Star Wars Day on May 4, 1979, the day Margaret Thatcher took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. An online news article from the Danish public broadcaster says her political party, the Conservatives, placed a congratulatory advertisement in "The London Evening News", saying "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations." The saying was used in a UK Parliament defence debate on May 4, 1994. Astrophysicist and author Jeanne Cavelos used the saying on page 94 of her 1999 book "The Science of Star Wars". In 2008, the first Facebook groups appeared, celebrating "Luke Skywalker Day," with the same catchphrase. While
Star Wars Celebration Ltd. and the Lewis Daniel Group announced a three-day event known as "Celebration Japan", was held at the Makuhari-Messe Convention Center near Tokyo on July 19 to 21. The convention celebrated the 30th anniversary of the June 24, 1978, Japanese premiere of "Star Wars". Celebration Japan included live entertainment, "Star Wars" celebrities, exclusive merchandise, special presentations, unique "Star Wars" exhibits, costume contests, and other activities. Lucasfilm announced in 2008 that a US-based four-day "Star Wars" convention called "Celebration V" would be held in the summer of 2010. In July 2008, Steve Sansweet, director of content management and head of fan