May
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May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days.
May is a month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, May in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. Late May typically marks the start of the summer vacation season in the United States (Memorial Day) and Canada (Victoria Day) that ends on Labor Day, the first Monday of September.
May (in Latin, Maius) was named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman era goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May. Conversely, the Roman poet Ovid provides a second etymology, in which he says that the month of May is named for the maiores, Latin for "elders", and that the following month (June) is named for the iuniores, or "young people" (Fasti VI.88).
Eta Aquariids meteor shower appears in May. It is visible from about April 21 to about May 20 each year with peak activity on or around May 6. The Arietids shower from May 22 – July 2, and peaks on June 7. The Virginids also shower at various dates in May.
Ancient Roman observances
[edit]Under the calendar of ancient Rome, the festival of Bona Dea fell on May 1, Argei fell on May 14 or May 15, Agonalia fell on May 21, and Ambarvalia on May 29. Floralia was held April 27 during the Republican era, or April 28 on the Julian calendar, and lasted until May 3. Lemuria fell on 9,11, and 13 May under the Julian calendar. The College of Aesculapius and Hygia celebrated two festivals of Rosalia, one on May 11 and one on May 22. Rosalia was also celebrated at Pergamon on May 24–26. A military Rosalia festival, Rosaliae signorum, also occurred on May 31. Ludi Fabarici was celebrated May 29 – June 1. Mercury would receive a sacrifice on the Ides of May (May 15). Tubilustrium took place on May 23 as well as in March. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.Template:Citation needed
Symbols
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May's birthstone is the emerald, which is emblematic of love and success. Birth flowers are the Lily of the Valley and Crataegus monogyna.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Both are native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and in the southern Appalachian Mountains in the United States, but have been naturalized throughout the temperate climatic world.
The "Mayflower" Epigaea repens is a North American harbinger of May, and the floral emblem of both Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. Its native range extends from Newfoundland south to Florida, west to Kentucky in the southern range, and to Northwest Territories in the north. The zodiac signs are Taurus (until May 20) and Gemini (May 21 onward).<ref>The Earth passed the junction of the signs at 13:49 UT/GMT May 20, 2020, and will pass it again at 19:37 UT/GMT May 20, 2021.</ref><ref name=astrology>Template:Citation. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.</ref>
Observances
[edit]Month-long
[edit]- Working class history month
- Better Hearing and Speech Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- In Catholic tradition, May is the Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary. See May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Flores de Mayo (Philippines)
- Celiac Awareness Month
- Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Garden for Wildlife month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Huntington's Disease Awareness Month (International)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- International Mediterranean Diet Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Kaamatan harvest festival (Labuan, Sabah)
- New Zealand Music Month (New Zealand)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Pet Month (United Kingdom)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Smile Month (United Kingdom)
- Season of Emancipation (April 14 to August 23) (Barbados)
- Skin Cancer Awareness Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- South Asian Heritage Month (International)
- World Trade Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
United States
[edit]
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- National ALS Awareness Month
- Bicycle Month
- National Brain Tumor Awareness Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Burger Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Community Action Awareness Month (North Dakota)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Electrical Safety Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Foster Care Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Golf Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- Haitian Heritage Month
- Hepatitis Awareness Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- National Military Appreciation Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Moving Month<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- National Osteoporosis Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Stroke Awareness Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Water Safety Month<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Older Americans Month<ref>GovTrack.us: Tracking the U.S. CongressTemplate:Dead link</ref>
Non-Gregorian
[edit](All Baha'i, Islamic, and Jewish observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted.)
- List of observances set by the Bahá'í calendar
- List of observances set by the Chinese calendar
- List of observances set by the Hebrew calendar
- List of observances set by the Islamic calendar
- List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar
Movable, 2019
[edit]- Phi Ta Khon (Dan Sai, Loei province, Isan, Thailand) Dates are selected by village mediums and can take place anywhere between March and July.
- National Small Business Week (United States): May 5 – 11<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Hurricane Preparedness Week (United States): May 5 – 11<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- New Zealand Sign Language Week: May 6 – 12<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Green Office Week (Britain, United States): May 13 – 17<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Walk Safely to School Day (Australia): May 17<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Emergency Medical Services Week (United States): May 19 – 25<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Bike to Work Week Victoria (May 27 – June 2)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Western Christian
[edit]- Special devotions to the Virgin Mary take place in May. See May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Labour Day: May 1
Sunday after Divine Mercy Sunday: May 5
Monday and Tuesday in the week following the third Sunday of Easter: May 6–7
Fourth Sunday after Easter: May 12
Fourth Friday after Easter: May 17
Third Sunday of May: May 19
Sunday preceding the Rogation days: May 26
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday preceding Feast of the Ascension: May 27–29
- Minor Rogation days
39 days after Easter: May 30
Eastern Christian
[edit]Wednesday after Pascha: May 1
Thursday after Pascha: May 2
Friday after Pascha: May 3
Saturday after Pascha: May 4
8th day after Pascha: May 5
2nd Tuesday of Pascha, or 2nd Monday of Pascha, depending on region: May 6 or May 7
2nd Sunday following Pascha: May 12
4th Sunday of Pascha: May 26
Wednesday after the Sunday of the Paralytic: May 29
Movable civic
[edit]Last Friday in April to the first Sunday in May
[edit]- National Arbour Week (Ontario, Canada)
First Thursday
[edit]- Arbour Day (Nova Scotia, Canada)
- National Day of Prayer (United States)
- National Day of Reason (United States)
First Saturday
[edit]- Kentucky Derby
- Free Comic Book Day
- Green Up Day (Vermont, United States)
- World Naked Gardening Day
First Sunday
[edit]- Mother's Day (Angola, Cape Verde, Hungary, Lithuania, Mozambique, Portugal, Spain)
- World Laughter Day
- Children's Day (South Korea)
First full week
[edit]- National Teacher Appreciation Week (United States)
- North American Occupational Safety and Health Week
Tuesday of First full week
[edit]Wednesday of first full week
[edit]Second week in May
[edit]First Tuesday
[edit]Friday preceding Second Sunday in May
[edit]- Military Spouse Day (United States)
- National Public Gardens Day (United States)
Saturday closest to May 10
[edit]Second Saturday
[edit]- International Migratory Bird Day (Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean)
- National Tree Planting Day (Mongolia)
- National Train Day
Second Weekend
[edit]Second Sunday
[edit]- National Nursing Home Week (United States)
- Children's Day (Spain)
- Father's Day (Romania)
- Mother's Day (Anguilla, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Croatia, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Malta, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe)
- State Flag and State Emblem Day (Belarus)
- World Fair Trade Day
- National Nursing Week (United States)
Third Weekend, including Friday
[edit]- Sanja Matsuri (Tokyo, Japan)
Third Friday
[edit]- Arbour Day (Prince Edward Island, Canada)
- National Defense Transportation Day
- Endangered Species Day (United States)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Pizza Party Day (United States)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Third Saturday
[edit]- The Preakness Stakes is run, second jewel in the triple crown of horse racing.
- Armed Forces Day (United States)
- Culture Freedom Day
- Sanja Matsuri
- World Whisky Day
Third Sunday
[edit]- Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers
- Father's Day (Tonga)
- Feast of Our Lady of the Audience
- Sanja Matsuri (Tokyo, Japan)
Monday on or before May 24
[edit]Third Monday
[edit]Monday on or before May 25
[edit]Last Monday preceding May 25
[edit]May 24, or the nearest weekday if May 24 falls on a weekend
[edit]- Bermuda Day (Bermuda)
Saturday closest to May 30
[edit]- Armed Forces Day (Spain)
Last Weekend
[edit]Last Sunday
[edit]- Arbor Day (Venezuela)
- Children's Day (Hungary)
- Mother's Day (Algeria, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Sweden, Tunisia)
- Turkmen Carpet Day (Turkmenistan)
Last Monday
[edit]- Heroes' Day (Turks and Caicos Islands)
- Memorial Day (United States), a public holiday, is on May 30, but observed on the last Monday in May.
- Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day (Fiji), removed as a national holiday in 2010.
Last Wednesday
[edit]Last Thursday
[edit]- Take a Girl Child to Work Day (South Africa)
Fixed
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- April 29 to May 5 in Japan, which includes four different holidays, is called "Golden Week". Many workers have up to 10 days off. There is also 'May sickness', where new students or workers start to be tired of their new routine. (In Japan the school year and fiscal year start on April 1.)
- Mayovka, in the context of the late Russian Empire, was a picnic in the countryside or in a park in the early days of May, hence the name. Eventually, "mayovka" (specifically, "proletarian mayovka") came to mean an illegal celebration of May 1 by revolutionary public, typically presented as an innocent picnic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- May 1
- Armed Forces Day (Mauritania)
- Beltane (Ireland, Neopaganism)
- Constitution Day (Argentina)
- Lei Day (Hawaii, United States)
- May Day (International observance)
- May 2
- May 3
- May 4
- Anti-Bullying Day (United Nations)
- Bird Day (United States)
- Cassinga Day (Namibia)
- Death of Milan Rastislav Štefánik Day (Slovakia)
- Greenery Day (Japan)
- International Firefighters' Day
- May Fourth Movement commemorations:
- Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled (Afghanistan)
- Remembrance of the Dead (Netherlands)
- Restoration of Independence day (Latvia)
- Star Wars Day (International observance)
- World Give Day
- Youth Day (Fiji)
- May 5
- Children's Day (Japan, Korea)
- Cinco de Mayo
- Constitution Day (Kyrgyzstan)
- Coronation Day (Thailand)
- Europe Day in Europe (uncommon usage, largely replaced by May 9).
- Feast of al-Khadr or Saint George (Palestinian people)
- Indian Arrival Day (Guyana)
- International Midwives' Day
- Liberation Day (Denmark)
- Liberation Day (Netherlands)
- Lusophone Culture Day (Community of Portuguese Language Countries)
- Martyrs' Day (Albania)
- Patriots' Victory Day (Ethiopia)
- Senior Citizens Day (Palau)
- Tango no sekku (Japan)
- May 6
- Martyrs' Day (Gabon)
- Martyrs' Day (Lebanon and Syria)
- International No Diet Day
- Teachers' Day (Jamaica)
- The first day of Hıdırellez (Turkey)
- St George's Day related observances (Eastern Orthodox Church):
- Day of Bravery, also known as Gergyovden (Bulgaria)
- Đurđevdan (Gorani, Roma)
- Police Day (Georgia)
- Yuri's Day (Russian Orthodox Church)
- May 7
- Defender of the Fatherland Day (Kazakhstan)
- Dien Bien Phu Victory Day (Vietnam)
- Radio Day (Russia, Bulgaria)
- May 8
- Miguel Hidalgo's birthday (Mexico)
- Parents' Day (South Korea)
- Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, continues to May 9
- Truman Day (Missouri, United States)
- White Lotus Day (Theosophy)
- World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
- Veterans Day (Norway)
- VE Day in Western Europe. In Eastern Europe it is celebrated on May 9.
- May 9
- Anniversary of Dianetics (Church of Scientology)
- Europe Day (European Union)
- Liberation Day (Guernsey), commemorating the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II.
- Liberation Day (Jersey), commemorating the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II.
- Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, continued from May 8.
- Victory Day observances, celebration of the Soviet Union victory over Nazi Germany (Soviet Union, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)
- Victory Day over Nazism in World War II (Ukraine)
- Victory and Peace Day (Armenia) marks both the capture of Shusha (1992) in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the end of World War II.
- May 10
- Children's Day (Maldives)
- Confederate Memorial Day (North Carolina and South Carolina)
- Constitution Day (Federated States of Micronesia)
- Golden Spike Day (1869 – Completion of the First transcontinental railroad – Promontory Summit, Utah)<ref name="WDL">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Independence Day (Romania), celebrating the declaration of independence of Romania from the Ottoman Empire in 1877.
- Liberation Day (Sark), commemorating the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II.
- May 11
- National Technology Day (India)
- Statehood Day (Minnesota)
- Vietnam Human Rights Day (Vietnam)
- May 12
- May 13
- Abbotsbury Garland Day (Dorset, England)
- Heroes' Day (Romania)
- Rotuma Day (Rotuma, Fiji)
- May 14
- Hastings Banda's Birthday (Malawi)
- First day of Izumo-taisha Shrine Grand Festival. (Izumo-taisha, Japan)
- National Unification Day (Liberia)
- May 15
- Beginning of Tourette Syndrome awareness month. It ends on June 15
- Army Day (Slovenia)
- Constituent Assembly Day (Lithuania)
- Independence Day (Paraguay)
- International Day of Families
- Nakba Day (Palestinian communities)
- Peace Officers Memorial Day (United States)
- Republic Day (Lithuania)
- Saint Ubaldo Day
- Teachers' Day (Colombia, Mexico, South Korea)
- May 16
- Martyrs of Sudan (Episcopal Church (USA))
- St Brendan Birthday & Feast day
- Mass Graves Day (Iraq)
- National Day, declared by Salva Kiir Mayardit (South Sudan)
- Teachers' Day (Malaysia)
- International Day of Light
- May 17
- National Day Against Homophobia (Canada)
- International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, also known as IDAHOT<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Birthday of the Raja (Perlis)
- Children's Day (Norway)
- Constitution Day (Nauru)
- Galician Literature Day (Galicia (Spain))
- World Hypertension Day
- World Information Society Day
- Liberation Day (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Navy Day (Argentina)
- Norwegian Constitution Day
- May 18
- Baltic Fleet Day (Russia)
- Battle of Las Piedras Day (Uruguay)
- Day of Remembrance of Crimean Tatar genocide (Ukraine)
- Flag and Universities Day (Haiti)
- Independence Day (Somaliland) (unrecognized)
- International Museum Day
- Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day (Sri Lankan Tamils)
- Revival, Unity, and Poetry of Magtymguly Day (Turkmenistan)
- Teacher's Day (Syria)
- Victory Day (Sri Lanka)
- World AIDS Vaccine Day
- May 19
- Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day (Turkey, Northern Cyprus)
- Greek Genocide Remembrance Day (Greece)
- Hồ Chí Minh's Birthday (Vietnam)
- Malcolm X Day (United States of America)
- National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- Hepatitis Testing Day (United States)
- May 20
- May 21
- Afro-Colombian Day (Colombia)
- Circassian Day of Mourning (Circassians)
- Day of Patriots and Military (Hungary)
- Navy Day (Chile)
- Saint Helena Day, celebrates the discovery of Saint Helena in 1502.
- World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (International)
- One of the three festivals of Vejovis (Roman Empire)
- May 22
- Abolition Day (Martinique)
- Harvey Milk Day (California)
- International Day for Biological Diversity (International)
- National Maritime Day (United States)
- National Sovereignty Day (Haiti)
- Republic Day (Sri Lanka)
- Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra to Bari (Ukraine)
- Unity Day (Yemen)
- World Goth Day
- May 23
- May 24
- Feast of Mary Help of Christians (Roman Catholicism)
- Aldersgate Day/Wesley Day (Methodism)
- Battle of Pichincha Day (Ecuador)
- Commonwealth Day (Belize)
- Independence Day (Eritrea)
- Lubiri Memorial Day (Buganda)
- Saints Cyril and Methodius Day (Eastern Orthodox Church) and its related observance:
- Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slavonic Literature Day (Bulgaria)
- Saints Cyril and Methodius, Slavonic Enlighteners' Day (North Macedonia)
- May 25
- Africa Day (African Union)
- African Liberation Day (African Union)
- Day of Youth
- Geek Pride Day
- Independence Day (Jordan)
- Liberation Day (Lebanon)
- May Revolution (or Revolución de Mayo), a national holiday in Argentina
- International Missing Children's Day
- Last bell (Russia, post-Soviet countries)
- Liberation Day (Lebanon)
- National Day (Argentina)
- National Missing Children's Day (United States)
- National Tap Dance Day (United States)
- Towel Day
- May 26
- Crown Prince's Birthday (Denmark)
- Independence Day (Guyana)
- Independence Day (Georgia)
- Mother's Day (Poland)
- National Day of Healing (Australia)
- National Paper Airplane Day (United States)
- May 27
- May 28
- Armed Forces Day (Croatia)
- Downfall of the Derg Day (Ethiopia)
- Flag Day (Philippines) (Display of the flag in all places until June 12 is encouraged)
- Independence Day (Armenia)
- Republic Day (Nepal)
- TDFR Republic Day
- Youm-e-Takbir (Pakistan)
- May 29
- Army Day (Argentina)
- International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (International)
- Oak Apple Day (England), and its related observance:
- Statehood Day (Rhode Island and Wisconsin)
- Veterans Day (Sweden)
- World Digestive Health Day
- May 30
- Anguilla Day (Anguilla)
- Canary Islands Day (Spain)
- Indian Arrival Day (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Lod Massacre Remembrance Day (Puerto Rico)
- Mother's Day (Nicaragua)
- Parliament Day (Croatia)
- May 31
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
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