May

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May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and the third of seven months to have a length of 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 and Canada and ends on Labor Day, first Monday of September.

Video May

Background

The month May 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).

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.

Special devotions to the Virgin Mary take place in May. See May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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

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 (festival) fell on 9,11, and 13 May under the Julian calendar. The College of Aesculapius and Hygia celebrated two festivals of Rosalia (festival), 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 on 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.

Maps May

May symbols

• May's birthstone is the emerald which is emblematic of love and success.
• The May birth flower is the Lily of the Valley and the Crataegus monogyna. It is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and in the southern Appalachian Mountains in the United States, but has been naturalized throughout the temperate climactic 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 for the month of May are Taurus (until May 20) and Gemini (May 21 onwards).

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May observances

Month-long observances

• In Catholic tradition, May is the Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary. See May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Celiac Awareness Month
• Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month.
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness month
• International Mediterranean Diet Month
• National Mobility Awareness Month (United States, Canada)
• Season of Emancipation (April 14 to August 23) (Barbados)
• Better Hearing and Speech Month
• Kaamatan harvest festival (Labuan, Sabah)
• National Electrical Safety Month (United States)
• Flores de Mayo (Philippines)
• Garden for Wildlife month
• New Zealand Music Month (New Zealand)
• National Pet Month (United Kingdom)
• Skin Cancer Awareness Month
• National Smile Month (United Kingdom)
• South Asian Heritage Month (International)
• World Trade Month

United States

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
• National ALS Awareness Month
• National Innovators Month
• National Brain Tumor Awareness Month
• National Burger Month
• Community Action Awareness Month (North Dakota, United States)
• National Foster Care Month (United States)
• National Golf Month
• Jewish American Heritage Month
• Haitian Heritage Month
• Hepatitis Awareness Month
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• National Military Appreciation Month
• National Moving Month
• Older Americans Month
• National Osteoporosis Month
• National Stroke Awareness Month
• National Water Safety Month
• National Corps Member Appreciation Month

Non-Gregorian observances, 2018

(Please note that 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.)

• May 29: Poya (Buddhism, public holiday in Sri Lanka)

Movable observances, 2017

• 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): April 30 - May 6
• National Hurricane Preparedness Week (United States): May 7 - May 13
• Green Office Week (Britain): May 8-13
• New Zealand Sign Language Week May 8-14
• Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day: May 10
• Bike Week (Bicycle Week) (United States: May 15-19
• Walk Safely to School Day: May 19
• Emergency Medical Services Week (United States): May 21-27
• Bike to Work Week Victoria: May 29 - June 4

Last Friday in April to the first Sunday in May: April 28 - May 7

• National Arbour Week (Ontario, Canada)

First Tuesday: May 2

• World Asthma Day

First Thursday: May 4

• Arbor Day (Nova Scotia, Canada)
• National Day of Prayer (United States)
• National Day of Reason (United States)

Friday preceding Second Sunday in May: May 5

• Military Spouse Day (United States)
• National Public Gardens Day (United States)

First Saturday: May 6

• Free Comic Book Day
• Green Up Day (Vermont, United States)
• World Naked Gardening Day

First Sunday: May 7

• Mother's Day (Angola, Cape Verde, Hungary, Lithuania, Mozambique, Portugal, Romania, Spain)
• World Laughter Day

First full week: May 7-13

• National Teacher Appreciation Week (United States)
• North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (United States)

Second Week of May: 7-13

• National Stuttering Awareness Week (United States)

Week of May 12: May 7-13

• National Nursing Week (United States)

Tuesday of First full week: May 9

• National Teacher Appreciation Day (United States)

Saturday closest to May 10: May 13

• National Train Day (United States)

Second Saturday: May 13

• International Migratory Bird Day (Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean)
• National Tree Planting Day (Mongolia)

Second Weekend: May 13-14

• National Mills Weekend (United Kingdom)
• World Migratory Bird Day

Second Sunday: May 14

• 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

Third Monday: May 15

• Discovery Day (Cayman Islands)

Third Friday: May 19

• Arbor Day (Prince Edward Island, Canada)
• National Defense Transportation Day
• National Defense Transportation Week is the week in which National Transportation Day falls.
• Endangered Species Day (United States)
• National Pizza Party Day (United States)

Third Saturday: May 20

• The Preakness Stakes is run, second jewel in the triple crown of horse racing.
• Culture Freedom Day
• Armed Forces Day (United States)
• World Whisky Day
• Sanja Matsuri (May 16-19)

Third Sunday: May 21

• 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: May 22

• Victoria Day (Scotland)

Monday on or before May 25: May 22

• National Patriots' Day (Quebec)

Last Monday preceding May 25: May 22

• Victoria Day (Canada)

May 24, or the nearest weekday if May 24 falls on a weekend: May 23

• Bermuda Day (Bermuda)

Last Thursday: May 25

• Take a Girl Child to Work Day (South Africa)

Saturday closest to May 30: May 27

• Armed Forces Day (Spain)

Last Sunday: May 28

• Arbor Day (Venezuela)
• Children's Day (Hungary)
• Mother's Day (Algeria, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Sweden, Tunisia)
• Turkmen Carpet Day (Turkmenistan)

Last Weekend: May 28-29

• Kiev Day (Kiev)

Last Monday: May 29

• 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: May 31

• World Multiple Sclerosis Day

Movable Western Christian observances, 2018 dates

• Rogation Sunday - May 6
• Earth Day Sunday: May 6 (some Protestant denominations) (Sunday before Earth Day)
• Minor Rogation days - May 7-9
• Feast of the Ascension - May 10
  • Father's Day (Germany)
  • Festa della Sensa (Venice)
  • Global Day of Prayer
  • Sheep Festival (Cameroon)
• Pentecost begins: May 20
  • Whitsun: May 20
• Whit Monday: May 21
  • Azores Day (Portugal)
• Whit Tuesday: May 22
• Feast of Christ the Priest: May 24 (first Thursday after start of Pentecost)
• Whit Friday: May 25 (North West England)
• Trinity Sunday: May 27
• Corpus Christi (feast): May 31

Movable Eastern Christian observances, 2018 dates

• Mid-Pentecost: May 2 (Wednesday after the Sunday of the Paralytic)
• Sunday of the Samaritan Woman - May 6 (5th Sunday of Pascha)
• Sunday of the Blind Man - May 13 (6th Sunday of Pascha)
• Feast of the Ascension - May 17 (forty days after Pascha)
  • Heroes Day (Romania)
• Sunday of the Holy Fathers: May 20 (7th Sunday of Pascha)
• Saturday of the Dead: May 26 (7th Saturday of Pascha)
• Pentecost: May 27 (Fifty days after Pascha)
• Day of the Holy Spirit: May 28
• Third Day of the Trinity: May 29

Fixed observances in May

• 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.)
• May 1
  • Armed Forces Day (Mauritania)
  • Beltane (Ireland, Neopaganism)
  • Constitution Day (Argentina)
  • Lei Day (Hawaii, United States
  • May Day (International observance)
• May 2
  • Anniversary of the Dos de Mayo Uprising (Community of Madrid, Spain)
  • Birth Anniversary of Third Druk Gyalpo (Bhutan)
  • Flag Day (Poland)
  • Indonesia National Education Day
  • Teachers' Day (Iran)
• May 3
  • Constitution Day (Poland)
  • Constitution Memorial Day (Japan)
  • Roodmas
  • World Press Freedom Day
• May 4
  • Anti-Bullying Day (United Nations)
  • Bird Day (United States)
  • Cassinga Day (Namibia)
  • Death of Milan Rastislav ?tefánik Day (Slovakia)
  • Greenery Day (Japan)
  • International Firefighters' Day
  • May Fourth Movement commemorations:
    • Literary Day (Republic of China)
    • Youth Day (China)
  • 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)
  • 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 H?d?rellez (Turkey)
  • St George's Day related observances (Eastern Orthodox Church):
    • Day of Bravery, also known as Gergyovden (Bulgaria)
    • ?ur?evdan (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
  • 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 Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the end of World War II.
  • Veterans Day (Norway)
• 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)
  • 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
  • Saint Andrea the First Day (Georgia (country))
  • Day of the Finnish Identity (Finland)
  • International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day
  • International Nurses Day
• 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
  • Argei (Ancient Rome)
  • Army Day (Slovenia)
  • Constituent Assembly Day (Lithuania)
  • Independence Day (Paraguay)
  • International Day of Families
  • Mercuralia (Ancient Rome)
  • 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)
• May 17
  • National Day Against Homophobia (Canada)
  • International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia aka IDAHO
  • 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)
  • H? 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
  • Day of Remembrance (Cambodia)
  • Emancipation Day (Florida)
  • European Maritime Day (European Council)
  • Independence Day (Cuba)
  • Independence Day, East Timor
  • Josephine Baker Day (NAACP)
  • National Awakening Day (Indonesia)
  • National Day (Cameroon)
  • World Metrology Day
• May 21
  • Afro-Colombian Day (Colombia)
  • Agonalia (Roman Empire)
  • 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
  • Constitution Day (Germany)
  • Labour Day (Jamaica)
  • Students' Day (Mexico)
  • World Crohn's and Colitis Day
  • World Turtle Day
• 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)
  • Rosalia, May 24-26. (Pergamon, Roman Empire)
  • 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 (Republic of 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
  • Armed Forces Day (Nicaragua)
  • Children's Day (Nigeria)
  • Mother's Day (Bolivia)
  • Navy Day (Japan)
  • Slavery Abolition Day (Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin)
  • World MS Day
  • Start of National Reconciliation Week (Australia)
• 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)
  • Democracy Day (Nigeria)
  • International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (International)
  • Oak Apple Day (England), and its related observance:
    • Castleton Garland Day (Castleton)
  • 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
  • Anniversary of Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (Brunei)
  • Castile-La Mancha Day (Castile-La Mancha)
  • Visitation of Mary (Western Christianity)
  • World No Tobacco Day (International)

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See also

• List of historical anniversaries
• May travel guide from Wikivoyage

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References

Source of article : Wikipedia