Star Wars Day is on Tuesday, May 4, 2027, and it falls on May 4 every year. The date comes from a pun on the films’ famous line, “May the Force be with you.” Fans say “May the Fourth be with you” instead.
When Is Star Wars Day?
It’s always May 4. It’s a fan holiday, not an official one, but it’s now widely promoted by the franchise and retailers.
How Did Star Wars Day Start?
The pun is older than the holiday. The earliest known use came on May 4, 1979, the day Margaret Thatcher’s party won the British election. Her party bought newspaper space reading “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations,” StarWars.com notes.
The phrase then spread among fans online. By 2008, some fans were already trading it as an in-joke in Facebook groups.
On May 4, 2011, Sean Ward and Alice Quinn organized what’s considered the first big Star Wars Day event, at the Toronto Underground Cinema. It had a costume contest, trivia and fan films on the big screen.
“It wasn’t official so much as it was the first organized event,” Ward told Inverse. After Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, the date became a fixture of the company’s marketing calendar.
Today, Lucasfilm and Disney promote the day on social media with #MaytheFourth and #StarWarsDay. They have also used it for charity drives through Star Wars: Force for Change.
Why Fans Love the Day
To celebrate a story that has spanned generations of fans since 1977. The day brings families and friends together over movies, costumes and shared quotes. For many families, it’s a chance for parents to pass a favorite story on to their kids.
It started with fans, not a studio, which is part of its charm. StarWars.com describes it as a grassroots tradition that grew once the internet connected fans worldwide. Fan events still anchor it: Ward judged a Toronto costume contest again in 2018.
How to Celebrate Star Wars Day
- Host a movie marathon: watch in release order or story order, and debate which is better.
- Dress up: wear a costume or homemade robes to work or school, if allowed.
- Bake themed treats: make planet-shaped cookies or “lightsaber” pretzel rods dipped in colored candy melts.
- Build something: make a spaceship from cardboard boxes or building bricks with kids.
- Make a fan film: shoot a short scene on your phone, just as the early fan films did.
- Host a trivia night: test friends on quotes, planets and characters.
- Look for deals: retailers and streaming services often run May 4 promotions.
- Join a local event: libraries, comic shops and museums often host costume days.
- Give back: look for charity drives linked to the day, or donate to a children’s hospital.
- Share the greeting: post “May the Fourth be with you” with #MaytheFourth to join fans worldwide.
- Introduce a new fan: watch the original 1977 film with a child or friend who has never seen it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “Revenge of the Fifth”?
A fan follow-up on May 5, punning on Revenge of the Sith. Some fans use it to celebrate the saga’s villains.
Is May the Fourth an official holiday?
No. It’s a fan-made celebration that the franchise now embraces. Businesses and schools stay open.
When did the first Star Wars movie come out?
It premiered in U.S. theaters on May 25, 1977. It was later retitled Episode IV ā A New Hope.