‘May the fourth be with you’: Star Wars lovers celebrate sacred fandom day
Star Wars Day is upon us once again – the puntastic date that allows fans of the iconic film series to dress up as their favorite characters and tweet: “May the fourth be with you.”
This year’s celebration coincides with the 40th anniversary of the original 1977 film ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ and also marks the first Star Wars Day since the death of actress Carrie Fisher, who played central character Princess Leia.
Remembering Carrie Fisher this star wars day. Raise your cups of blue milk to the Princess of Hoth.#MayTheFourthBeWithYou#StarWarsDaypic.twitter.com/wK2RCwXw61
— Akashdeep Hazarika (@AskHazarikant) May 4, 2017
Devotees of George Lucas’ movie series have been paying homage to the franchise, sharing memories and GIFs. Meanwhile, corporations also took advantage of the popularity of the movement.
Some fans even boldly suggested that Thursday’s widely anticipated announcement from Buckingham Palace was Star Wars-related.
#QueenElizabeth to announce government restructure into the first Galactic Empire #MayThe4thBeWithYou#StarWarsDay#buckinghampalacepic.twitter.com/1bkdE3YCJX
— Team Decepticon (@TeamDecepticon) May 4, 2017
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Legend has it the grassroots celebration of ‘all things’ Star Wars was inspired by a newspaper advertisement placed by Britain’s Conservative Party on May 4, 1979 to mark the election of Margaret Thatcher as the first female prime minister of Britain.
FUN FACT-#MayThe4thBeWithYouDay is also the day: MAGGIE THATCHER became 1st female UK/PM- AL CAPONE went to jail & WILL ARNETT was born! pic.twitter.com/lFqAneyKNf
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) May 3, 2017
The date’s cult following has grown steadily over the years with social media giving the occasion serious public exposure.
This will be a day long remembered. How are you spending your #StarWarsDay? #MayThe4thBeWithYoupic.twitter.com/599xYgDwXD
— Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) May 4, 2017
Art Wars! Stormtrooper helmets get artist makeovers https://t.co/bgGTETEpQt#MayThe4thBeWithYou#StarWarsDaypic.twitter.com/204nc4FqBT
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) May 4, 2017
Even police forces have shared images of their members participating in galactic adventures.
May the fourth be with you. If the Chief will let us carry lightsabers instead of batons today, I wonder? pic.twitter.com/7xrx7ytBxp
— Maplewood Police MN (@MaplewoodPolice) May 4, 2017
There's been a disturbance in the force...in Chellaston. #StarWarsDay#MayTheFourthBeWithYoupic.twitter.com/I6HwQmNAne
— Derbyshire Police (@DerbysPolice) May 4, 2017
Good morning all. Our stormtroopers will be out in full force today! Have a good day! #MayThe4thBeWithYou#StarWarsDay#ThrowbackThursdaypic.twitter.com/dRY4a93Y9g
— SouthYorkshirePolice (@syptweet) May 4, 2017
The first large organized event for the day took place on May 4, 2011 in the Toronto Underground Cinema. This year fans in Taiwan’s capital Taipei posed in costumes at city landmarks while supertree structures in Singapore were transformed into lightsabers.
Friday will offer fans an opportunity to celebrate the ‘Dark Side’ of the force with the spin off May 5 day – “Revenge of the Fifth", a play on ‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.’
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A specially designed solid gold mask of the Star Wars villain Darth Vader will also go on sale today with a price tag of a whopping US$1.4 million.
