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 comics monthly issue. The UK comic also published original "Star Wars" stories by British creators. "Star Wars Weekly" #1 was published with a free cut-out X-wing fighter on February 8, 1978. It became "The Empire Strikes Back Weekly" from issue #118 in May 1980, and then became a monthly title from issue #140 in November 1980, reverting to the title "Star Wars" with issue #159 in July 1982. The monthly comic ran until issue #171 in July 1983, when the numbering was reset at #1 for "Return of the Jedi Weekly", which was the first time the UK comic had been