May the Fourth be with you! Today is a very festive day for Star Wars fans. Here is your guide to making the most of it… or just making sense of it, if you’re baffled by the sudden surge of interest in a galaxy far, far away.
Why May the Fourth?
In case you haven’t figured it out, May the 4th sounds a lot like “May the Force…” as in the famous greeting “May the Force be with you” from 1977’s Star Wars (later re-styled Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope). According to an article published this morning in USA Today, folks have been seizing the opportunity for making Star Wars references on this date since the late 1970s, and fans have honored the day as one to celebrate their favorite films ever since. Many sellers of Star Wars products, officially licensed and fan-inspired, offer deals, and Star Wars usually releases some new content or makes big (or small) announcements on this happy occasion. This year, Disney+ has released Season Two of the Star Wars series Visions, which features animated shorts of fanciful (though not necessarily canonical) stories set in the Star Wars galaxy from animation studios around the globe.
The greeting and how to respond
“May the Force be with you” is the greeting of the Jedi Order and of anyone who puts store by the power of human connection and shared, transcendent energy to overcome evil. Although I may greet you with “May the Fourth be with you” today, I’m sharing the same sentiment. George Lucas intentionally devised the greeting to sound vaguely liturgical, so if someone says this to you today, you may return their greeting in liturgical style with “And also with you,” or even “And with your spirit.” (Though, either of these responses may out you as Churchy.) You may also simply wish them a happy Star Wars day.
How to celebrate
There is no wrong way to celebrate May the Fourth. Watch your favorite Star Wars comfort film or catch up on Star Wars content you’ve been wanting to see (I highly recommend the 2022 first season of Andor, especially if you loved the 2016 film Rogue One, and who didn’t?) Wear a Star Wars t-shirt (or earrings or handbag or shoes or… there are all the Star Wars things now, including luxury items—just search and click). Listen to Star Wars soundtracks or—a new favorite of mine—sample the lo-fi playlist on Star Wars’ YouTube channel (very chill, Star Wars-inspired beats that make the perfect sonic backdrop to any activity, especially sewing Star Wars costumes, IMO). Call a friend who loves Star Wars and chat about Season Three of The Mandalorian (there’s a lot to talk about there). Laud Star Wars. Complain about Star Wars. It doesn’t matter—just enjoy the day however you enjoy your Star Wars.
If, like me, you want to spend at least part of the day celebrating with others in a festive setting, many libraries have started celebrating May the Fourth as a way of attracting new guests and fostering an atmosphere of fun and learning. Star Wars has produced hundreds of books and comics for all ages over many decades, so Star Wars and libraries go together naturally. Star Wars costuming societies such as the Rebel Legion and the 501st Legion are very busy on this day, which means there are local opportunities to attend events with these folks, who make and wear screen-accurate Star Wars costuming as a way of promoting charitable works and building community. The Columbus Metropolitan Library system here in Ohio will host a big bash for May the Fourth tonight from 6-8pm at the Main library, downtown (for more info, click here). The event will feature Star Wars activities, food trucks and a great showing from our costume groups; all are welcome to come and take photos with Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, the Jedi and many other icons of the franchise.
And I’ll be celebrating all weekend in a new way this year by attending a scholarly conference focused on Star Wars called Realizing Resistance, Episode III, put on by the Digital Cultural Studies Cooperative. I’ll present a paper Friday morning (5/5/23) at 10:30am ET titled “One Way Out: the enduring influence of Arthur Lipsett’s 21-87 on Star Wars”. Don’t know who Arthur Lipsett is? I’ll tell you why you should, if you like Star Wars. Registration is open through 9pm ET tonight for this affordable 2-day virtual event.
It doesn’t stop
Star Wars fans, being a bit extra, take the May-date jokes further, declaring May 5th “Revenge of the Fifth” (after Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith), “Return of the Sixth” (I’m not even sure I get that one), etc. Don’t panic if they won’t stop. Just play along. These people are excited about their galaxy; just relax into it, it’s only a month. In fact, with the popularity of Disney+’s flagship streaming show The Mandalorian, all of May has now been claimed for Star Wars fans, because…
How do you plan to celebrate Star Wars Day, 2023? Leave a comment below. And May the Fourth be with you!