By Chris Snellgrove | Published
Star Wars is a business full of quotable lines, ranging from the straightforward (“I have a bad feeling about this!”) to the mysteriously profound (“Do it, or don't. There's no trying”). Over the years (especially during the dark ages between Return of the Jedi again The Phantom Menace), these lines served as a coded language among fans. For example, if someone posted a quote from Han Solo or Luke Skywalker in a conversation, they were checking to see if he was a veteran. Then came the prequels, and Star Wars re-entered the mainstream, bigger and better than ever.
After that, a Star Wars phrase never mentioned in the movies became insanely popular: “May the 4th be with you.” As the name suggests, the phrase refers to May 4, which eventually became Star Wars Day around the world. Because of this, many followers think that this name was always designed to draw attention to the fourth day of the fifth month. However, this is not actually the case. What all old Star Wars fans have forgotten (or never learned in the first place) is that “May the 4th be with you” started as a way to make fun of the Fourth of July!
From Galactic Civil War to Independence Day
For younger fans, the most amazing part of this story is that the phrase “May the 4th be with you” is almost as old as Star Wars itself. The term may not have caught on until the prequels came out, but it was first used back in 1978. Believe it or not, this phrase was invented by newspaper reporters who were looking for clever ways to talk about the Fourth of July. How could they find a new way to talk about something as old as America's birthday? All in all, these journalists got the answer by embracing the last big blockbuster of the '70s: Star Wars.
One year after the release of the first film in the franchise, the phrase “May the Force Be With You” became a beloved part of pop culture. Many newspaper reporters across the country have decided to refer to this quote as a tricky way to discuss Independence Day. “May the 4th be with you,” they wrote. While they used the iconic Star Wars line to make a joke, the original use of the word was not clearly designed to promote Star Wars. Instead, it was a funny way to talk about the Fourth of July.
In a way, Margaret Thatcher came back
When did “May the 4th be with you” become a way of referring to, well, the Fourth of May instead of the Fourth of July? The first recorded case of this occurred in 1979; when Margaret Thatcher assumed the role of Prime Minister of the UK on May 4, the London Evening News it was headlined, “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations!” And in 1982, Randy Thorn (now Skywalker Sound's design director) was working Return of the Jedi on May 4, and started “May the 4th be with you” jokes to others on set. Significantly, he included this quote in the company's books for many years.
After that, the speech disappeared for decades, and in 2005 (the same year Sithi's Revenge came out), it was also used by allied journalists in reference to Independence Day. However, the prequels had successfully created a new generation of fans; as they grew up, these fans adopted May 4th as an unofficial holiday, which was more of an excuse to dress up and watch all things Star Wars. Eventually, Disney accepted the idea, making this an official day to celebrate the franchise. Call it the will of the Force, though, as it wouldn't have happened this time if a few oblivious journalists hadn't decided to poke fun at America's birthday!
