Like that title? Just a little Catholic humor.

Every nerd greets each other with this Star Wars themed saying on May the 4th, but did you know that we've been doing it since 1979?! That's right, before this elder millenial was even born.

If you haven't watched Star Wars, I won't shame you, it's old AF. But the Jedi have a saying, "May the Force be with you" aka the force that lies between all things in the universe. Catholics say "Peace be with you" as a greeting at church. So if you're Catholic AND a nerd I will tell you that our gut instinct is to reply to "May the Fourth be with you" with "and also with you," which works, is a super weird reply to non-Catholics, but a hilarious joke if you do practice the religion of booze and guilt.

The first recorded use of the phrase was on May 3, 1979 in a UK newspaper, The London Evening News. In the UK election, Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister. To celebrate her victory, the Conservative Party took out a newspaper ad reading "May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations." (If you're shocked that conservatives elected a woman, I need you to Google the Overton Window and study up.)

And according to Lucasfilm historian Lucas Seastrom, the casual (aka nonrecorded) use of the phrase actually predates that. It supposedly was used as a gimmick to mark Independence Day celebrations in the summer of 1978.

Language is such a hilarious and ever changing phenomenon, and I'm sure as a reader you can appreciate the fact that some memey trends (6-7 anyone?) may come and go, but some last forever. This one has definitely stood the test of time, so today let's celebrate the 48th anniversary of "May the Fourth be with you." Happy unofficial Star Wars Day!

— Zee

P.S. I'd be remiss if I didn't take this moment to inform you that there is also an unofficial Locked Tomb (Gideon the Ninth) Day. It's September 9th (nines, duh) and to celebrate, we all make and eat soup. Marrow is...optional.

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