Star Wars Day, coined by fans for the pun 'May the Fourth be with you', gained official recognition and has become an annual celebration of Star Wars culture, media, and fandom worldwide.
📍 Global
Pope Benedict XVI visited the Shroud of Turin, a revered Christian relic believed by some to bear the image of Jesus Christ. The visit sparked renewed theological and scientific discussion about its authenticity.
📍 Turin, Italy
UNESCO officially designated May 5 as World Portuguese Language Day, recognizing its global cultural and linguistic influence. Portuguese is one of the most spoken languages across four continents.
📍 Paris, France (UNESCO HQ)
Pope John Paul II visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, becoming the first pope to enter a Muslim place of worship. The event was seen as a major step in interfaith dialogue between Christianity and Islam.
📍 Damascus, Syria
PepsiCo finalized its acquisition of Quaker Oats, bringing the Gatorade brand under its portfolio. The move strengthened Pepsi's position in the sports drink market and intensified competition with Coca-Cola.
📍 United States
Scientists at CERN announced the confirmed discovery of the W boson, a fundamental particle that mediates the weak nuclear force. The breakthrough later earned the 1984 Nobel Prize in Physics.
📍 Geneva, Switzerland
The Solar One project in California became the world’s first large-scale solar thermal power plant. It demonstrated the viability of renewable energy in power generation and influenced global solar investment.
📍 Daggett, California, United States
Margaret Thatcher officially took office as the United Kingdom’s first female Prime Minister. Known as the 'Iron Lady', her tenure redefined British politics through economic liberalization and foreign policy assertiveness.
📍 London, United Kingdom
Spain officially ended its long-standing state of emergency declared under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. The move was a key step toward democratic transition and constitutional monarchy.
📍 Madrid, Spain
During an anti-Vietnam War protest at Kent State University, Ohio National Guard troops opened fire on unarmed students, killing four and injuring nine. The event shocked the nation and intensified opposition to the war.
📍 Kent, Ohio, United States
The mission of TIROS-1, the world’s first successful weather satellite, officially ended after 78 days. It provided pioneering satellite imagery and laid the foundation for modern meteorology.
📍 Earth Orbit
The inaugural Grammy Awards ceremony was held to honor outstanding achievement in the music industry. The event quickly became one of the most prestigious award shows in entertainment worldwide.
📍 Los Angeles and New York City, United States
At the first Grammy Awards, Henry Mancini received the inaugural Album of the Year award for *The Music from Peter Gunn*. It marked the beginning of a major global honor in the music industry.
📍 Los Angeles and New York, United States
Ernest Hemingway was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for *The Old Man and the Sea*. The novella later contributed to his Nobel Prize in Literature and remains one of his most celebrated works.
📍 New York, United States
German forces in Italy unconditionally surrendered to the Allies, marking the collapse of Nazi control in the region and signaling the imminent end of World War II in Europe.
📍 Caserta, Italy
German forces under General Jodl signed an early version of unconditional surrender to Allied forces at Reims. It preceded the official surrender ceremony on May 7 and marked the imminent end of World War II in Europe.
📍 Reims, France
British aviators Douglas Douglas-Hamilton and David McIntyre completed the first flight over Mount Everest, capturing aerial photographs and proving the feasibility of high-altitude aviation.
📍 Himalayas, Nepal/Tibet
The United States officially took over the construction of the Panama Canal from the French on May 4, 1904. The massive engineering project revolutionized global trade by linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
📍 Panama
A labor protest in Chicago turned deadly when a bomb exploded in Haymarket Square, killing police and civilians. The event became a symbol of the struggle for workers’ rights and is commemorated worldwide on May Day.
📍 Chicago, Illinois, United States
At the Congress of Vienna, the Rhine River was officially declared an international waterway, guaranteeing free navigation for all nations and promoting trade and cooperation in post-Napoleonic Europe.
📍 Vienna, Austria