May is the fifth month of the year in the

Julian Julian may refer to: People * Julian (emperor) (331–363), Roman emperor from 361 to 363 * Julian (Rome), referring to the Roman gens Julia, with imperial dynasty offshoots * Saint Julian (disambiguation), several Christian saints * Julian (give ...

and Gregorian calendars and is the third of seven months to have a length of 31 days. May is a month of

spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a ...

in the Northern Hemisphere, and

autumn Autumn, also known as fall in American English and Canadian English, is one of the four temperate seasons on Earth. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September ( Northern Hemisphere) or March ( Sou ...

in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, May in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of

November November is the eleventh and penultimate month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars, the fourth and last of four months to have a length of 30 days and the fifth and last of five months to have a length of fewer than 31 days. No ...

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 Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United St ...

, the first Monday of September. May (in Latin, ''

Maius ''Maius'' or ''mensis Maius'' (May) was the third month of the ancient Roman calendar, following ''Aprilis'' (April) and preceding ''Iunius'' (June). On the oldest Roman calendar that had begun with March, it was the third of ten months in the year ...

'') was named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was identified with the

Roman era In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC ...

goddess A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes of s ...

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''). Podophyllum peltatum Shenks Ferry 2

Lady of the Rosary altar, Inner City Parish Church, 2016 Budapest

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 The Arietids are a strong meteor shower that lasts from May 22 to July 2 each year, and peaks on June 7. The Arietids, along with the Zeta Perseids, are the most intense daylight meteor showers of the year. The source of the shower is unknown, but ...

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 The rituals of the Argei were archaic religious observances in ancient Rome that took place on March 16 and March 17, and again on May 14 or May 15. By the time of Augustus, the meaning of these rituals had become obscure even to those who practi ...

fell on May 14 or May 15, Agonalia fell on May 21, and

Ambarvalia Ambarvalia was a Roman agricultural fertility rite held on 29 May in honor of Ceres and Dea Dia. At these festivals they sacrificed a bull, a sow, and a sheep, which, before the sacrifice, were led in procession thrice around the fields; whence t ...

on May 29.

Floralia The Floralia was a festival in ancient Roman religious practice in honor of the goddess Flora, held April 27 during the Republican era, or April 28 in the Julian calendar. The festival included ''Ludi Florae'', the "Games of Flora", which lasted ...

was held April 27 during the Republican era, or April 28 on the Julian calendar, and lasted until May 3.

Lemuria (festival) The Lemuralia or Lemuria was an annual event in the religion of ancient Rome, during which the Romans performed rites to exorcise any malevolent and fearful ghosts of the restless dead from their homes. These unwholesome spectres, the ''lemure ...

fell on 9,11, and 13 May under the Julian calendar. The

College of Aesculapius and Hygia The College of Aesculapius and Hygia was an association ''(collegium)'' founded in the mid-2nd century AD by a wealthy Roman woman named Salvia Marcellina, in honor of her dead husband and the procurator for whom he had worked. It is known from a l ...

celebrated two festivals of

Rosalia (festival) In the Roman Empire, Rosalia or Rosaria was a festival of roses celebrated on various dates, primarily in May, but scattered through mid-July. The observance is sometimes called a ''rosatio'' ("rose-adornment") or the ''dies rosationis'', "day ...

, 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 In the Roman Empire, Rosalia or Rosaria was a festival of roses celebrated on various dates, primarily in May, but scattered through mid-July. The observance is sometimes called a ''rosatio'' ("rose-adornment") or the ''dies rosationis'', "day o ...

, also occurred on May 31. Ludi Fabarici was celebrated on May 29 – June 1.

Mercury Mercury commonly refers to: * Mercury (planet), the nearest planet to the Sun * Mercury (element), a metallic chemical element with the symbol Hg * Mercury (mythology), a Roman god Mercury or The Mercury may also refer to: Companies * Merc ...

would receive a sacrifice on the Ides of May (May 15).

Tubilustrium In Ancient Rome the month of March was the traditional start of the campaign season, and the Tubilustrium was a ceremony to make the army fit for war. The ceremony involved sacred trumpets called ''tubae''. Johannes Quasten, however, argues t ...

took place on May 23 as well as in March. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.

May symbols

May's birthstone is the

emerald Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium.Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr. and Kammerling, Robert C. (1991) ''Gemology'', John Wiley & Sons, New York, p ...

which is emblematic of love and success.

*The May birth flowers are the Lily of the Valley and the '' Crataegus monogyna''. 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. : Trailing arbutus

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).. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.

May observances

Month-long observances

* Working class history month * Better Hearing and Speech Month * In Catholic tradition, May is the Month of the

Blessed Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother o ...

. See May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary *

Celiac Awareness Month Coeliac disease (British English) or celiac disease (American English) is a long-term autoimmune disorder, primarily affecting the small intestine, where individuals develop intolerance to gluten, present in foods such as wheat, rye and barl ...

Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a rare genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs, but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and intestine. Long-term issues include difficulty breathing and coughing up mucus as a result of frequent lung infections. O ...

Awareness Month. * Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness month *

Flores de Mayo Flores de Mayo (Spanish for "flowers of May") is a festival held in the Philippines in the month of May. It is one of the May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasts for the entire month. The Santacruzan (from the Spanish ''santa cruz'', ...

(Philippines) * Garden for Wildlife month * Huntington's Disease Awareness Month (International) * International Mediterranean Diet Month * Kaamatan harvest festival ( Labuan, Sabah) * New Zealand Music Month (New Zealand) * National Pet Month (United Kingdom) * National Smile Month (United Kingdom) * Season of Emancipation (April 14 to August 23) (Barbados) * Skin Cancer Awareness Month *

South Asian Heritage Month South Asian Heritage Month is the name given to the month-long celebration in the South Asian diaspora to celebrate the heritage of people with roots in the South Asian countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhut ...

(International) * World Trade Month

United States

* Asian Pacific American Heritage Month * National

ALS Awareness Month ALS Awareness Month is a campaign to spread awareness of and raise funds for research for a cure for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Canada In Canada, June has been declared as ALS Awareness Month by the ...

* Bicycle Month * National Brain Tumor Awareness Month * National Burger Month * Community Action Awareness Month ( North Dakota) * National Electrical Safety Month * National Foster Care Month * National Golf Month *

Jewish American Heritage Month Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is an annual recognition and celebration of American Jews' achievements and contributions to the United States of America during the month of May. President George W. Bush first proclaimed the month on Apr ...

* Haitian Heritage Month * Hepatitis Awareness Month *

Mental Health Awareness Month Mental Health Awareness Month (also referred to as "Mental Health Month") has been observed in May in the United States since 1949. The month is observed with media, local events, and film screenings. Mental Health Awareness Month began in the Unit ...

National Military Appreciation Month National Military Appreciation Month, also known as Military Appreciation Month, is a month-long observance observed in the United States, dedicated to people who are currently in the military or have resigned from duty. Each year, the observance ...

* National Moving Month * National

Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass, micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to bone fragility, and consequent increase in fracture risk. It is the most common reason for a broken bone ...

Month *

National Stroke Awareness Month National Stroke Awareness Month is observed in the United States annually during the month of May. National Stroke Awareness Month was created to promote public awareness and reduce the incidence of stroke in the United States. History National S ...

* National Water Safety Month * Older Americans Month

Non-Gregorian observances, 2020

''(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 A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: People * List (surname) Organizations * List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America * SC Germania List, German rugby union ...

List of observances set by the Chinese calendar The traditional Chinese holidays are an essential part of harvests or prayer offerings. The most important Chinese holiday is the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), which is also celebrated in overseas ethnic Chinese communities (for example in ...

* 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 observances, 2020

* 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 *

National Hurricane Preparedness Week In 2004, National Hurricane Preparedness Week in the United States replaced the previous observance of National Hurricane Awareness Week, as awareness does not equate to preparedness. National Hurricane Preparedness Week is a nationwide effort to in ...

( United States): May 5 – 11 * New Zealand Sign Language Week: May 6 – 12 *

Green Office Week Green Office Week is a British annual awareness week that encourages workers across the UK to make small changes to their working habits to positively impact the environment. The week raises awareness of key green issues, providing office workers w ...

( Britain, United States): May 13 – 17 * Walk Safely to School Day (

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

): May 17 *

Emergency Medical Services Week Emergency medical services (EMS) Week, or EMS Week, was originally authorized by President Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. ( ; born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was an American politician who served as the 38th ...

( United States): May 19 – 25 *

Bike to Work Week Victoria Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. The ...

(May 27 – June 2)

Movable Western Christian observances, 2020 dates

* Special devotions to the Virgin Mary take place in May. See May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sunday after Divine Mercy Sunday: May 5 *

Jubilate Sunday The Fourth Sunday of Easter is the day that occurs three weeks after the Christian celebration of Easter. Western Christianity Tridentine Catholicism (pre-1970) In the historical Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, this day was officially ...

Monday and Tuesday in the week following the third Sunday of Easter: May 6–7 * Hocktide ( England) Fourth Sunday after Easter: May 12 *

Cantate Sunday The Fifth Sunday of Easter is the Sunday four weeks after the Christianity, Christian celebration of Easter. In Western Christianity, this day is also known as the Fourth Sunday after Easter or Cantate Sunday. Eastern Christianity also calls this d ...

* Good Shepherd Sunday Fourth Friday after Easter: May 17 * Store Bededag ( Denmark) Third Sunday of May: May 19 * Feast of Our Lady of the Audience Sunday preceding the Rogation days: May 26 *

Rogation Sunday Rogation days are days of prayer and fasting in Western Christianity. They are observed with processions and the Litany of the Saints. The so-called ''major'' rogation is held on 25 April; the ''minor'' rogations are held on Monday to Wednesday ...

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday preceding Feast of the Ascension: May 27–29 *Minor

Rogation days Rogation days are days of prayer and fasting in Western Christianity. They are observed with processions and the Litany of the Saints. The so-called ''major'' rogation is held on 25 April; the ''minor'' rogations are held on Monday to Wednesday ...

39 days after Easter: May 30 * Feast of the Ascension ** Father's Day (Germany) **

Festa della Sensa The Fèsta de ƚa Sènsa was a feast of the Republic of Venice held on the occasion of the feast of the Ascension (in the Venetian language, Sensa) and still celebrated as a recreation today. It commemorated two significant dates in the Republic' ...

(

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

) ** Global Day of Prayer ** Sheep Festival ( Cameroon)

Movable Eastern Christian observances, 2020 dates

Wednesday after Pascha: May 1 *

Bright Wednesday Bright Week, Pascha Week or Renewal Week ( el, Διακαινήσιμος Ἑβδομάς) is the name used by the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Catholic Churches for the period of seven days beginning on Easter and continuing up to (but n ...

Thursday after Pascha: May 2 * Bright Thursday Friday after Pascha: May 3 *

Bright Friday Easter Friday, or Bright Friday, is the Friday after the Christianity, Christian festival of Easter. At times, this name has been confused with Good Friday,For example, the songEaster Friday" by Simone Richardson, 2006. Published by Emu Music ...

Saturday after Pascha: May 4 * Bright Saturday 8th day after Pascha: May 5 * Thomas Sunday 2nd Tuesday of Pascha, or 2nd Monday of Pascha, depending on region: May 6 or May 7 * Radonitsa ( Russian Orthodox) 2nd Sunday following Pascha: May 12 * Sunday of the Myrrhbearers 4th Sunday of Pascha: May 26 * Sunday of the Paralytic Wednesday after the Sunday of the Paralytic: May 29 *

Mid-Pentecost Mid-Pentecost or Midfeast, also Meso-Pentecost (from gr, Μεσοπεντηκοστή); russian: Преполове́ние Пятидеся́тницы is a feast day which occurs during the Paschal season in the Eastern Orthodox Church and tho ...

Non-religious and civic observances with movable dates

Last Friday in April to the first Sunday in May: April 26 – May 5

* National Arbour Week ( Ontario, Canada)

First Thursday: May 2

* Arbour Day ( Nova Scotia, Canada) * National Day of Prayer ( United States) *

National Day of Reason The National Day of Reason is a secular celebration for humanists, atheists, secularists, and freethinkers. The day is celebrated annually on the first Thursday in May, in response to the statutory observance of a National Day of Prayer in th ...

(United States)

First Saturday: May 4

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...

(moved to September 5, 2020) * Free Comic Book Day *

Green Up Day Green Up Day, observed annually on the first Saturday of May, is a statewide effort in the US state of Vermont to clean up roadside trash. History The first official Green Up Day was held on April 18, 1970, after having been formalized by Go ...

( Vermont, United States) *

World Naked Gardening Day World Naked Gardening Day (WNGD) is an annual international event generally celebrated on the first Saturday of May by gardening, gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Organization WNGD was founded and organized by Mark Storey (consulting editor ...

= First Sunday: May 5

= * Mother's Day ( Angola,

Cape Verde , national_anthem = () , official_languages = Portuguese , national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole , capital = Praia , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , demonym ...

, Hungary,

Lithuania Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...

, Mozambique, Portugal, Spain) *

World Laughter Day World Laughter Day was established in 1998 and the first celebration was on 10 May 1998, in Mumbai, India, arranged by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement. The day is now celebrated on first Sunday of May worldwide. ...

First full week: May 5–11

* National Teacher Appreciation Week ( United States) *

North American Occupational Safety and Health Week North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) week is held every year during the first full week of May to raise awareness about occupational safety, health and the environment (OSH&E) in an effort to prevent workplace injuries and illness ...

= Tuesday of First full week: May 4

= * National Teacher Appreciation Day ( United States)

= Wednesday of first full week: May 8

= *

Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day Occupational Safety and Health Professional (OSHP) Day recognizes the efforts and commitment of occupational safety, health and environmental professionals to protect people, property and the environment. The American Society of Safety Engineers’ ...

Second week in May: May 5–11

National Stuttering Awareness Week The National Stuttering Awareness Week is an observance in the United States for people who stutter Stuttering, also known as stammering, is a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations ...

( United States)

First Tuesday: May 7

World Asthma Day World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. World Asthma Day takes place on May 3. The theme of 2021's event was "Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions, ...

Friday preceding Second Sunday in May: May 10

* Military Spouse Day ( United States) *

National Public Gardens Day National Public Gardens Day, occurring annually on the Friday before Mother's Day, is a day to promote awareness of botanic gardens, arboreta, zoos, historic gardens, or any of North America's public gardens. The day was established by the America ...

(United States)

Saturday closest to May 10: May 11

National Train Day National Train Day was a holiday started by Amtrak in 2008 as a method to spread information to the general public about the advantages of railway travel and the history of trains in the United States. It was held each year on the Saturday closest ...

( United States)

Second Saturday: May 8

International Migratory Bird Day Bird Day is the name of several holidays celebrating birds. Various countries observe such a holiday on various dates. International Migratory Bird Day International Migratory Bird Day is a conservation initiative that brings awareness on conse ...

(Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean) * National Tree Planting Day (Mongolia)

Second Weekend: May 11–12

* National Mills Weekend ( United Kingdom) *

World Migratory Bird Day Bird Day is the name of several holidays celebrating birds. Various countries observe such a holiday on various dates. International Migratory Bird Day International Migratory Bird Day is a conservation initiative that brings awareness on conse ...

Second Sunday: May 9

* 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 Bonaire (; , ; pap, Boneiru, , almost pronounced ) is a Dutch island in the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. Its capital is the port of Kralendijk, on the west ( leeward) coast of the island. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao form the ABC i ...

, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Croatia,

Curaçao Curaçao ( ; ; pap, Kòrsou, ), officially the Country of Curaçao ( nl, Land Curaçao; pap, Pais Kòrsou), is a Lesser Antilles island country in the southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean region, about north of the Venezuela coast ...

, 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 The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), is a global association of 401 organizations who are committed to improving the livelihoods of economically marginalised producers. WFTO has members in 76 countries. Members are primarily fair trade enterp ...

Week of May 12: May 6-12

* National Nursing Week (United States)

Third Weekend, including Friday: May 14-16

* Sanja Matsuri ( Tokyo, Japan)

Third Friday: May 21

* Arbour Day (Prince Edward Island, Canada) *National Defense Transportation Day *Endangered species, Endangered Species Day (United States) *List of food days#May, National Pizza Party Day (United States)

Third Saturday: May 15

* 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: May 16

*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 24

* Victoria Day (Scotland)

Third Monday: May 17

*Discovery Day (Cayman Islands)

Monday on or before May 25: May 24

* National Patriots' Day (Quebec)

Last Monday preceding May 25: May 24

* Victoria Day ( Canada)

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

*Bermuda Day (Bermuda)

Saturday closest to May 30: May 29

*Armed Forces Day (Spain)

Last Weekend: May 29–30

*Kyiv Day (Kyiv)

Last Sunday: May 30

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

Last Monday: May 31

* 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 26

*Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, World Multiple Sclerosis Day

Last Thursday: May 27

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

Fixed observances in May

* April 29 to May 5 in Japan, which includes four different holidays, is called "Golden Week (Japan), 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. * May 1 **Armed Forces Day (Mauritania) **Beltane (Ireland, Neopaganism) **Constitution Day (Argentina) **May Day, Lei Day (Hawaii, United States) **May Day (International observance) * May 2 **Dos de Mayo Uprising#Impact of the uprising, Anniversary of the Dos de Mayo Uprising (Holiday of the Region of Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain) **Birth Anniversary of Third Druk Gyalpo (Bhutan) **Flag Day (Poland) **Indonesia National Education Day * May 3 **Constitution Day (Poland) **Constitution Memorial Day (Japan) **Roodmas **Sun Day (International observance, International) **World Press Freedom Day * May 4 **Anti-Bullying Day (United Nations) **Bird Day ( United States) **Cassinga Day (Namibia) **Remembrance days in Slovakia, Death of Milan Rastislav Štefánik Day (Slovakia) **Greenery Day (Japan) **International Firefighters' Day **May Fourth Movement commemorations: ***Literary Day (Taiwan) ***Youth Day (China) **Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled (Afghanistan) **Remembrance of the Dead (Netherlands) **Public holidays in Latvia, Restoration of Independence day (Latvia) **Star Wars Day (International observance) **GiveForward.com, World Give Day **List of festivals in Fiji, Youth Day (Fiji) * May 5 ** Children's Day (Japan, Korea) **Cinco de Mayo **Constitution Day, 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, 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 **Public holidays in Gabon, 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): ***Army Day#Bulgaria, Day of Bravery, also known as ''Gergyovden'' (Bulgaria) ***Đurđevdan (Gorani people, Gorani, Romani people, Roma) ***Public holidays in Georgia, Police Day (Georgia) ***George's Day in Spring, 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 **Public holidays in Mexico, 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 (Blavatskian), Theosophy) **World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day **Veterans Day (Norway) **Victory in Europe Day, VE Day in Western Europe. In Eastern Europe it is celebrated on May 9. * May 9 **Scientology holidays, 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 (9 May), Victory Day observances, celebration of the Soviet Union victory over Nazi Germany (Public holidays in the Soviet Union, Soviet Union, Public holidays in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan, Public holidays in Belarus, Belarus, Public holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Public holidays in Georgia, Georgia, Public holidays in Israel, Israel, Public holidays in Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Public holidays in Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan, Public holidays in Moldova, Moldova, Public holidays in Russia, Russia, Public holidays in Serbia, Serbia, Public holidays in Tajikistan, Tajikistan, Public holidays in Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan, Public holidays in Uzbekistan, 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, 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 **Pokhran-II#Legacy, National Technology Day (India) **List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union, Statehood Day (Minnesota) **Human rights in Vietnam, Vietnam Human Rights Day (Vietnam) * May 12 **Public holidays in Georgia, Saint Andrea the First Day (Georgia (country)) **Flag flying days in Finland, Day of the Finnish Identity (Finland) **Chronic fatigue syndrome#Awareness day, 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 **Army Day (Slovenia) **Constituent Assembly Day (Lithuania) **Independence Day (Paraguay) **International Day of Families **Nakba Day (Palestinian people, Palestinian communities) **Peace Officers Memorial Day (United States) **Republic Day (

) **Saint Ubaldo Day **Teachers' Day (Colombia, Mexico, South Korea) *May 16 **Christianity in Sudan, Martyrs of Sudan (Episcopal Church (USA)) **St Brendan Birthday & Feast day **Mass graves in Iraq, 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, International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, also known as IDAHOT **Public holidays in Malaysia, 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, Navy Day (Argentina) **Norwegian Constitution Day * May 18 **Baltic Fleet Day (Russia) **Battle of Las Piedras, Battle of Las Piedras Day (Uruguay) **Deportation of the Crimean Tatars, Day of Remembrance of Crimean Tatar genocide (Ukraine) **Flag and Universities Day (Haiti) **Independence Day (Somaliland) (List of states with limited recognition, unrecognized) **International Museum Day **Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day (Sri Lankan Tamil people, 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#Political, Greek Genocide Remembrance Day (Greece) **Ho Chi Minh, Hồ Chí Minh's Birthday (Vietnam) **Malcolm X Day (United States of America) **AIDS.gov, 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 (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP) **National Awakening Day (Indonesia) **National Day (Cameroon) **World Metrology Day * May 21 **Afro-Colombian Day (Colombia) **Circassian Day of Mourning (Circassians) **Armed Forces Day#Hungary, 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 observance, International) **One of the three festivals of Vejovis (Roman Empire) * May 22 **Abolitionism, Abolition Day (Martinique) **Harvey Milk Day (California) **International Day for Biological Diversity (International observance#May, International) **United States National Maritime Day, 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 Turtle Day * May 24 ** Feast of Mary Help of Christians (Roman Catholicism) **Aldersgate Day/John Wesley, Wesley Day (Methodism) **Public holidays in Ecuador, 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) ***Public holidays in North Macedonia, 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), 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 **Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, 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) **Politics of Guadeloupe, Slavery Abolition Day (Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélemy, Collectivity of Saint Martin, 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) **Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, TDFR Republic Day **Youm-e-Takbir (Pakistan) * May 29 **Armed Forces Day, Army Day (Argentina) **International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (International observance, International) **Oak Apple Day (England), and its related observance: ***Castleton Garland Day (Castleton, Derbyshire, Castleton) **List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union, 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 **Royal Brunei Land Forces, Anniversary of Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (Brunei) **Public holidays in Spain#Regional holidays, Castile–La Mancha Day (Castile-La Mancha) **Visitation (Christian), Visitation of Mary (Western Christianity) **World No Tobacco Day (International observance, International)

References

{{Authority control May, Months, *05