PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Storm Troopers perform during the 118th Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2007 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
As most fans probably know, May 4th is Star Wars Day. The day is celebrated with a playful take on the iconic line “May the force be with you.” The first known use of the pun “May the 4th be with you” came a year after the release of Star Wars in 1978 and has been used by fans ever since. Although Lucasfilm does not recognize the holiday, it has become an annual celebration of all things Star Wars.
A young George Lucas sits with Alec Guinness on set
British actor Alec Guinness with American director, screenwriter and producer George Lucas on the set of his movie Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars
American actor Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford shoot a scene together
American actors Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Dave Prowse, who plays Darth Vader, cools off on set
Dave Prowse in his Darth Vader costume, cooling off during the filming of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’, 1977. The Darth Vader mask is an early test prototype, which was slightly different from the one used in the finished film. (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
Harrison Ford as Hans Solo
American actor Harrison Ford, as Hans Solo, on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
American actor Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Actors Anthony Daniels, Alec Guinness and Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars
British actors Anthony Daniels, Alec Guinness and American Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Star Wars movie site in Tunisia
Star wars Movie Site, Tunisia. (Photo by: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Anthony Daniels, who plays C-3PO, with George Lucas
British actor Anthony Daniels (who plays C-3PO) with American director, screenwriter and producer George Lucas on the set of his movie Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
An early pre-production prototype of Chewbacca’s face mask
A close up image of an early pre-production prototype of Chewbacca’s face mask costume during the filming of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’, 1977. (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
Tatooine set during the filming of Star Wars
The house of Owen Lars on the Tatooine set during the filming of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’, 1977. (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
Ready, set, action! on set during the filming of Star Wars
Director George Lucas on set (lower left) during the filming of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’, 1977. The clapper board displays the working title ‘The Star Wars’. (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
C-3PO and R2-D2 in Tatooine City
Robots C-3PO and R2-D2 in Tatooine City in a scene from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, 1977 . (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca being escorted by Stormtroopers
Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca being escorted by Stormtroopers in a scene from ‘Star Wars A New Hope’ 1977. (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
Luke Skywalker in a space battle scene from Star Wars
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker firing weapon in space battle in a scene from George Lucas 1977 classic ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’. (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
George Lucas presents “Star Wars – Episode IV: A New Hope” at AFI’s 40th Anniversary celebration
HOLLYWOOD – OCTOBER 03: ***EXCLUSIVE ACCESS*** Director George Lucas presents the film “Star Wars – Episode IV: A New Hope” at AFI’s 40th Anniversary celebration presented by Target held at Arclight Cinemas on October 3, 2007 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images for AFI)
Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and C-3PO in space ship scene
Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO in space ship in a scene from ‘Star Wars A New Hope’ 1977. (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
Carrie Fisher and other Star Wars cast members do a beach photoshoot
Carrie Fisher on Stinson Beach in Northern California with the cast of Star Wars. (Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis via Getty Images)
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker on set of Star Wars
American actor Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Carrie Fisher and actor Kenny Baker as R2-D2 on set
American actress Carrie Fisher and British actor Kenny Baker on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope written, directed and produced Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
The group of actors shoots a cockpit scene
American actors Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, British actors Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew on the set of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back directed by Irvin Kershner. (Photo by Lucasfilm/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
C-3PO and R2-D2
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO and Kenny Baker as R2-D2 from ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ 1977. (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
Luke Skywalker and C-3PO
Mark Hamill looking through binoculars as Anthony Daniels as C-3PO stands behind in a scene from the 1977 George Lucas film ‘Star Wars A New Hope’. (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
Darth Vader on the Empire State Building
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 21: Star Wars “March To May The 4th” kicks off in New York City, delights fans with new products and a stunning, dynamic light show on the façade of The Empire State Building on March 21, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Disney)
Star Wars movie poster from 1977
Star Wars, poster, (aka : EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE), rear: Darth Vader, foreground, from left: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, C-3PO, R2-D2, poster art, 1977. (Photo by LMPC via Getty Images)
Christine Frapech
is TPM's designer and event planner based in New York.
