Star Wars Day: History and How to Celebrate

Photo: CBR

May the 4th is an important day for many Star Wars fans. Whilst the day is usually commemorated with fan-led festivals, cosplaying and meet and greets, the pandemic has left some fans clueless as to how they can celebrate.

Yes, it's almost time to celebrate that galaxy far, far away with the "holiday" that is derived from a pun on the phrase "May the force be with you" and was started by fans. It's now been embraced by Lucasfilm and its owner Disney, so there will be celebrations both official and unofficial in honor of Star Wars — and it's a big chance to find deals (which we're tracking below).

Disney began observing Star Wars Day at its theme parks in 2013, but with quarantine and social distancing policies in effect, those events won't be taking place this year. Instead, Star Wars Day will be celebrated remotely, which is a lot easier now with Disney Plus, said Tom's Guide.

Some fans also observe the following day, May 5, as Revenge of the Fifth (a play on the title of the movie Revenge of the Sith). Others recognize it on May 6, Revenge of the Sixth, instead. Either day celebrates the Sith lords and villains of the Star Wars franchise, as opposed to the Jedi.

So what celebrations are taking place for Star Wars Day 2021? Check out all the things you can see and do. May the 4th be with you!

History of May the Fourth and Star Wars Day

When Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi first told a young Luke Skywalker "May the force be with you," little did anyone suspect that, more than 40 years later, that famous film line would have morphed into "May the fourth be with you," the worldwide motto of what's become known as Star Wars Day.

The first known instance of anyone making the force/fourth pun came in 1979 — on May 4, obviously — when Margaret Thatcher became the UK's first female prime minister.

To celebrate the victory, Thatcher's party backers took out a newspaper ad with the tongue-in-cheek text, "May The Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations."

And while Star Wars fans have long since made this pun on May 4, the idea of the date actually becoming a holiday wouldn't solidify until 2011.

Star Wars fanatics Sean Ward and Alice Quinn were the first to officially observe Star Wars Day by hosting a festival centered on the intergalactic franchise at Canada's Toronto Underground Cinema in 2011 and then again in 2012.

The event consisted of trivia about the original trilogy of Star Wars films, costume contests with celebrity judges, and viewings of the best fan-made videos in a movie theater setting.

Disney, which acquired Lucasfilm — and thus, Star Wars — in late 2012, subsequently adopted the holiday. Since May 2013, Disney has observed Star Wars Day every May 4 by hosting events themed around the franchise at both Disneyland and Disney World.

May the Fourth's importance has only grown since then and is now firmly established as a time for celebration among fans, often featuring new announcements the franchise, cited by Newsweek.

5 Ways to Celebrate Star Wars Day

1. Organize a watch party with friends near and far, far away thanks to Disney+.

Photo: Star Wars

Thanks to GroupWatch, even if you can’t be together this Star Wars Day, you can watch together with friends and family. We’ll be streaming the premiere of Star Wars: The Bad Batch when it drops that day for sure, but between the recently added Star Wars Vintage Collection, other Star Wars animated series, and the full line-up of Star Wars films to choose from, you can keep your watch party going all day long, according to Star Wars.

Bantha Blue Butter Sandwich Cookies

2. Make the perfect themed snacks for the occasion.

Photo: Star Wars

We’ve never passed on the popcorn and traditional movie snacks, but May the 4th calls for an extra-special menu. For a full day, serve up Yoda pancakes for breakfast, a Princess Leia rice bowl for lunch, and Bantha Blue Butter sandwich cookies for dessert. Or choose your favorite healthy snack, like fruit TIE fighters, for a simple treat that your Padawans can help you prepare.

3. Get creative with a Star Wars craft.

Photo: Star Wars

Speaking of youngsters, Star Wars Kids is a great resource for introducing the newest fans to the characters, creatures, and themes from the Star Wars saga, but it also has step-by-step tutorials for kid-friendly crafts and drawings. To get into the spirit, StarWars.com also has simple crafts for kids of all ages, like a bracer set straight out of Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge, a clever DIY with Endor-inspired wooden coasters, and a simple papercraft to ensure Lando Calrissian’s faithful friend Lobot will hold your place.

4. Expand your understanding of the galaxy with a Star Wars book or comic.

Photo: Star Wars

With Star Wars: The High Republic, a new series of books and comics has opened up an all-new era of Star Wars storytelling not explored in the Skywalker saga films — a time when the Jedi Order was at its height. But there’s a wealth of knowledge in behind-the-scenes tomes like The Star Wars Archives, explorations of brand-new characters like Sana Starros and Doctor Aphra, and other books that enrich our understanding of our favorite characters from every era of the saga.

5. Make your own Star Wars story.

Star Wars has inspired generations of fans. Whether you break out your action figures, spend some time on your screen-accurate cosplay, or simply spend some time reflecting on what Star Wars means to you, Star Wars Day is about celebrating the people who love the saga: You.