May the Fourth be with you!
Star Wars Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated annually by fans of all things Star Wars.
The fun began in 1979, just two years after the release of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. When Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the London Evening News published a congratulatory advertisement that read, "May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations."
Since then, Star Wars Day has become an increasingly popular holiday, with celebrations and events taking place around the world. Disney observes the day with Star Wars-themed events and activities at their amusement parks. Minor League Baseball teams have donned special uniforms in celebration. Astronauts in the International Space Station have even marked the occasion by watching the original movie that started it all!
Here are five fun ways to celebrate Star Wars Day on May 4th. Or, if the Dark Side is a little more to your liking, save it for Revenge of the 6th!
1. Start with a giggle.
Q. Why did the Stormtrooper buy an iPhone?
A. He couldn't find the Droid he was looking for.
Q. What do you call a Jedi in denial?
A. Obi-Wan Can Not Be
2. Determine which Star Wars character you are.
Consider your personality traits and interests, and think about which Star Wars characters share those traits. You might identify with Princess Leia or Rey if you are determined and strong-willed. If you are a loyal and dependable person, you may relate to Chewbacca. If technology and engineering fascinate you, you might identify with C-3PO or BB-8.
If you still can't decide, try the Star Wars Hero Quiz or Buzzfeed Star Wars Character Quiz.
3. Enjoy a Star Wars-themed snack.
Melt white chocolate, add blue (Jedi) or red (Dark Side) food coloring, then dip pretzel rods to make edible light sabers. Make cupcakes and add edible glitter to the frosting so they sparkle like the stars. Do an internet search of "Star Wars recipes," and you will find hundreds (maybe thousands) of ideas!
Out of this world oohs and aahs are coming your way if you make our Grogu-inspired Deviled Eggs!
4. Make a Star Wars-themed craft.
Use markers and paint to turn empty wrapping paper tubes into lightsabers. Blue signifies justice and truth. Green represents growth and harmony. Red symbolizes anger and strength. Purple, created specifically for Samuel L. Jackson's character, stands for nobility and wisdom.
If you love handprint crafts as much as I do, try our handprint Chewbacca! Parents can join in the fun to make an entire Wookiee family!
5. Have a movie marathon!
Of course, there's no better way to celebrate Star Wars Day than watching your favorite movie! Several sites rank the films from best to worst, and nearly every list puts Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back at the top of the list.
If you haven't introduced your kids to Star Wars yet, plan a weekly movie marathon for summer. I recommend watching the movies in the order they were released, not chronologically, so you keep the surprise of "the greatest reveal in cinematic history."
Not only that, but film technology has advanced so much that if you watch the prequels before Episodes 5, 6, & 7, the original trilogy will look antiquated by comparison.
