A Star Wars Word for Wednesday: Jedi

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May 4th marked Star Wars Day and to celebrate we chose Star Wars as this month’s Word for Wednesday theme.

The date of this commemorative celebration comes from the pun on the Star Wars catchphrase ‘May the Force be with you’. Though the first recorded use of ‘May the 4th be with you’ dates to 1979, the first organised commemorative event for Star Wars Day wasn’t until 2011 when an event was hosted at the Toronto Underground Cinema. Today, Star Wars Day is observed by fans all over the world. 
 
Last week we looked at the word force. Today's word is Jedi.

The Jedi (or Jedi Knights) are the heroes of the Star Wars franchise. They are often depicted in brown robes or tunics and wielding lightsabers. Jedi characters include Luke Skywalker, Rey, and Yoda.

To become a Jedi, one must undertake extensive training and display rigorous self-discipline in order to be at one with the Force and so manipulate it. Among other things, the Jedi can use the Force to perform feats of strength and move objects with their minds. 

Jedi ideas, which include mindfulness and non-attachment, are similar to those seen in various religious traditions including Hinduism and Buddhism. Today, people in the real world practise Jediism as a way of life – in 2001, 390127 Britons even listed it as their religion on the census!


11 May 2022
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