When is Star Wars Day? Here's why May 4th became the sci-fi franchise's unofficial holiday
For "Star Wars" fans, May 4 is a day of celebration. You'll likely hear someone say, 'May the 4th be with you,' a playful twist on one of the franchise's most iconic lines.
The saying comes from a line of dialogue in the 1977 film, "Star Wars," which gained the expanded title "Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope" as George Lucas' space opera saga expanded over the decades. In the film, before the rebel fighters begin their assault on the Death Star, General Dodonna encourages them with the command: "Then man your ships! And may the Force be with you!"
"May the Force be with you" is a saying that, excuse the pun, flows through the "Star Wars" movies, TV series, books and comics. It's a saying used by Jedi Knights such as Obi-Wan Kenobi referencing the Force, a form of energy connecting the galaxy, which some Force-sensitive individuals can tap into and enhance their abilities. Saying, "May the Force be with you," is akin to wishing someone "Good Luck."
In total, the phrase, "May the Force" has been said 24 times in the "Star Wars" live action films, according to Yahoo Entertainment.
The origins of the saying "May the 4th be with you" may be surprising.
While it was used in headlines for July 4 back to 1978, according to starwars.com, the first reported official use of the phrase came in May 1979, when Margaret Thatcher became the U.K.'s prime minister. To celebrate, the U.K. Conservative Party paid for a newspaper advertisement saying, 'May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations!' wrote Steve Sansweet on starwars.com.
Since then, the phrase has grown into a full-fledged fan celebration, with May 4 becoming the unofficial holiday of the "Star Wars" franchise.
Sometimes also known as Geek Pride Day, May 25 is known as "Star Wars Day" because it marks the release of the anniversary of the series' debut. "A New Hope" premiered in United States theaters on May 25, 1997.
In 2007, the Los Angeles City Council declared May 25 as Star Wars Day in honor of the 30th anniversary.
"DECLARE May 25, 2007 as Star Wars Day in the City of Los Angeles and also recognize George Lucas' 1977 film Star Wars for its tremendous impact on the citizenry of Los Angeles, the film industry and the world, and for continuing to inspire after thirty years millions of people to explore movies, fantasy, literature, and science as means of achieving their goals and dreams," the city council resolution stated.
May 21 is Talk Like Yoda Day, an annual celebration marking the release of "Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back" on May 21, 1980 — the film that introduced Yoda to the galaxy.
Fans honor the day by mimicking Yoda's unique speech style — rearranging sentence structure and using his iconic phrases like 'Yes' and 'Hmm.'
Here are some examples.
Regular English: "I really enjoy watching 'Star Wars' with my friends."
Yoda-speak: "Enjoy watching 'Star Wars' with my friends, I do."
Regular English: "Spring storms in Texas can be intense."
Yoda-speak: "Intense, spring storms in Texas can be."
Regular English: "Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929."
Yoda-speak: "Born on May 4, 1929, Audrey Hepburn was."
The easiest way to celebrate is to stream some of the movies, all 11 of which are available on Disney+ (Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012).
Also on the streaming service is season two of "Andor," a series that is set before the events of 2016 film "Rogue One," which leads up to "Star Wars: A New Hope." The first six episodes of the series are available; six more are scheduled.
Many restaurants, movie theaters, toy stores, and other businesses hold Star Wars Day events, too. Sports venues often have "Star Wars" celebrations around May 4. Check social media for #Maythe4th.
You can also shop the Disney Store's May the 4th Be With You 2025 Collection, which includes T-shirts, pins, hats, and more. There's also special "Star Wars" products on Lego.com and merchandise from Star Wars Celebration Japan on Amazon.com.
If you are also a fan of Fortnite, you can get a head start on the upcoming "Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld," a six-episode animated series. It hits Disney+ on May 4, but you can see the first two episodes May 2 inside the video game.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: May 4th or 25th: When is Star Wars Day? Here's why they're celebrated
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