May the 4th Be With You: what is Star Wars Day, and the best films you can watch on Disney+

That's a phrase you might be hearing a lot today (4 May) as Star Wars fans across the globe celebrate 'Star Wars Day'.

Here's everything you need to know about it:

Why 4 May?

Every year, 4 May marks 'Star Wars Day', when fans of the iconic sci-fi saga come together to celebrate the legacy of their favourite films.

And the reason for its falling on May 4? Simple!

"May the fourth" is simply a lispy take on the franchise's much uttered phrase, "May the Force be with you!"

The makers of Star Wars have built a huge fanbase since the first film was released in 1977, with numerous new instalments and TV series released in recent decades.

What happens on Star Wars Day?

In recent years, the unofficial Star Wars Day has become something of an annual tradition, growing in size with each passing iteration.

Brands jump on the bandwagon, offering deals and bargains on Star Wars-related products, and a number of special events are often held.

This year for instance, Disney - who hold the rights to and produce the Star Wars franchise - have held back the last film in the saga for their Disney+ streaming service.

Rise of Skywalker is the final chapter of the saga - directed by JJ Abrams and starring Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, and others - and is available to stream from today, arriving with all the pomp and fanfare that Star Wars Day brings.

Disney are also releasing an eight-episode documentary series about the making of Star Wars: The Mandalorian space TV series.

Arguably most exciting of all is the release of the series finale of animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Where can I watch Star Wars films?

With much of the world on lockdown or with stringent social distancing measures in force, Star Wars fans might have to settle for a feet-up movie day this year

Unlike in recent years, where finding streams of the entire Star Wars saga could have been a tall task, this year it's easier than ever.

That's because the entire output of the Star Wars canon is available through the Disney+ streaming service.

That includes all nine films of the main trilogy, spin-off movies like Rogue One and Solo, and TV series like The Clone Wars, Rebels, and the live-action Mandalorian.

You can sign up to Disney+ with a seven day free trial here, and it is then £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year.

How else can I celebrate?

Several companies are rolling out special offers for the day, including up to £10 slashed from the usual price of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

Those who fancy a board game can also get the Star Wars Empire vs Rebellion Card Game for £9.23 at Amazon.

Meanwhile, Lego models from the Star Wars universe are available for £89.99 for Yoda, £54.99 for the Stormtrooper helmet, £99.99 for Kylo Ren's Shuttle Starship and £149.99 for Millennium Falcon Starship.