How May the 4th became Star Wars day

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1979 marked the day Margaret Thatcher assumed the role of British prime minister following her triumph in that year’s General Election, leading the country for an impressive 13 years. Although she faced intense criticism from the leftist faction, it seems May 4th never became a national holiday honoring her. However, this day gained a unique significance within Star Wars fan circles due to a humorous play on words and the widespread sharing of amusing memes on social media. The precise origins of “May the 4th” as Star Wars Day are not definitively known.

Over time, without any signs of slowing down, various businesses started participating by creating their own advertisements and references to the date. Notable examples include campaigns by Jameson whiskey and Nissan. In 2012, when Disney acquired the rights to the franchise from Lucasfilm, they swiftly recognized its promotional potential and began hosting events and even branded merchandise with the phrase, ‘May the 4th be with you’. Since then, Disney has celebrated this day by launching new Star Wars-themed products, such as lightsaber sets and jewelry.

In a tribute to the original movie, there’s a tiny town in Pennsylvania named New Hope where nearly 300 residents don costumes reminiscent of the film’s characters on May 4th.

For certain enthusiasts, the authentic Star Wars Day will forever be celebrated on May 25th, marking the initial film’s premiere. In fact, the Los Angeles City Council officially recognized this date as Star Wars Day in 2007, while the California Legislature later decided to designate May 4th as Star Wars Day in 2019.

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2025-05-06 02:23