May 4 is the official ‘unofficial’ holiday for Star Wars aficionados.
A cosplayer dressed as "Star Wars" character Yoda looks at a mobile phone at a Star Wars Day fan event which is celebrated annually on May 4. Photograph: Toru Hanai/ Reuters
As legend has it, the idea for a Star Wars celebratory event first began on May 4, 1979, the day Margaret Thatcher took office as UK prime minister. The Conservative party allegedly placed an ad in the London Evening News which read, "May the Fourth be with you, Maggie. Congratulations."
Fans latched on to the phrase, which was a pun on the popular Star Wars quote 'May the Force be with you' and the rest, as they say, is history.
A fan dressed himself in the character of "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader, gestures in front of a crying boy during a fan meet. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/ Reuters
Once the Internet allowed Star Wars fans around the world to connect with one another, May the 4th soon became a grassroots tradition each year, with fans online and offline proclaiming it “Star Wars day.”
The day kicks off a season of celebration, particularly since the month of May itself has always been important to Star Wars fans. All six live-action Star Wars movies debuted in May (starting with the original Star Wars on May 25, 1977).
To cap it off, even the creator of the series, George Lucas, was born on May 14.
Fans wearing Star Wars costumes are seen at the Royal Parc in Brussels. Photograph: Eric Vidal/ Reuters
The day took to considerable prominence in the age of social media and finally expanded to globally-synchronised events. Now, there are events celebrating the day worldwide.
In 2011, the first organised celebration of Star Wars Day took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Toronto Underground Cinema. The second annual edition took place on Friday, May 4, 2012 and the trend caught on with similar event taking place across the world including Japan, Central Europe and the United States.
A woman takes a picture of herself and a person dressed as the character Darth Vader in Santiago. Photograph: Victor Ruiz Caballero/ Reuters
Star Wars fans love to meet up and dress up as their favourite characters to watch the movies together and socialise.
A cosplayer dressed up as "Star Wars" character Storm Trooper takes part in a Star Wars Day fan event in Tokyo. Photograph: Toru Hanai/ Reuters
Star Wars day always trends on Twitter, with nearly 43,000 tweets tagged #StarWarsDay this year.
Even media outlets attempt to capitalise on the rage that is Star Wars Day on an almost annual basis.
Parade participants dressed as Star Wars characters, including close to 200 fans from the ''501st Legion" in Stormtrooper costumes, make their way down Colorado Boulevard. Photograph: Gus Ruelas/ Reuters
This year's Star Wars day carries especial weight with fans who are eagerly awaiting the release of the seventh film in the saga, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens.
A visitor dressed as Emperor Palpatine, a character from the "Stars Wars" movies, poses for a photo with another visitor during the "Star Wars Celebration Japan". Photograph: Issei Kato/ Reuters
With the launch of a new trilogy of movies beginning with Star Wars: The Force Awakens coming, it feels like the festivities are likely to get bigger each year.
Co-founder of Electronic Arts Senior Vice President Ray Muzyka stands with Star Wars Characters outside the NASDAQ Market Site in New York's Times Square. Photograph: Mike Segar/ Reuters