What is Star Wars Day? What 'May the Fourth Be With You' means and ways to celebrate
From quirky cooking to a new documentary launch, there are plenty of ways to mark the occasion.
The time has come for some serious Star Wars celebration. That's right, it's May the 4th.
For fans of the iconic film franchise across the globe, the day is of very special significance and is the one recognised day of the year that is devoted to celebrating the world-famous sci-fi films.
We're talking a range of events, special offers, new releases and if nothing else, the celebration also gives fans the perfect excuse (as if one was needed) to revisit some of the films and series in the ever-expanding franchise.
You don't want to forget to consult our best Star Wars movies order list for a few tricks and tips, and check out what's happening with every announced Star Wars project.
If you're keen to celebrate, then we've got all the information you need right here. From activities and events to enticing special offers, this is your essential primer for the big day.
When is Star Wars Day?
Star Wars Day takes place on Thursday 4th May 2023 and will be marked by new content, merchandise sales and fan celebrations around the globe.
Star Wars Day does not quite qualify as a celebration of the anniversary of the franchise, as 1977's A New Hope first hit cinemas in the United States on the 25th May.
Why is it called Star Wars Day?
This particular date has been referred to as Star Wars Day since 2011, after widespread fan use of the phrase: "May the fourth be with you."
Of course, the joke riffs on the iconic Star Wars catchphrase "May the force be with you", which characters often say to each other to wish good luck on dangerous missions.
Some fans choose to take the concept further and take part in additional celebrations on the 5th or 6th May, which they dub "Revenge of the fifth/sixth".
This is a reference to 2005's Revenge of the Sith, which remains one of the darkest entries in the franchise and particular attention is paid to Star Wars villains on this day to reflect that.
Star Wars Day 2023 events
There's always plenty to get excited about on Star Wars Day and this year is no exception.
Star Wars: Visions season 2
Star Wars: Visions season 2 has officially launched on Disney Plus!
The new instalment sees nine new episodes expanding the Jedi galaxy outside of the constraints of the traditional Star Wars canon and has already received rave reviews.
You can sign up to Disney Plus for £79.90 a year or £7.99 a month
Young Jedi Adventures
Also coming our way this May the Fourth is a new animated series, Young Jedi Adventures!
Young Jedi Adventures follows a group of younglings as they learn to become Jedi Knights during the High Republic era.
Sales
Star Wars Day often sees sales on Star Wars products, so if you fancy treating yourself to a comic book, video game or other memorabilia, keep an eye out for the best deals.
If you want to dip your toe into the wild world of Star Wars Lego, you can also find all sorts of deals on the Lego website – with some new and hard-to-find sets on offer.
And there are also many more special offers on the day, so have a browse on StarWars.com and find a bargain.
How to celebrate Star Wars Day
Attempt some galactic cooking
For the true Star Wars experience, some fans have taken to cooking up treats inspired by a galaxy far, far away.
If you felt jealous of Grogu as he enjoyed those appetising blue macarons in The Mandalorian season two, the official Star Wars website has a recipe that will help you make your very own.
If that doesn't take your fancy, the site also has tips on making Yoda pancakes, a Princess Leia-inspired rice bowl and even Luke Skywalker's favourite drink: blue milk!
Watch your favourite Star Wars stories on Disney Plus
Disney Plus has become the premier location for all things Star Wars, as it currently hosts all nine films in the mainline saga, as well as being the exclusive home of spinoff television series The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.
If you want to dive even deeper, you can check out the increasingly influential animated series from Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch and Rebels), or for something a little more obscure, take a trip back to the action-packed original Clone Wars series by Genndy Tartakovsky (no longer canon, but still a lot of fun).
Everyone has their own favourite chapter in Star Wars history, so whether you're a fan of the originals, the prequels or the recent sequels, take some time to revisit one of the greatest sci-fi creations of all time.
Get crafty
If you're feeling particularly ambitious, you might want to try your hand at some arts and crafts on Star Wars Day.
The official Star Wars website has tips on easy crafts that should be good fun for kids of all ages, such as Padawan bracers, Endor coasters and a Lobot bookmark.
More activities and resources can be found on the Star Wars Kids website, including colouring pages, paper crafts and more.
The complete Star Wars saga is available to stream on Disney Plus. You can sign up to Disney Plus for £79.90 a year or £7.99 a month.Head over to Star Wars Day deals live blog for the best LEGO, PS5 and shopDisney offers.
Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.
