Federal departments and agencies light up Twitter on Star Wars Day
#MayTheFourthBeWithYou hashtag used by Star Wars fans to spread the fun
May the Fourth may just be another day for most of us, but for Star Wars fans it's like a national holiday — without the time off work.
The date lends itself to an easy pun with the film series' most famous line: "May the force be with you." And the occasion has prompted a flood of "May the fourth be with you" memes — including postings from federal government departments.
According to the official website for the day, the first time the pun appeared came after Margaret Thatcher became the first female British prime minister on that day in 1979. Her installation as head of government prompted the Conservative Party to take out a half-page ad in a British newspaper with the headline: "May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations."
In recent years, May the Fourth has become an international day for fans to celebrate Star Wars. Based on the Twitter posts of Canadian federal departments and agencies today, it appears the enthusiasm of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, an avowed Star Wars fan, may be rubbing off on the public service.
Here's a selection of Star Wars-themed Twitter posts uploaded Thursday by various branches of the federal government.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Recall?src=hash">#Recall</a> All-Terrain Armored Transport the hydraulics could fail in extreme cold causing the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATAT?src=hash">#ATAT</a> to fall <a href="https://t.co/5fTSLgdPJt">https://t.co/5fTSLgdPJt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayThe4th?src=hash">#MayThe4th</a> <a href="https://t.co/axE5xmIprF">pic.twitter.com/axE5xmIprF</a>
—@Transport_gc.
This week’s challenge is a starry one! Check out the night sky 🌟, snap a 📷 and share it with us using <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParksChallenge?src=hash">#ParksChallenge</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayThe4thBeWithYou?src=hash">#MayThe4thBeWithYou</a> <a href="https://t.co/rp6DGH5xBf">pic.twitter.com/rp6DGH5xBf</a>
—@ParksCanada.
Justice brings balance to the Force <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayThe4thBeWithYou?src=hash">#MayThe4thBeWithYou</a> <a href="https://t.co/A93JdNraBC">pic.twitter.com/A93JdNraBC</a>
—@JusticeCanadaEN.
Total expenditures by Fed. Gov. on science and tech are expected to increase to $10.7 billion in 2016/2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayThe4thBeWithYou?src=hash">#MayThe4thBeWithYou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarWarsDay?src=hash">#StarWarsDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/9oDVwNEkfw">pic.twitter.com/9oDVwNEkfw</a>
—@StatCan_eng.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayThe4thBeWithYou?src=hash">#MayThe4thBeWithYou</a>! <a href="https://t.co/3ScTstXaCj">pic.twitter.com/3ScTstXaCj</a>
—@CNSC_CCSN.
On an exercise far, far away… <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayThe4thBeWithYou?src=hash">#MayThe4thBeWithYou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayTheFourthBeWithYou?src=hash">#MayTheFourthBeWithYou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarWarsDay?src=hash">#StarWarsDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/dhOe9yHiCQ">pic.twitter.com/dhOe9yHiCQ</a>
—@CanadianArmy.
This is the droide you've been looking for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hitchBot?src=hash">#hitchBot</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayThe4thBeWithYou?src=hash">#MayThe4thBeWithYou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarWarsDay?src=hash">#StarWarsDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/9owZm3aGYs">pic.twitter.com/9owZm3aGYs</a>
—@SciTechMuseum.
Happy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarWarsDay?src=hash">#StarWarsDay</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_DavidS">@Astro_DavidS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_Jeremy">@Astro_Jeremy</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaytheFourthBeWithYou?src=hash">#MaytheFourthBeWithYou</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maythe4th?src=hash">#Maythe4th</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarWars?src=hash">#StarWars</a> <a href="https://t.co/qy50tN51cX">pic.twitter.com/qy50tN51cX</a>
—@csa_asc.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarWarsDay?src=hash">#StarWarsDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/hEtc20NmZR">pic.twitter.com/hEtc20NmZR</a>
—@CanBorder.
To all the Star Wars fans in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OttawaCentre?src=hash">#OttawaCentre</a>, happy May the 4th! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayThe4thBeWithYou?src=hash">#MayThe4thBeWithYou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarWarsDay?src=hash">#StarWarsDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/givgeYGF1G">pic.twitter.com/givgeYGF1G</a>
—@CMcKennaOttawa.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DYK?src=hash">#DYK</a> Several <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarWars?src=hash">#StarWars</a> movies reference 🇨🇦 filmmaker Arthur Lipsett’s, "21-87”? Can you spot them all? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayThe4thBeWithYou?src=hash">#MayThe4thBeWithYou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada150?src=hash">#Canada150</a> <a href="https://t.co/ljhUnKYbK1">pic.twitter.com/ljhUnKYbK1</a>
—@Canada.
These are the socks you’re looking for. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayTheFourthBeWithYou?src=hash">#MayTheFourthBeWithYou</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GuerreDes%C3%89toiles?src=hash">#GuerreDesÉtoiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/AXTQkgmkYH">pic.twitter.com/AXTQkgmkYH</a>
—@JustinTrudeau