May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and the third month to have the length of 31 days. May is also the month with the shortest name.
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.
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.
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 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.
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).In Catholic tradition, May is the Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary. See May devotions to the Blessed Virgin MaryCeliac Awareness MonthCystic Fibrosis Awareness Month.Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness monthInternational Mediterranean Diet MonthNational Mobility Awareness Month (United States, Canada)Season of Emancipation (April 14 to August 23) (Barbados)Better Hearing and Speech MonthKaamatan harvest festival (Labuan, Sabah)National Electrical Safety Month (United States)Flores de Mayo (Philippines)Garden for Wildlife monthNew Zealand Music Month (New Zealand)National Pet Month (United Kingdom)Skin Cancer Awareness MonthNational Smile Month (United Kingdom)South Asian Heritage Month (International)World Trade MonthAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthNational ALS Awareness MonthNational Innovators MonthNational 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 MonthHaitian Heritage MonthHepatitis Awareness MonthMental Health Awareness MonthNational Military Appreciation MonthNational Moving Month Older Americans Month National Osteoporosis Month National Stroke Awareness MonthNational Water Safety Month May 25: Amavasya (Hinduism) National Dance Week (United States) - April 22 - May 1National Small Business Week (United States) - May 1–7Emergency Medical Services Week (United States) - May 15–21National Family Week (UK)Green Office Week (Britain)National Hurricane Preparedness Week (United States)Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day 2016 date: May 4.Phi Ta Khon (Dan Sai, Loei province, Isan, Thailand) Dates are selected by village mediums and can take place anywhere between March and July.Victoria Day (Canada)Walk Safely to School DayBike to Work Week Victoria May 30-June 5.Moatsü, celebrated by the Ao people of Nagaland, IndiaNew Zealand Sign Language Week happens once every year in May, Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand organises NZSL Week with over 500 events happening in New Zealand to help promote the language as well as raise awareness about New Zealand’s Deaf community.National Forest Week (Canada)National Teacher Appreciation Week (United States). Teacher's Day in the United States falls in this week.First Sunday - May 1
Mother's Day (Angola, Cape Verde, Hungary, Lithuania, Mozambique, Portugal, Romania, Spain)World Laughter DayEnd of Arbor Week in Ontario. which begins on the last Friday in April.May Day, China, Labour Day.First Tuesday - May 3
National Teacher Appreciation Day (United States)World Asthma DayFirst Thursday - May 5
Arbor Day (Nova Scotia, Canada)National Day of Prayer (United States)National Day of Reason (United States)Friday preceding Mother's Day - May 6
Military Spouse Day (United States)National Public Gardens Day (United States)First Saturday - May 7
Free Comic Book DayGreen Up Day (Vermont, United States)World Naked Gardening DaySaturday closest to May 10 - May 7
National Train Day (United States)National Mills Weekend (United Kingdom)World Migratory Bird DayBike Week (Bicycle Week) is a yearly international event that advocates the importance of bicycling as a means of transportation. Bike Week takes place during the second week of May or June and is typically an entire week of citywide cycling supplemented with events.National Stuttering Awareness Week (United States)Week of May 12
National Nursing Week (United States)Second Sunday - May 8
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 DayMay 13
Friday the 13thSecond Saturday - May 14
International Migratory Bird Day (Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean)National Tree Planting Day (Mongolia)Bike-to-Work WeekBike-to-Work Day generally falls within this week and varies from city to city.Third Sunday - May 15
Commemoration Day of Fallen SoldiersFather's Day (Tonga)Feast of Our Lady of the AudienceThird Monday - May 16
Discovery Day (Cayman Islands)Third Thursday - May 19
Hummus DayThird Friday - May 20
Arbor Day (Prince Edward Island, Canada)National Defense Transportation DayNational 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 21
The Preakness Stakes is run, second jewel in the triple crown of horse racing.Culture Freedom DayArmed Forces Day (United States)World Whisky DaySanja Matsuri (May 16–19)Monday on or before May 24 - May 23
Victoria Day (Scotland)Monday on or before May 25 - May 23
National Patriots' Day (Quebec)ALIA celebrates Library and Information week in May. Events are organised by libraries around Australia to encourage people to use their local libraries. Children's librarians hold a special event known as National Simultaneous Storytime, where public and school libraries read the same book, at 11 am EST, to children around Australia.Arbor Week (Prince Edward Island, Canada)Bermuda Day (Bermuda)Take a Girl Child to Work Day (South Africa)Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis, Indiana), (United States)Kiev Day (Kiev)Saturday closest to May 30 - May 28
Armed Forces Day (Spain)Arbor Day (Venezuela)Children's Day (Hungary)Mother's Day (Algeria, Dominican Republic, France (First Sunday of June, if Pentecost occurs on this day), Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Sweden, Tunisia)Turkmen Carpet Day (Turkmenistan)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.Hocktide – May 1-2 (England) (the Monday and Tuesday in the week following the Third Sunday of Easter)Earth Day Sunday – May 7 (some Protestant denominations) (Sunday before Earth Day)Good Shepherd Sunday – May 7 (Fourth Sunday after Easter)Store Bededag – May 12 (Fourth Friday after Easter in Denmark)Cantate Sunday – May 14Rogation Sunday – May 21Minor Rogation days - May 22–24Feast of the Ascension - May 25Father's Day (Germany)Festa della Sensa (Venice)Global Day of PrayerSheep Festival (Cameroon)Sunday of the Paralytic - May 7Mid-Pentecost Celebrated Wednesday after the Sunday of the Paralytic. - May 10Sunday of the Samaritan Woman - May 14Sunday of the Blind Man – May 21Feast of the Ascension – May 25Heroes Day (Romania)Sunday of the Holy Fathers – May 28April 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 1Armed Forces Day (Mauritania)Constitution Day (Argentina)Lei Day in Hawaii. The custom is to wear a lei throughout the day.Beltane (Bealtaine) on the Irish calendar, the first day of Summer, and a public holiday is held on the first Monday in May. It is also a neopagan holiday.May Day in many countries. This is also celebrated as Labour Day in many countries.May 1 is May Day in the United Kingdom, however the public holiday is held on the first Monday in May.May 2Anniversary of the Dos de Mayo Uprising (Community of Madrid, Spain)Birth Anniversary of Third Druk Gyalpo (Bhutan)Flag Day (Poland)Indonesia National Education DayTeachers' Day Iran)May 3Constitution Day (Poland).Constitution Memorial Day (Japan).RoodmasWorld Press Freedom DayMay 4Anti-Bullying Day (United Nations)Bird Day (United States)Cassinga Day (Namibia)Death of Milan Rastislav Štefánik Day (Slovakia)Greenery Day (Japan)International Firefighters' DayMay 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 DayYouth Day (Fiji)May 5Children's Day (Japan, Korea)Cinco de MayoConstitution 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' DayLiberation 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 6Martyrs' Day (Gabon)Martyrs' Day (Lebanon and Syria)International No Diet DayTeachers' 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 7Defender of the Fatherland Day (Kazakhstan)Dien Bien Phu Victory Day (Vietnam)Radio Day (Russia, Bulgaria)May 8Miguel 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 9Truman Day (Missouri, United States)White Lotus Day (Theosophy)World Red Cross and Red Crescent DayVE Day in Western Europe. In Eastern Europe it is celebrated on May 9.May 9Anniversary 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 10Children'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 11National Technology Day (India)Statehood Day (Minnesota)Vietnam Human Rights Day (Vietnam)May 12Saint Andrea the First Day (Georgia (country))Day of the Finnish Identity (Finland)International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness DayInternational Nurses DayMay 13Abbotsbury Garland Day (Dorset, England)Heroes' Day (Romania)Rotuma Day (Rotuma, Fiji)May 14Argei (Ancient Rome)Hastings Banda's Birthday (Malawi)First day of Izumo-taisha Shrine Grand Festival. (Izumo-taisha, Japan)National Unification Day (Liberia)May 15Beginning of Tourette Syndrome awareness month. It ends on June 15Argei (Ancient Rome)Army Day (Slovenia)Constituent Assembly Day (Lithuania)Independence Day (Paraguay)International Day of FamiliesMercuralia (Ancient Rome)Nakba Day (Palestinian communities)Peace Officers Memorial Day (United States)Republic Day (Lithuania)Saint Ubaldo DayTeachers' Day (Colombia, Mexico, South Korea)May 16Martyrs of Sudan (Episcopal Church (USA))Mass Graves Day (Iraq)National Day, declared by Salva Kiir Mayardit (South Sudan)Teachers' Day (Malaysia)May 17National Day Against Homophobia (Canada)International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia aka IDAHOBirthday of the Raja (Perlis)Children's Day (Norway)Constitution Day (Nauru)Galician Literature Day (Galicia (Spain))World Hypertension DayWorld Information Society DayLiberation Day (Democratic Republic of the Congo)Navy Day (Argentina)Norwegian Constitution DayMay 18Baltic 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 DayMullivaikkal Remembrance Day (Sri Lankan Tamils)Revival, Unity, and Poetry of Magtymguly Day (Turkmenistan)Teacher's Day (Syria)Victory Day (Sri Lanka)World AIDS Vaccine DayMay 19Commemoration 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 DayHepatitis Testing Day (United States)May 20Day of Remembrance (Cambodia)Emancipation Day (Florida)European Maritime Day (European Council)Independence Day (Cuba)Independence Day, East TimorJosephine Baker Day (NAACP)National Awakening Day (Indonesia)National Day (Cameroon)World Metrology DayMay 21Afro-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 22Abolition 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 DayMay 23Constitution Day (Germany)Labour Day (Jamaica)Students' Day (Mexico)World Crohn's and Colitis DayWorld Turtle DayMay 24Feast 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 25Africa Day (African Union)African Liberation Day (African Union)Day of YouthGeek Pride DayIndependence Day (Jordan)Liberation Day (Lebanon)May Revolution (or Revolución de Mayo), a national holiday in ArgentinaInternational Missing Children's DayLast 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 DayMay 26Crown 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 27Armed Forces Day (Nicaragua)Children's Day (Nigeria)Mother's Day (Bolivia)Navy Day (Japan)Slavery Abolition Day (Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin)World MS DayStart of National Reconciliation Week (Australia)May 28Armed 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 DayYoum-e-Takbir (Pakistan)May 29Army 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 DayMay 30Anguilla 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 31Anniversary of Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (Brunei)Castile–La Mancha Day (Castile-La Mancha)Rosaliae signorum (Roman Empire)Visitation of Mary (Western Christianity)World No Tobacco Day (International)
