May The 4th Be With You: How To Celebrate ‘Star Wars’ Day Online And Around The World
May the fourth has become the unofficial holiday of Star Wars around the world, with everyone proclaiming “May the fourth be with you!” The legend behind the Star Wars themed sentiment, and the one recognized by Lucasfilm, says the phrase was first used in 1979 when Margaret Thatcher was sworn in as Prime Minister, by the Conservative party who placed an ad in the London Evening News. The ad reportedly read “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations.”
With the advent of social media, May the fourth as Star Wars Day has taken on a mind of its own, with #MayThe4thBeWithYou being the top trend on Twitter every year.
Even NASA gets in on the May the fourth fun.
Tatooine? No, it's Kepler-16b, a world with a double sunset. http://t.co/iV91VQnhe1 #MayThe4thBeWithYou @NASAKepler pic.twitter.com/iEBB111veq
— NASA (@NASA) May 4, 2015
Meet Saturn's "Death Star" moon Mimas. http://t.co/IHQ8LjvDzK #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/OCxbw7wsuq
— Cassini (@CassiniSaturn) May 4, 2015
But what can you do to celebrate May the Fourth, aside from updating your Facebook status to a picture of Ben Kenobi, and saying “May the 4th be with you”?
If you happen to live in or around the Toronto, Ontario area, you can head on over to live music venue The Smiling Buddha where they will be serving “May the Fourth Be With You” themed drink specials, as well as have live performances by Nerd Girl Burlesque, among others. Check out their Facebook page for more info.
“Cosplay as your favorite characters while being surrounded by other fans in the most wretched hive of scum and villainy.”
In Atlanta, the Battle and Brew bar is hosting a Star Wars screening on the fourth and themed drinks to go along with it. For cosplayers in Chicago, Geek Bar Beta is holding a “May the Fourth Be With You” themed costume contest. Brits can celebrate all weekend long at the UK’s Legoland in Windsor, where you’ll be able to visit a galaxy far, far away as you take a trip through the Star Wars mini-land display.
Disney stores across North America will also be celebrating May the Fourth with events such as A New Hope Story Time — where kids will get a Star Wars bookmark; Ways of the Force — where you can learn all about the Force, and fly a virtual X-Wing; and Learn To Draw R2-D2 — you’ll get to keep your drawing, too! They’ll also be offering 30 percent off all Star Wars related items, and you’ll get a free pin as a gift.
There are hundreds of May the Fourth events planned around the world, so be sure to check them out where you live.
If, however, you prefer to travel the galaxies virtually, and celebrate from the comfort of your own home, the internet has you covered too.
On Amazon, you can pre-order the new game SW Battlefront, which will be released in November. You can also get up to 50 percent off all Star Wars themed merchandise, and 70 percent off SW: Knights of the Republic. GameStop Power Up Rewards members can use their rewards points to enter into their annual May the 4th Be With You sweepstakes for a chance to win a Darth Vader wearable costume.
And while you’re chilling on your couch in your Yoda underoos munching on your Admiral Ackbar cupcakes (“It’s a SNACK!”), you can watch the entire Star Wars saga, which is now available for digital download on iTunes, Xbox, Google Play, VUDU, the Playstation Store, and Amazon.
How will you be celebrating today?
May the Fourth Be With You, young padawans.
Image Credit: Jeff Bertrand]
