#StarWarsDay: May the Fourth

Another May 4th as come and gone and nerds around the world pass on the greeting “May the Fourth be with you”, sounding like your three-year old sibling after they first watched Star Wars with you and your dad. But puns aside, how did we come to attribute this common date with Star Wars? A little history for you:

While originally associated with the taking of the Prime Minister’s office by Margaret Thatcher in 1979, in 2008, a Facebook group appeared and took to celebrating Luke Skywalker Day, using this catchphrase. While the group did not gain notoriety, the phrase quickly spread and was thus Star Wars Day was born! The first organized celebration of Star Wars Day took place back in 2011, right in Toronto, Ontario at the Toronto Underground Cinema. The holiday is now recognized by fans and organizations alike, such as Disney, baseball teams, and even the astronauts of the International Space Station have partaken in festivities!

Though the Los Angeles City Council declared May 25 as Star Wars Day, many view this day as either Geek Pride Day, due to its connections to the film The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Discworld by Terry Pratchett. Dates aside, any geek out there may pass you by on this day and know that today is truly a special day for all. So walk with your head held high, Jedi Knight. And don’t forget to join the dark side of the force tomorrow, for it is “Revenge of the Fifth”!