Woz U

Categories: Woz U

May the Fourth Be with You

Toned Portrait of Darth Vader mask and helmet

May the fourth be with you?

As the world continues to deal with the fallout of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Star Wars universe continues to gain popularity for its futuristic optimism and fun details. And, that adorable baby Yoda of course!

Even if you haven’t seen any Star Wars films or shows, it’s time to join (or throw) a “may the 4th be with you” party.

You’ll love the new things you can learn about the franchise and the wholesome traditions that come with loving it.

Plus, you don’t have to take your mind off online learning and career advancement to have some fun. Let’s take a second to relax from everything and look a little closer at the meaning and origins of May 4 Star Wars.

What Does May 4 Mean to Star Wars?

“Goodbye, old friend. May the Force be with you,” said Obi-Wan Kenobi to Anakin Skywalker (aka Luke Skywalker’s father aka Darth Vader) in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

May 4 is the unofficial Star Wars Day. Why was May the 4th chosen? It mimics the phrase “May the force be with you”, which is the calling card of the famous George Lucas’ movie franchise.

Further, “May the Force be with you” was a phrase Star Wars film characters used to wish someone good luck.

The speaker expressed the hope for the Force to help another person achieve set goals. Moreover, the phrase was often used as a form of “goodbye” when acquaintances parted ways.

Star Wars universe dwellers also used it to wish each other luck before embarking on a challenging journey or taking on a tough task.

How did “May the Force be with you” turn into “May the Fourth with you”? Let’s find out.

Who Invented May the Fourth Be With You?

Who started May the 4th be with you trend? It goes way back to the 1970s when only two Star Wars movies were available to the public.

Episodes IV and V were so extremely popular that they managed to upstage all the other 1977 – 1979 movies in the heads of Margaret Thatcher’s supporters.

Sound confusing? What does Thatcher have to do with Star Wars?

On May 4, 1979, Margaret Thatcher became the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

The Tories (British Political Party) paid for a newspaper ad that read “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.”

British politicians had conflicting feelings about the phrase throughout the years:

On May 4th, 1994, Harry Cohen said that May 4 was a bad date to discuss the defense budget since it could be called “National Star Wars Day”.
In 2012, Boris Johnson (who was the mayor of London at the time) used the “May the force” phrase to close his re-election acceptance speech.

Politics aside, let’s find out how May 4 became an unofficial holiday.

How Did May 4th Become a Holiday?

A lot of time passed since Margaret Thatcher was elected prime minister when May 4 became a holiday for Star Wars fans all over the globe.

No, the Sith lords had nothing to do with it. Indeed, it was simple marketing.

In 2011, several Toronto comedians arranged a full-blown Star Wars event in the now-closed Toronto Underground Cinema.
In 2012, Disney purchased Lucasfilm and decided to make a few extra bucks (ok, a few billion extra bucks) off the popular franchise.
On May 4, 2013, Disney arranged Star Wars-themed activities in its theme parks.

What does May 4th mean now? It’s a fan-made date that Disney turned into a sponsored holiday.

In fact, every year, on May 4, Lucasfilm and Disney create social media hashtags like #MaytheFourth and #StarWarsDay to attract fans to festivities and arrange charity drives.

How to Celebrate May 4th

Now that you know which famous Star Wars catchphrase is celebrated on 4th May, it’s time to find out how to celebrate the day itself. Here are a few ideas for what to do on May the 4th.

Wish “Happy Star Wars Day” to anyone who has ever watched the movies.
Put your favorite episode on the list of “to watch” movies in May.
Review your favorite Star Wars “May the Force be with You” moments.
Wear the side buns hairstyle (or a wig) just like princess Leia to work.
Try talking like Yoda for a couple of hours. It’s fun!
Drink a Han Solo cocktail (if you are over 21, of course).
Explore Star Wars LEGO collection
Take advantage of Star War Day discounts when shopping for memorabilia.
Listen to your favorite music from the Star Wars saga.
Read a Star Wars novel. At least one full page.
Explain to someone what “May the Fourth be with you” means.
Find out what “May the 5th be with you” is all about (you’ll be surprised!)
Learn about the revenge of the sixth (spoiler: wordplay on Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith)
Lastly, ask a non-fan “What is may the 4th be with you” and get a few laughs.

Depending on how big of a fan you are, you can choose a variety of other activities from cosplay to movie binging. So, take this opportunity to beef up your knowledge about the Star Wars universe.

May the Fourth Be With You

Why do they say “May the 4th be with you”? Now you know.

May 4 is an unofficial holiday that started as a pun made after the Prime Minister election of 1979 and went on to become Star Wars Day for millions of Saga fans all over the world.

Even if you aren’t a big Star Wars follower, you can take the opportunity to discover this popular franchise and learn hundreds of interesting details.

If you are stuck at home without anything to do, and online learning is getting to you, take a break.

Did you know that typical Star Wars fans are aged 18-44 and work in the IT industry?

Even if you don’t fit the description, you can take full advantage of one of the highest-grossing movies in history.

It’s easy to get lost in the huge variety of online learning courses. Thus, WOZ-powered programs are designed to make learning simpler and career advancement smoother. Then, try one today, and may the force be with you!

Sources