National Star Wars Day
May the Fourth be with you. The pun that became a global holiday, Star Wars Day on May 4 is the rare fan-invented celebration that somehow became a Disney-ratified event with international parades, limited-edition merch, and one legitimate excuse to dress as a Jedi at the office.
Why it matters
MAY THE FOURTH!
It’s Star Wars Day — the one calendar pun that broke containment. Every May 4, the galaxy far, far away gets a little closer. Grab the lightsaber. Queue up the crawl. Cue the John Williams.
The Story
Star Wars Day began as a political pun in a 1979 British newspaper ad and grew into the rare fan-invented holiday that now has Disney’s corporate stamp.
The pun came first. On May 4, 1979, Margaret Thatcher was elected the UK’s first female Prime Minister. The Conservative Party bought an ad in The London Evening News that read: “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations.” George Lucas had released Star Wars two years earlier. The pun was pure coincidence, delivered deadpan, and somehow it stuck around.
For the next 30 years, fans referenced “May the Fourth” in fanzines, convention schedules, and (eventually) early internet message boards. It was insider humor, known to fans, ignored by the mainstream. The first official “Star Wars Day” event was held on May 4, 2011, at the Toronto Underground Cinema — a trivia night, costume contest, and triple-feature screening. 200 people showed up.
Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4 billion. The new owner looked at May 4 and saw gold. Beginning in 2013, Disney parks, Disney+, and Lucasfilm all officially celebrated the day with merchandise drops, special programming, character appearances, and exclusive releases. The holiday went from fan joke to corporate event in about 36 months.
Today, Star Wars Day is a global thing. Cities run parades. Schools have lightsaber training. Restaurants do themed specials. Disney+ drops new episodes, trailers, and sometimes new shows. And fans — the people who started it — still celebrate the same way they always did: by watching the movies, arguing about the prequels, and saying “May the Force be with you” and meaning it.
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
Watch Order Strategy
Four valid orders. Pick yours:
Release Order
IV-V-VI, I-II-III, VII-VIII-IX, plus side stories. How the world saw them. Classic trilogy hits hardest with unexpected reveals intact.
Chronological
I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII-VIII-IX. Chronologically satisfying but spoils the Vader reveal. Best for returning fans sharing with newcomers.
Machete Order
IV-V-II-III-VI-VII-VIII-IX. Skip Episode I. The Empire cliffhanger leads naturally into the prequels as flashback, then Return as payoff. Popular with purists.
Spin-Offs First
The Mandalorian → Andor → Rogue One → original trilogy. Modern shows are some of the best Star Wars made; often a better entry for new viewers.
Essential Star Wars
Six must-watches, from the foundational to the unexpectedly great:
Did You Know?!
George Lucas was almost fired from Star Wars.
After the first week of shooting on A New Hope, Fox executives saw the dailies and considered firing Lucas. The movie then went on to gross $775 million.
“I am your father” was the most-guarded secret in Hollywood.
Only four people knew the Empire Strikes Back twist during filming: Lucas, the director, Mark Hamill, and James Earl Jones. The actor playing Vader on set said “Obi-Wan killed your father” — the dub happened later.
The Millennium Falcon was designed around a hamburger.
Ralph McQuarrie’s original design was inspired by a half-eaten cheeseburger on his desk. The round cockpit sticking out is the olive.
Wookiee screams are bear vocalizations.
Chewbacca’s voice was created by sound designer Ben Burtt, who recorded bears, walruses, lions, and badgers and mixed them. Specifically: a bear named Pooh at Happy Hollow Park.
Read & Watch
Heir to the Empire
Timothy Zahn · 1991
The greatest Star Wars novel ever written. Takes place after Return of the Jedi; introduces Grand Admiral Thrawn. Launched the modern Expanded Universe.
The Making of Star Wars
J.W. Rinzler · 2007
Exhaustive, gorgeously illustrated history of how A New Hope was actually made. Every fan should own this.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Joseph Campbell · 1949
Not a Star Wars book — but the book George Lucas said he was intentionally adapting. Read it to see what Star Wars is actually about.
Pair It With
John Williams’s original 1977 score at full volume. Possibly the greatest film score ever composed.
Start with Empire if you only have 2 hours. It’s complete on its own.
Blue-milk cookies, Wookiee cookies, or TIE-fighter-shaped shortbread. Disney has recipes on its website.
A pool-noodle lightsaber. $5. Lasts for one glorious afternoon.
May The Force Be With You!
Tag us @celebrationnation with #MayThe4thBeWithYou. Best costume, cleverest caption, coolest Wookiee portrait.
How to celebrate
The Force is with you. Choose your mission:
- 🎬 Watch one Star Wars movie. Pick your entry point — Episode IV (original), The Mandalorian (new), Empire (best), Rogue One (underrated).
- ⚔️ Dress up. Full cosplay, a shirt, a pin. Visible nerdiness is the whole mood.
- 🥘 Bake blue milk cookies or make green-milk lattes. Disney parks do both; your kitchen can too.
- 📚 Read a Star Wars novel. Heir to the Empire (Timothy Zahn, 1991) is the gold standard.
- 🎮 Play a Star Wars game. Fallen Order, Knights of the Old Republic, LEGO Star Wars. Depending on your vibe.
Celebration ideas by audience
For families
Star Wars marathon: original trilogy, one per night this weekend. No prequels until next year.
For kids
The LEGO Star Wars films and shows are a perfect kid entry point. Lightsaber pool noodles are $10 and will occupy an entire afternoon.
For couples
Original trilogy on a Saturday. Popcorn, blankets, pause for snack breaks. You're 12 again.
At the office
Cantina theme in the break room. A "May the 4th" cookie tray. A trivia contest. Low lift, big return on morale.
At school
Media studies angle — how Star Wars borrowed from Kurosawa, Joseph Campbell, and Flash Gordon. Great way to teach story structure.
In your community
Local library or community center often does Star Wars Day activities — trivia, costume contests, free screenings. Usually free.
On your own
Rewatch The Empire Strikes Back tonight. Just that one. It holds up. All of it.
More to celebrate
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