On 4 May, now widely celebrated as Star Wars Day, the ACL joined the intergalactic fun with a cheeky nod to the franchise. The date is a playful pun on the iconic phrase “May the Force be with you” transformed into “May the Fourth be with you”. But what began as a light-hearted turn of phrase has since evolved into a global grassroots celebration.
Interestingly, 4 May doesn’t trace back to any single origin story. It wasn’t launched by Lucasfilm, nor was it officially declared by any government. The earliest recorded use of the phrase dates back to 1978, just a year after Star Wars: A New Hope premiered. By 1979, the pun had reached British media: when Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister on 4 May that year, The London Evening News ran a full-page ad proclaiming, “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations!” Since then, the date has taken on a life of its own, transcending linguistic borders to become an international pop culture fixture.
The ACL’s own tribute to the day featured a striking AI-generated image of a spacecraft in need of roadside assistance presumably light-years from home. They were quick to clarify, however, that the design was original, with no ties to any existing franchise, free of licensing constraints, and with no formal link to Star Wars or Lucasfilm.
Whether in hyperspace or on the motorway, the Force – or at least the ACL – is always nearby.
