Star Wars Day is an unofficial international holiday celebrated every year on 4 May by fans around the world. The date was chosen because “May the fourth” sounds like the famous Star Wars line, “May the Force be with you.” Fans use the day to celebrate the films, stories, games and other parts of the Star Wars world.
The celebration began informally among fans of the movie series. After the Walt Disney Company bought the rights to Star Wars in 2012, it supported the day with official events. Since then, Star Wars Day has grown into a time for themed events, special sales and activities linked to the popular science fiction franchise.
The first Star Wars film, later called Star Wars: A New Hope, was released on 25 May 1977. It became hugely popular across the world and was followed by many more films, including sequels, prequels and anthology films. The Star Wars universe has also expanded through books, comics, video games, television shows and theme park attractions.
One of the most famous ideas in Star Wars is the Force, a mysterious energy that gives some characters special powers. The story often shows a struggle between those who use the Force for good and those who turn to the Dark Side. The first recorded use of the “May the Fourth” pun was in Britain in 1979, in a newspaper advert congratulating Margaret Thatcher after she became Prime Minister.
