May 4th and Its Celebrations: Politics, Fiction, and Literature Converging in May

May hides three fascinating celebrations that, although born from completely different contexts, are now intertwined in global culture. May 4th marks the beginning of a series of linguistic coincidences, political gestures, and pop culture tributes that transformed an ordinary month into a calendar of festivities that transcend borders. These three special days reveal how culture is built from unexpected coincidences and conscious decisions by passionate communities.

From British Politics to the Legacy of May 4th

In 1979, Margaret Thatcher made history as the first woman elected Prime Minister in the United Kingdom and Europe. The Conservative Party, anticipating her victory in the May 3rd elections, published an ad in The Evening News with a phrase of good wishes for her tenure. Although the message was released a day before the electoral victory, the date became etched in the collective imagination.

This British political gesture triggered something unthinkable: a linguistic coincidence that captured the imagination of millions. The phonetic similarity between “May 4th” and one of the most iconic phrases in cinema became the bridge between politics and science fiction.

May the 4th: When Star Wars Conquers an Entire Day

May 4th shines on the calendars of Star Wars fans thanks to a pun that comes to life every year. “May the 4th” sounds exactly like “May the Force”—a central phrase in the saga created by George Lucas, which debuted theatrically on May 25, 1977. What started as a fan joke evolved into a global celebration.

Starting around mid-2008, franchise enthusiasts began organizing spontaneous commemorations around May 4th. When Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, the corporation officially added this date to its calendar of festivities, turning what was originally a grassroots movement into a recognized media phenomenon. Fans’ creativity had managed to inscribe their passion into the corporate calendar.

Recently, in 2023, this celebration transcended cinematic nostalgia when reflections on emerging technologies—Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse—began connecting with themes of education and immersive learning that characterize the Star Wars universe. The saga that envisioned interconnected worlds now dialogues with technological tools promising to transform how we learn.

The Towel: The Literary Tribute That Unites Geeks on May 25

If May 4th belongs to George Lucas, May 25th pays homage to Douglas Adams, author of the acclaimed “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” First published in 1979, this series—self-described as a “trilogy of five books” due to its unusual length—became a cornerstone of geek culture.

Adams passed away on May 11, 2001, leaving a legacy of humor, philosophy, and cosmic absurdity. As a tribute, the community of readers chose May 25th to carry a towel in his honor. In the novel, the towel represents the essential item for the galactic hitchhiker: a versatile tool, a symbol of preparedness and survival in the unknown universe.

The choice of this specific date combines both coincidence and intention. Although it was considered to mark 42 days after Adams’s death (referencing the universal number in the novel), the community decided on May 25th. Coincidentally—or perhaps not—this is the same date when Star Wars arrived in theaters in 1977, merging two fictional universes under a single commemoration.

May as the Month of Nerd Pride: Three Celebrations, One Identity

May 25th also marks Nerd Pride Day, an initiative that started in 2006 when Spanish organizer Germán Martínez gathered about 300 people in Madrid to celebrate together. What was a local gesture evolved into a global expression of cultural identity.

When you see someone carrying a towel on May 25th, you witness the intersection of three stories: a British political gesture from 1979, a science fiction saga that revolutionized cinema, and a literary tribute to limitless imagination. May 4th and its extensions illustrate how contemporary culture is woven from coincidences, shared passions, and communities’ ability to turn ordinary moments into extraordinary celebrations.

May has thus become not just another month on the calendar, but a territory where politics, fiction, and literature coexist in a perpetual dialogue. Which of these celebrations resonates most with you?