=May the 4th Be with You!|url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/let-the-memories-begin/limited-time-magic/star-wars-4th-be-with-you-hollywood-studios/?CMP=SOC-WDWFY12Q2FBDM0553|access-date=April 28, 2013|work=Disney Parks Blog}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=May the Fourth Be With You! Two New Star Wars-Themed Character Dining Experiences May 4 – June 15 at Disney's Hollywood Studios|url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/03/may-the-fourth-be-with-you-two-new-star-wars-themed-character-dining-experiences-may-4-june-15-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330052225/http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/03/may-the-fourth-be-with-you-two-new-star-wars-themed-character-dining-experiences-may-4-june-15-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 30, 2014|access-date=April 28, 2014|work=Disney Parks Blog|date=March 28, 2014 }}</ref> Disney had purchased Lucasfilm, including the rights to ''Star Wars'', in late 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=How Disney Bought Lucasfilm—and Its Plans for ''Star Wars''|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-07/how-disney-bought-lucasfilm-and-its-plans-for-star-wars|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308091739/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-07/how-disney-bought-lucasfilm-and-its-plans-for-star-wars|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2013|access-date=April 28, 2014|work=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]| date=March 8, 2013 }}</ref>
The finale of ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|The Clone Wars]]'' was made available on [[Disney+]] on May 4, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 15, 2020|title=Star Wars: The Clone Wars Finale Coming To Disney+ Early On Star Wars Day!|url=https://whatsondisneyplus.com/star-wars-the-clone-wars-finale-coming-to-disney-early-on-star-wars-day/|access-date=April 15, 2020|website=What's On Disney Plus|language=en-us}}</ref> ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker]]'', as well as the documentary series ''[[The Mandalorian (season 1)#Documentary series|Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian]]'', were also made available on Disney+ the same day.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Watercutter|first=Angela|date=April 27, 2020|title=''Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'' Is Coming to Disney+ May 4|url=https://www.wired.com/story/rise-of-skywalker-disney-plus-may-4/|access-date=May 3, 2021|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref><ref name="DisneyGallery">{{cite web|date=April 15, 2020|title=Go Behind the Scenes in the New Disney+ Series ''Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian''|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/disney-gallery-the-mandalorian-announce|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415133836/https://www.starwars.com/news/disney-gallery-the-mandalorian-announce|archive-date=April 15, 2020|access-date=April 15, 2020|website=[[Star Wars|StarWars.com]]}}</ref> On ''Star Wars'' Day 2021, the animated series ''[[Star Wars: The Bad Batch]]'' also premiered on Disney+, along with the short film ''[[The Force Awakens from Its Nap|Maggie Simpson in "The Force Awakens from Its Nap"]]''.<ref name="May2021Release">{{cite web|last1=Ramos|first1=Dino-Ray|date=February 24, 2021|title=Disney+ Sets Premiere Dates For 'Star Wars: The Bad Batch' And Marvel Studios' 'Loki'|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/disney-plus-star-wars-the-bad-batch-marvel-studios-loki-premiere-dates-1234699862/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224182555/https://deadline.com/2021/02/disney-plus-star-wars-the-bad-batch-marvel-studios-loki-premiere-dates-1234699862/|archive-date=February 24, 2021|access-date=February 24, 2021|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Earl |first=William |date=May 3, 2021 |title=
== Additional dates ==
=== Revenge of the Fifth/Sixth ===
{{anchor|Revenge of the Fifth|Revenge of the Sixth|Revenge of the 5th|Revenge of the 6th|May 5|May 6th|May Fifth|May Sixth|May Sith|Revenge of the Sith}}
Some recognize the day after, May 5, as "'''Revenge of the Fifth'''", a play on ''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith]]'' and celebrate the [[Sith Lord]]s and other villainous [[List of Star Wars characters|characters from the ''Star Wars'' series]] rather than the [[Jedi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1819357/a-brief-history-of-star-wars-celebration-may-the-fourth/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506224943/http://www.mtv.com/news/1819357/a-brief-history-of-star-wars-celebration-may-the-fourth/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 6, 2014|author=Alex Zalben|date=May 4, 2017|title=A Brief History of 'Star Wars' Celebration May The Fourth|work=[[MTV|MTV News]]}}</ref> Others celebrate this one day later, on May 6, citing "'''Revenge of the Sixth'''" as a better pun on "[[Sith]]", while others refer to the 6th as "Return of the 6th" as a play on ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' and the [[Star Wars original trilogy|trilogy aspect]] of the [[List of Star Wars films|''Star Wars'' films]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heavy.com/entertainment/2017/05/revenge-of-the-sixth-6th-2017-funny-memes-star-wars-may-sith/|title=Revenge of the Sixth 2017: See the Best Funny Sith Memes|first=Daniel S.|last=Levine|date=May 6, 2017|access-date=May 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/04/28/brainiac-wants-to-get-nerdy-with-you-for-star-wars-and-free-comic-books/|title=Brainiac wants to get nerdy with you for 'Star Wars' and free comic books|work=Orange County Register| date=April 28, 2017 |access-date=May 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/03/02/jon-ossoff-backers-embrace-star-wars-attack-ad/|title='A New Hope.' Jon Ossoff backers embrace 'Star Wars' attack ad|work=Political Insider blog|access-date=May 6, 2017|archive-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015202146/http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/03/02/jon-ossoff-backers-embrace-star-wars-attack-ad/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== May 25 ===
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== See also ==
* [[Cinco de Mayo]], a celebration held on May 5
* [[Star Trek Day]], held on September 8th, marking the premiere of the [[Star Trek: The Original Series|original Star Trek]] television series
* [[Free Comic Book Day]], which occasionally falls on May 4
*[[Geek Pride Day]], held on May 25, the release date of the first ''Star Wars'' movie
== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em
<ref name="NYTimes2024">{{cite news |last=Deb |first=Sopan |date=May 3, 2024 |title=How Rebel 'Star Wars' Fans Saved the Original Movies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/03/arts/star-wars-films-george-lucas.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503190135/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/03/arts/star-wars-films-george-lucas.html |archive-date=May 3, 2024 |url-status=live |quote=George Lucas wants them to fade into oblivion. But some fans spent more than a decade digitally restoring the original 'Star Wars' trilogy, preserving the movies as they were shown in theaters.}}</ref>
}}
== Further reading ==
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