What are you planning to celebrate this years Star Wars Day?
Why is May the 4th Called Star Wars Day? Say “May the 4th Be With You” out loud and you’ll hear the pun that Star Wars fans worldwide have turned into a rallying cry to proclaim their love of the saga. It’s the worldwide day to say “May the Force be with you” to all, and celebrate the beloved Star Wars story that binds our galaxy together.
This year even NASA have got into the spirit and released a special Star Wars Day video.
One of the earliest known records of “May the 4th” used in popular culture is in 1979, as described here by author Alan Arnold while he was chronicling the making of The Empire Strikes Back for Lucasfilm:
Friday, May 4th : Margaret Thatcher has won the election and become Britain’s first woman prime minister. To celebrate their victory her party took a half page of advertising space in the London Evening News. This message, referring to the day of victory, was “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations,” further proof of the extent to which Star Wars has influenced us all.
Once the Internet allowed Star Wars fans around the world to connect with one another, May the 4th soon became a grassroots tradition each year, with fans online and offline proclaiming it “Star Wars Day.”
While the idea of May the 4th did not start with Lucasfilm, the film company that created Star Wars has fully embraced the spirit of fandom that makes the day so special. The official blog at StarWars.com as well as the official Star Wars social media channels on Twitter (@starwars #StarWarsDay) and Facebook (facebook.com/starwars) help spread the word and showcase fan activity. More and more official partners have offered sales, giveaways and exclusives, and have hosted parties and other activities to mark the day.
May the 4th kicks off a season of celebration, particularly since the month of May has always been important to Star Wars fans. The six live-action movies of the Star Wars saga debuted in May (starting with the original Star Wars on May 25th, 1977) and this year, principal photography on Star Wars: Episode VII will commence in May.
The month also includes George Lucas’s birthday (May 14, 1944), and this month for the first time ever, the Disney Store in Ireland will offer fans of all ages a range of Star Wars products including much coveted action figures. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase exclusive 15 inch talking figurines (Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo or Stormtroopers) on sale for €30 at select stores and online.
From 2nd- 4th May, Disney Store guests of all ages can take part in the free Disney Store activity called ‘Ways of the Force’. This experience will provide children with the opportunity to learn some of the skills of the Jedi including how to use a lightsaber. On Saturday 3rd May, Star Wars Stormtroopers will be making appearances throughout the day at Disney Store on Grafton Street, Dublin between the hours of 9:00am and 6:00pm to meet and greet fans.
Meanwhile, preperations are well underway for next year’s Episode VII, Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson was confirmed as an actor in the new franchise. He joins newly confirmed cast members including John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis and Max von Sydow. They join original cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker. The film will hit Irish cinemas in December 2015.