May the Fourth is Star Wars Day, a day that has been celebrated by fans worldwide for decades. A play on one of the film's most memorable lines "May the force be with you." Creators of the popular franchise have nothing to do with the play on words or the creation of the day. Star Wars Day caught on when an English newspaper created a catchy headline to promote the conservative party in England. An English newspaper advertisement hailing the day Margaret Thatcher became the United Kingdom's Prime Minister on May 4, 1979, the publishers marked the day with the headline, "May the fourth be with you."
This year's day is marred by sadness
"Star War's Day" is now celebrated every fourth of May.
This year, however, the day is marred by sadness as one of the most beloved characters was not around to celebrate -- the franchises' matriarch, Princess Leia (played by Carrie Fisher). Fisher died last December hours after promoting the latest installment of the Star Wars Franchise in England. A few weeks ago, Carrie Fisher's grave was marked by a beautiful, tremendous monument. Fans have been visiting the grave site, leaving flowers and other memorabilia to celebrate the beloved actress on the day.
May the Force be with you, Carrie Fisher
Vigils are expected to continue throughout the next week. In the films, "May the force be with you" is used to offer good fortune. The first film in the now widely popular, global franchise quickly won the hearts and minds of those who saw the movie -- thanks, in big part to Carrie Fisher's memorable performance as the strong, beautiful, and witty Princess.
"Star Wars" caught on like wildfire and rapidly became a sensation in the USA and then throughout the world. Currently, there are a total of eleven films in the Star Wars franchise, including nine that have been completed, one scheduled to be released later this year, and the eleventh coming in May 2019.
The next film in the franchise, "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," is slated to hit theaters later this year, to the delight of many long-time fans of the franchise.
