May the Fourth be with you, on ‘Star Wars Day’

WASHINGTON — Fans of the “Star Wars” franchise are greeting each other with the take-off on the classic movie line, since May 4 has been dubbed “Star Wars Day.”

With roots dating before the Internet, starwars.com writes the earliest known reference to May 4 dates to 1979.

“Star Wars” author Alan Arnold, in writing on May 4, 1979, about Margaret Thatcher becoming Britain’s first woman prime minister, wrote “May the Fourth be with you, Maggie. Congratulations.”

Now, with social media, “Star Wars” fans are celebrating.

#StarWarsDay #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/viZdCH9Tu4

— Carlos A. Nicols (@cnicolsr) May 4, 2015

We are ready to celebrate #StarWarsDay ! #MayThe4thBeWithYou @fairport_high @FCSDtweets. #ROC pic.twitter.com/yNVAolceqJ

— Fpt$$4Scholars (@Fairport_DFS) May 4, 2015

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. #StarWarsDay pic.twitter.com/9tY47fH1V3

— Franz Vitulli (@franzvitulli) May 4, 2015

#maythe4bewithyou #starwarsday #fernandatapia #_triplew @geekgangstermx #diadestarwars https://t.co/kKZUIcijmB pic.twitter.com/32fPjz9bmb

— Tecnologia con Mario (@GeekGangsterMx) May 4, 2015