May 4 is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years). There are 241 days remaining. It is often known as "Star Wars Day," and the accompanying phrase "May the Fourth be with you" is a reference to the Star Wars phrase "May the Force be with you."
The phrase dates back to at least 1979, on the day Margaret Thatcher was elected the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Her party took out a newspaper ad in the London Evening News that said "May the Fourth be with you, Maggie. Congratulations."[1]
On May 2nd, 2019, the state of California's legislature voted and officially declared May 4th as "Star Wars Day" in recognition of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opening later in the month of May.[2]
Part of the 2021 edition included the commissioning of fan art from fifteen artists for a Disney+ "takeover": Talisa Almonte, Kwasi Amankwah, Salvador Anguiano, Salena Barnes, Cryssy Cheung, Chris Christodoulou, Doaly, Lekelefac Fonge, AJ Frena, Erin Gallagher, Eddie Holly, Monica M. Magaña, Dorthea Taylor, Cole Thompson, and Zi Xu.[3]
- 1939 – Paul Gleason is born.
- 1981 – Star Wars: "The Luke Skywalker Initiative" aired on National Public Radio.
- 1985 – Return of the Jedi Weekly 98 published.
- 1998 – I, Jedi published.
- 2002 – "A Jedi's Weapon" published as part of Free Comic Book Day.
- 2013 – Star Wars: The Assassination of Darth Vader published as part of Free Comic Book Day.
- 2014 – The first full-length trailer for Star Wars Rebels is released.
- 2016 – Poe Dameron 2 published.
- 2016 – "Attack of the Conscience" airs on Disney XD.
- 2017 – Adventures in Wild Space: The Rescue published.
- 2017 – Star Wars: A New Hope published.
- 2017 – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back published.
- 2017 – Star Wars: Return of the Jedi published.
- 2017 – Star Wars: The Doodles Strike Back published.
- 2017 – Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Graphics published.
- 2017 – Star Wars: The Force Awakens: A Junior Novel published in a new format in the U.K.
- 2017 – James Cranna dies.
- 2018 – "Chopper and Friends" airs on YouTube.
- 2018 – "Monster Misunderstanding" airs on YouTube.
- 2018 – "Art History" airs on YouTube.
- 2018 – "Porgs!" airs on YouTube.
- 2018 – "Perilous Pursuit" airs on YouTube.
- 2018 – "Traps and Tribulations" airs on YouTube.
- 2018 – "A Disarming Lesson" airs on YouTube.
- 2019 – Star Wars Adventures Free Comic Book Day 2019 released.
- 2020 – Star Wars: The Clone Wars series finale "Victory and Death" airs on Disney+.
- 2020 – Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian premieres on Disney+ with "Directing."
- 2020 – Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker premieres on Disney+.
- 2020 – Star Wars Resistance Season One premieres on Disney+ in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- 2020 – Star Wars Resistance Season Two premieres on Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand.
- 2020 – LEGO Star Wars: All-Stars premieres on Disney+ in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- 2020 – Doctor Aphra (2020) 1 published digitally.
- 2020 – The soundtrack for the last four episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars season seven released.
- 2021 – Star Wars: The Bad Batch premieres on Disney+ with "Aftermath."
- 2021 – Star Wars Biomes premieres on Disney+.
- 2021 – Star Wars Vehicle Flythroughs premieres on Disney+.
- 2021 – Maggie Simpson in "The Force Awakens From Its Nap" premieres on Disney+.
- 2021 – The Mandalorian: Magnetic Fun published.
- 2021 – Star Wars: The Mandalorian: Volume 1 published.
- 2021 – Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – The Official Collector's Edition published.
- 2021 – Star Wars: Galactic Baking published.
- 2021 – Star Wars Insider: The Fiction Collection Volume 1 published.
- 2022 – Obi-Wan 1 published.
- 2022 – Star Wars (2020) 23 published.
- 2022 – Behind the Mac: Skywalker Sound airs on YouTube.
- 2022 – Disney Gallery: The Book of Boba Fett premieres on Disney+.
- 2023 – Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 premieres on Disney+.
- 2023 – Episodes 1 - 7 of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures premieres on Disney+.
- 2023 – "The Young Jedi / Yoda's Mission" and "Nash's Race Day / The Lost Jedi Ship" of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures premieres on Disney Junior.
- 2024 – Star Wars: Tales of the Empire aired on Disney+.
- 2024 – Free Comic Book Day 2024: Star Wars 1 published.
- 2024 – Free Comic Book Day 2024: All Ages published.
Sources
- The History of May the 4th on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- May the 4th Be With You SALE! on the Disney Games YouTube channel (backup link)
- May the 4th be with you! Up to 77% off STAR WARS games! on the Disney Games YouTube channel (backup link)
- Watch the LEGO Fortnite | Star Wars Trailer on StarWars.com (backup link)
- May the 4th – Sale on Star Wars Apps & Games on the Disney Games YouTube channel (backup link)
- May the 4th - Sale on Star Wars Console & PC Games on the Disney Games YouTube channel (backup link)
- Celebrate May the 4th in #SWTOR on The Old Republic's official website (backup link)
- Celebrate May the 4th! on The Old Republic's official website (backup link)
- Happy Star Wars Day! on StarWars.com (backup link)
- UPDATED: The Bad Batch Lead the Charge in New Star Wars Day Merchandise on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Meet the Artists Behind Disney+'s Stunning Star Wars Day Art on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Celebrate May the 4th in The Old Republic on The Old Republic's official website (backup link)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 225
- Watch the LEGO Fortnite | Star Wars Trailer on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Star Wars Day 2024 Games and Experiences Deals! on StarWars.com (backup link)
- In Tales of the Empire, Diana Lee Inosanto Resurrects Morgan Elsbeth on StarWars.com (backup link)
- In Tales of the Empire, Meredith Salenger Reconnects with Barriss Offee on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Darkness Rises in The Acolyte Final Trailer and Key Art on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Happy Star Wars Day! on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Back
- ↑ California Makes It Official, Votes to Declare May 4 'Star Wars Day' on www.hollywoodreporter.com (archived from the original on May 6, 2020)
- ↑ Meet the Artists Behind Disney+'s Stunning Star Wars Day Art on StarWars.com (backup link)