There’s no definitive record of who dubbed May the 4th “Star Wars Day”. Some of the first Facebook groups actually called it “Luke Skywalker Day”, but even before social media changed our lives, people were making the pun “May the 4th be with you,” in a nod to the sci-fi franchise’s catchphrase “May the Force be with you.”
There’s no stopping it now: on Thursday the California Legislature voted to declare today Star Wars Day” in recognition of a Disneyland theme park slated to open later this month. The resolution says it’s the largest single-site expansion in the park’s history and could generate $14 million in tax revenue for the city of Anaheim annually.
But the ‘holiday’ – which, this year, coincides with Free Comic Book day – really lives online. And everyone wants to get in on it, with their own meme or message. We picked a few of our favorites, many from Connecticut, and a few from far, far away.
Putting a lightsaber in someone’s hand is one of the most popular meme themes.
Actor Peter Mayhew, the towering actor who played Chewbacca the Wookie, passed away on May 2nd, and fans around the world chose to commemorate him on this “Star Wars Days”.
NASA is glad to participate. In 2015, astronauts on the International Space Station spent part of Star Wars Day… watching Star Wars.
Some you just can’t classify.
Wherever you’re going this May the 4th…
