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Man With Bad Takes Online Thinks a ‘Star Wars’ Holiday Is Meant to Replace Days Celebrating “Real Heroes.” It’s Because of a Pun, Dude

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) on Tatooine

Star Wars fans celebrated May the 4th this week. And, one guy on the Internet thinks it’s all a conspiracy to draw attention away from “the real heroes.”

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This week, a pop culture and gaming poster (Jon Del Arroz) decided to take aim at May the 4th. He says that the holiday is fabricated to take oxygen away from actual history or Saints. But, most Star Wars fans know that the fun social media tradition was started by fans before Disney ever bought the franchise.

Arroz argues, “The whole concept of ‘May the 4th’ is to replace holidays supporting real heroes and the saints with made up fiction like a corporate IP, Star Wars.” 

“When you see it from that perspective, it becomes mega – cringe because you realize it’s about erasing history to dumb down the populace into complete zombies,” he added. “It’s working too, is the worst part. Why do people celebrate this slop?

So, that is one interpretation of what’s going on. Not a correct interpretation by my understanding of what we’re all doing here. But, his opinion nonetheless. Other fans quickly got down into those replies to explain that fans basically started May the 4th.

The Drey Archives mostly nailed this one, “I mean before Disney acquired Star Wars, May the 4th has always been a thing. Sure, do the corporate overlords see it as a way to make money? Sure. But still doesn’t change the spirit of this fictional holiday. It’s just Christmas for Star Wars nerds.

May the 4th was created by fans

Yoda standing looking bored in Star Wars
(Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

If you’re wanting some proof for the claim that fans made May the 4th, here’s a really old news clipping chronicling the holiday’s rise. It’s been a few decades at this point, at the minimum. And, honestly who can resist a good pun. 

Interestingly enough, the larger geek community has taken up the banner behind Star Wars. I feel like you could draw a nice concise timeline from the rise of geek culture in the United States with May the 4th’s overall popularity. 

The New York Daily News even figured out that George Lucase was aware of the holiday. They talked to a spokesperson from Lucasfilm back in the day. 

“It’s nice that this particular date seems to observe and celebrate the power of the Force, and we’re thrilled that Star Wars fans continue to find new ways to connect with a galaxy far, far away,” the person said. “Of course, regardless of the date, the Force will be with us … always.” 

 So, yeah there is no real basis for this idea that Disney fabricated May the 4th out of thin air. Instead, it’s a labor of love from the fans of this franchise. 

It’s really interesting to think about how many hours on the Internet have been devoted to arguing about these movies. And, despite the pandemic, its effect on the franchise and entertainment larger writ, People are still in love with the Galaxy far far away.

Maybe not this dude, but most of us anyway!

(featured image: Disney+)

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Image of Teresia Gray
Teresia Gray
Teresia Gray (She/Her) is a writer here at the Mary Sue. She's been writing professionally since 2016, but felt the allure of a TV screen for her entire upbringing. As a sponge for Cable Television debate shows and a survivor of “Peak Thinkpiece,” she has interests across the entire geek spectrum. Want to know why that politician you saw on TV said that thing, and why it matters? She's got it for you. Yes, mainlining that much news probably isn’t healthy. Her work at the Mary Sue often includes political news, breaking stories, and general analysis of current events.

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