“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”

I get really happy when I see this pop up on a television screen. I get this feeling of nostalgia, joy, excitement, hope and familiarity when I see this phrase because I know exactly what’s about to begin: Star Wars.

Thankfully, fans of the galaxy far, far away have a day to celebrate all things Star Wars — and it’s coming up.

The fourth of May has been considered the unofficial holiday for Star Wars — it is also called Star Wars Day. It is a play on words of a famous line from the franchise, “May the force be with you.”

Though Star Wars started out as a movie franchise, it has become a pop cultural phenomenon.

The unofficial holiday actually has a political origin that demonstrates the cultural impact Star Wars has had on the world.

When Margaret Thatcher won the primary election on May 4, 1979 in England, she became Britain’s first female prime minster. Her political party took a page of advertising space in the London Evening News and wrote the message, “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations.” 

Star Wars references have been used in American politics as well. Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, a proposal to protect the United States from nuclear missiles, was often dubbed as Star Wars for being unrealistic for its time based on the existing technologies. 

Last year, President Obama inadvertently referenced both Star Wars and Star Trek by saying that people often expect him to do a “Jedi mind-meld” on Republicans to accept his terms. 

And Star Wars can still be seen today in everyday life. A recent famous example was the Volkswagen commercial with the adorable pint-sized Darth Vader trying to use “the force.”

I’m not alone in my adoration of — or some might say obsession with — all things Star Wars. Ever since “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” was released in 1977, people across the world became immersed in a galaxy that was not their own.

I could watch the entire original trilogy in one setting and not be tired. I could think about Star Wars all day and just get lost in its creativity and ingenuity.  

Star Wars is one of the central hubs of my imagination, and that’s one of the best things about the franchise. It has the ability to temporarily transport us to a different time and place.  

When I see Han Solo flying his Millennium Falcon through space, I feel like I’m with him. Sometimes in my imagination, I am the captain of the Millennium Falcon. 

Movies like Star Wars, or books like the Harry Potter series, have the ability to take us to another world.

What made Star Wars become one of the most culturally impactful franchises in the history of pop culture was not only the ground-breaking special effects of its time, but it was also the characters and story that truly cemented Star Wars’ place in each generation.

Characters such as Darth Vader and R2-D2 are so rich in detail that they have become iconic. Even for those who have never seen the movies, they probably know who Darth Vader is and what he looks like.

Along with the characters, the story presented in Star Wars is a tale that has been told and retold in different formats through modern folklore, demonstrating its ability to withstand the test of time.

So this upcoming Star Wars Day, let’s celebrate not only Star Wars’ past, but also it’s future. It gives people the opportunity across the world to celebrate all things Star Wars, and it serves as a reminder that new adventures are on the way in the galaxy far, far away.

And this Sunday I want you to remember, “The Fourth Will Be With You, Always.”

Thaddeus is a senior in LAS. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Thaddingham.