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 calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar. The principal change was to space leap years dif ...

s 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 Victoria Day (french: Fête de la Reine, lit=Celebration of the Queen) is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 25. Initially in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday, it has since been celebrated as the offi ...

) 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 Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

, ''

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 Maia (; Ancient Greek: Μαῖα; also spelled Maie, ; la, Maia), in ancient Greek religion and mythology, is one of the Pleiades and the mother of Hermes, one of the major Greek gods, by Zeus, the king of Olympus. Family Maia is the daugh ...

, 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 A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival c ...

was held in May. Conversely, the Roman poet

Ovid Pūblius Ovidius Nāsō (; 20 March 43 BC – 17/18 AD), known in English as Ovid ( ), was a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a contemporary of the older Virgil and Horace, with whom he is often ranked as one of the th ...

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 The Virginids are a meteor shower. There are many major and minor meteor shower streams that occur during the Virginid Complex, including the Alpha Virginids, Gamma Virginids, Eta Virginids, Theta Virginids, Iota Virginids, Lambda Virginids, Mu Virg ...

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 An Agonalia or Agonia was an obscure archaic religious observance celebrated in ancient Rome several times a year, in honor of various divinities. Its institution, like that of other religious rites and ceremonies, was attributed to Numa Pompi ...

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 The Julian calendar, proposed by Roman consul Julius Caesar in 46 BC, was a reform of the Roman calendar. It took effect on , by edict. It was designed with the aid of Greek mathematicians and astronomers such as Sosigenes of Alexandr ...

, 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

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 Lily of the valley (''Convallaria majalis'' (), sometimes written lily-of-the-valley, is a woodland flowering plant with sweetly scented, pendent, bell-shaped white flowers borne in sprays in spring. It is native throughout the cool temperate No ...

and the ''

Crataegus monogyna ''Crataegus monogyna'', known as common hawthorn, one-seed hawthorn, or single-seeded hawthorn, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. It is native to Europe, northwestern Africa, and West Asia, but has been introduced in ...

''. 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 Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

and

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

. 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 The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the Sun path, apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. ...

signs for the month of May are

Taurus Taurus is Latin for 'bull' and may refer to: * Taurus (astrology), the astrological sign * Taurus (constellation), one of the constellations of the zodiac * Taurus (mythology), one of two Greek mythological characters named Taurus * ''Bos taurus ...

(until May 20) and

Gemini Gemini may refer to: Space * Gemini (constellation), one of the constellations of the zodiac ** Gemini in Chinese astronomy * Project Gemini, the second U.S. crewed spaceflight program * Gemini Observatory, consisting of telescopes in the Northern ...

(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 Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...

. See

May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary refer to special Marian devotions held in the Catholic Church during the month of May honoring Mary, mother of God as "the Queen of May". These services may take place inside or outside. A "May Crowning" i ...

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 Huntington's disease (HD), also known as Huntington's chorea, is a neurodegenerative disease that is mostly inherited. The earliest symptoms are often subtle problems with mood or mental abilities. A general lack of coordination and an unst ...

Awareness Month (International) * International Mediterranean Diet Month * Kaamatan harvest festival ( Labuan,

Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indone ...

) * New Zealand Music Month (New Zealand) * National Pet Month (United Kingdom) *

National Smile Month National Smile Month is the United Kingdom's largest oral health campaign, held annually across May and June. Formerly "National Smile Week" it is now one of the biggest not-for-profit dental health events in Europe; it attracts thousands of eve ...

(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 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (, officially changed from Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month) is observed in the United States during the month of May, and recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and ...

* 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 North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north a ...

) * 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 Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver tissue. Some people or animals with hepatitis have no symptoms, whereas others develop yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), poor appetite, vomiting, tiredness, abdominal pa ...

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 Dates in this table are determined by when the March Equinox falls. It will fall on March 20 from 2018-2023. {, class="wikitable" , - style="background:#efefef;" ! Holiday date !!Holiday name !! Description !!March equinox on March 19 !!March Eq ...

Movable observances, 2020

* Phi Ta Khon (Dan Sai, Loei province,

Isan Northeast Thailand or Isan (Isan/ th, อีสาน, ; lo, ອີສານ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pali ''īsānna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 provin ...

, Thailand) Dates are selected by village mediums and can take place anywhere between March and July. * National Small Business Week (

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

): 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 ...

(

): 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,

): May 13 – 17 *

Walk Safely to School Day Walk Safely to School Day is an annual, national event in Australia in which primary school children are encouraged to walk or commute safely to school, an initiative of the Pedestrian Council of Australia. It is held annually in May on a varyin ...

(

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 ...

(

): 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 {{Use mdy dates, date=July 2017 This is a list of movable observances within Western Christianity. It includes secular observances which are calculated by religious observances. ''This list does not necessarily imply either official status nor gen ...
, 2020 dates

* Special devotions to the

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 ...

take place in May. See

. 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 England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

) 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 ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of 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 Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...

)

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 Easter Saturday, on the Christian calendar, is the Saturday following the festival of Easter, the Saturday of Easter or Bright Week. In the liturgy of Western Christianity it is the last day of Easter Week, sometimes referred to as the Saturd ...

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 Radonitsa (Russian Радоница, "Day of Rejoicing"), also spelled Radunitsa, Radonica, or Radunica, in the Russian Orthodox Church is a commemoration of the departed observed on the second Tuesday of Pascha (Easter) or, in some places (in sou ...

( 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 Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

)

First Thursday: May 2

* Arbour Day (

) * National Day of Prayer (

) *

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 Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

) *

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 , national_anthem = " Angola Avante"() , image_map = , map_caption = , capital = Luanda , religion = , religion_year = 2020 , religion_ref = , coordina ...

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

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...

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 Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

) *

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 (

) *

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 (

)

= 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 ...

(

)

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 (

) *

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 ...

(

)

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 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

) *

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 Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose date of observance varies by country. In 1925, International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. Sin ...

(Spain) * Father's Day (Romania) * Mother's Day (

Anguilla Anguilla ( ) is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin. The territo ...

, 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 Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

, 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 Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

)

Third Friday: May 21

* Arbour Day (

Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...

, Canada) *

National Defense Transportation Day National Defense Transportation Day is a United States Federal Observance Day observed on the third Friday in May. History and definition The observance was first signed into law by President Eisenhower in 1957. According to 36 U.S.C. § 120, o ...

Endangered Species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

Day (United States) * National Pizza Party Day (United States)

Third Saturday: May 15

* The

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held on Armed Forces Day which is also the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs () on ...

is run, second jewel in the triple crown of horse racing. *

Armed Forces Day (United States) Many nations around the world observe some kind of Armed Forces Day to honor their military forces. This day is not to be confused with Veterans Day or Memorial Day. Africa Egypt In Egypt, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 6 October ...

Culture Freedom Day Culture Freedom Day is an observance of free culture. It takes place annually on the third Saturday of May. It aims at educating the worldwide public about the benefits of using and encouraging free culture as well as providing an international da ...

* Sanja Matsuri * World Whisky Day

Third Sunday: May 16

Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers ( fi, kaatuneitten muistopäivä, sv, de stupades dag) is the commemoration day observed in Finland on the third Sunday of May for the soldiers killed in the Winter War and Finnish Civil War 1918. After 1940 ...

* Father's Day (

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

) * Feast of Our Lady of the Audience * Sanja Matsuri (

)

Monday on or before May 24: May 24

Victoria Day (Scotland) Victoria Day ( gd, Latha Victoria) is a public holiday in parts of Eastern Central Scotland, chiefly the cities of Dundee and Edinburgh, although it was formerly more widespread. It is celebrated on the last Monday before or on 24 May and commemor ...

Third Monday: May 17

* Discovery Day (

Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands () is a self-governing British Overseas Territory—the largest by population in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are located to the ...

)

Monday on or before May 25: May 24

National Patriots' Day National Patriots' Day (french: Journée nationale des Patriotes) is a statutory holiday observed annually in the Canadian province of Quebec, on the Monday preceding 25 May. The holiday was established by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec- in- ...

(

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

)

Last Monday preceding May 25: May 24

(

)

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

Bermuda Day Bermuda Day is a public holiday in the islands of Bermuda. It is celebrated on the last Friday in May (previously on 24 May or nearest Monday if that fell on a weekend. From 2018, a decision was made to move it permanently to a Friday). Bermuda ...

(Bermuda)

Saturday closest to May 30: May 29

* Armed Forces Day (Spain)

Last Weekend: May 29–30

Kyiv Day Kyiv Day, or officially the Day of Kyiv ( uk, День Києва), is a holiday in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper Rive ...

(

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the List of European cities by populat ...

)

Last Sunday: May 30

* Arbor Day (Venezuela) *

(Hungary) * Mother's Day (Algeria, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Sweden, Tunisia) *

Turkmen Carpet Day Public Holidays in Turkmenistan are laid out in the Constitution of Turkmenistan, It acts as a list of nationally recognized public holidays in the country. Main public holidays * New Year's Day (January 1) * International Women's Day (March ...

(Turkmenistan)

Last Monday: May 31

* Heroes' Day (Turks and Caicos Islands) * Memorial Day (United States), a public holiday, is on

May 30 Events Pre-1600 * 70 – Siege of Jerusalem: Titus and his Roman legions breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. Jewish defenders retreat to the First Wall. The Romans build a circumvallation, cutting down all trees within fifteen kilometres ...

, but observed on the last Monday in May. *

Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day {{Refimprove, date=December 2006 Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day (commonly known as Ratu Sukuna Day) was a national public holiday in Fiji until the year 2010, when the Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, declared both Ratu Sir Lala Sakuna Day an ...

(Fiji), removed as a national holiday in 2010.

Last Wednesday: May 26

* World Multiple Sclerosis Day

Last Thursday: May 27

Take a Girl Child to Work Day Take a Girl Child to Work Day is an annual corporate social investment event, held in South Africa since 2003. Companies involved organise for female learners (school pupils), usually from disadvantaged backgrounds, to spend the day at their pla ...

(South Africa)

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 A fiscal year (or financial year, or sometimes budget year) is used in government accounting, which varies between countries, and for budget purposes. It is also used for financial reporting by businesses and other organizations. Laws in many ...

start on April 1.) * Mayovka, in the context of the late

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

, was a

picnic A picnic is a meal taken outdoors ( ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event such as preceding ...

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 Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...

) ** Beltane (

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

Neopaganism Modern paganism, also known as contemporary paganism and neopaganism, is a term for a religion or family of religions influenced by the various Paganism, historical pre-Christian beliefs of pre-modern peoples in Europe and adjacent areas of No ...

) ** Constitution Day (

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

) **

Lei Day Lei Day is a statewide celebration in Hawaii. The celebration begins in the morning of May first every year and continues into the next day. Lei day was established as a holiday in 1929. Each Hawaiian island has a different type of lei for its peo ...

(

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

) ** May Day ( International observance) * May 2 ** Anniversary of the Dos de Mayo Uprising ( Community of Madrid,

) **

Birth Anniversary of Third Druk Gyalpo Public holidays in Bhutan consist of both national holidays and local festivals or ''tshechus''. While national holidays are observed throughout Bhutan, tsechus are only observed in their areas. Bhutan uses its own calendar, a variant of the lunis ...

(

Bhutan Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. A mountainous ...

) ** Flag Day (

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

) **

Indonesia National Education Day Indonesian National Education Day or Hari Pendidikan Nasional abbreviated as HARDIKNAS is celebrated on 2 May. It was initiated in remembrance of Ki Hajar Dewantara Raden Mas Soewardi Soerjaningrat (EYD: Suwardi Suryaningrat); from 1922 also ...

* May 3 ** Constitution Day (

) ** Constitution Memorial Day (

) ** Roodmas **

Sun Day Sun Day (May 3, 1978) was designated by United States President Jimmy Carter, specifically devoted to advocacy for solar power, following a joint resolution by Congress, becoming . It was modeled on the highly successful Earth Day of April 22, 19 ...

( International) ** World Press Freedom Day * May 4 **

Anti-Bullying Day Anti-Bullying Day (or Pink Shirt Day) is an annual event, held in Canada and other parts of the world, where people wear a pink-coloured shirt to stand against bullying. The initiative was started in Canada, where it is held on the last Wednes ...

(

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

) ** Bird Day (

) **

Cassinga Day Cassinga Day is a national public holiday in Namibia remembering the Cassinga Massacre. Commemorated annually on 4 May, the date "remembers those (approximately 600) killed in 1978 when the South African Defence Force attacked a SWAPO base at C ...

(

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

) ** Death of Milan Rastislav Štefánik Day (

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

) ** Greenery Day (

) **

International Firefighters' Day International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) is observed on May 4. It was instituted after a proposal was made on January 4, 1999, following the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bushfire in Australia. The incident On December ...

May Fourth Movement The May Fourth Movement was a Chinese anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement which grew out of student protests in Beijing on May 4, 1919. Students gathered in front of Tiananmen (The Gate of Heavenly Peace) to protest the Chinese ...

commemorations: ***

Literary Day Literary Day is observed annually on May 4 in Taiwan, in honor of the May Fourth Movement. It was first celebrated on this day in 1945, and its establishment was affected by the dispute over whether the Kuomintang or the Communist Party was the ...

(

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

) ***

Youth Day (China) Youth Day () is a holiday celebrated annually on May 4 in the People's Republic of China, in honor of young people age 14 and older. It was established to commemorate the 1919 May Fourth Movement. Origins On May 4, 1920, the first celebrations ...

** Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled (Afghanistan) **

Remembrance of the Dead Remembrance of the Dead ( nl, Dodenherdenking) is held annually on May 4 in the Netherlands. It commemorates all civilians and members of the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since ...

(Netherlands) ** Restoration of Independence day (Latvia) **

Star Wars Day ''Star Wars'' Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on May4 to celebrate the ''Star Wars'' media franchise created by founder, former chairman and CEO of Lucasfilm, George Lucas. Observance of the day spread quickly through m ...

( International observance) ** World Give Day ** Youth Day (Fiji) * May 5 **

(Japan, Korea) **

Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo ( in Mexico, Spanish for "Fifth of May") is a yearly celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoz ...

** Constitution Day (Kyrgyzstan) **

Coronation Day (Thailand) Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors. There are usually nineteen public holidays in a year, but more may be declared by the cabinet. Other observances, both offic ...

Europe Day Europe Day is a day celebrating "peace and unity in Europe" celebrated on 5 May by the Council of Europe and on 9 May by the European Union. The first recognition of Europe Day was by the Council of Europe, introduced in 1964. The European Un ...

in Europe (uncommon usage, largely replaced by May 9). **

Feast of al-Khadr Saint George's Day is the feast day of Saint George, celebrated by Christian churches, countries, and cities of which he is the patron saint, including Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Portugal, Romania, Cáceres, Alcoy, Aragon and Catalonia. S ...

Saint George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

(

Palestinian people Palestinians ( ar, الفلسطينيون, ; he, פָלַסְטִינִים, ) or Palestinian people ( ar, الشعب الفلسطيني, label=none, ), also referred to as Palestinian Arabs ( ar, الفلسطينيين العرب, label=non ...

) **

Indian Arrival Day Indian Arrival Day is a holiday celebrated on various days in the nations of the Caribbean, Fiji, South Africa, and Mauritius, commemorating the arrival of people from the Indian subcontinent to their respective nations as indentured labours bro ...

(Guyana) **

International Midwives' Day International Day of the Midwife was first celebrated May 5, 1991, and has since been observed in over 50 nations around the world. The idea of having a day to recognize and honor midwives came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwi ...

Liberation Day (Denmark) Public holidays in Denmark Other special days Some of these days derive from politics, and some from Roman Catholic traditions that predate the current national church. Some are simply the Scandinavian tradition of starting the celebrations ...

** Liberation Day (Netherlands) ** Lusophone Culture Day ( Community of Portuguese Language Countries) ** Martyrs' Day (Albania) **

Patriots' Victory Day The following are public holidays (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ብሔራዊ በዓል) in Ethiopia. Many holidays follow the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. National holiday Religious holidays Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church holiday ...

(Ethiopia) **

Senior Citizens Day This is a list of holidays in Palau. List References Holidays Palau Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. ...

(Palau) **

Tango no sekku , also known as , is one of the five annual ceremonies that were traditionally held at the Japanese imperial court called . It is the Japanese equivalent of Double Fifth and was celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth moon in the lunar calendar ...

(Japan) * May 6 ** Martyrs' Day (Gabon) **

Martyrs' Day (Lebanon and Syria) Martyrs' Day ( ar, عيد الشهداء) is a Syrian and Lebanese national holiday commemorating the Syrian and Lebanese nationalists executed in Damascus and Beirut on 6 May 1916 by Jamal Pasha, also known as 'Al Jazzar' or 'The Butcher', t ...

International No Diet Day International No Diet Day (INDD) is an annual celebration of body acceptance, including fat acceptance and body shape diversity as well as the concept of health at any size. International No Diet Day was started by Mary Evans Young in 1992 in ...

** Teachers' Day (Jamaica) **The first day of Hıdırellez (Turkey) ** St George's Day related observances (

Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptized members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via ...

): *** Day of Bravery, also known as ''Gergyovden'' (Bulgaria) ***

Đurđevdan George's Day in Spring, or Saint George's Day ( sr, Ђурђевдан, Đurđevdan, ; bg, Гергьовден, Gergovden; mk, Ѓурѓовден, Ǵurǵovden; russian: Егорий Вешний, Yegoriy Veshniy, or russian: Юрьев ден� ...

( Gorani,

Roma Roma or ROMA may refer to: Places Australia * Roma, Queensland, a town ** Roma Airport ** Roma Courthouse ** Electoral district of Roma, defunct ** Town of Roma, defunct town, now part of the Maranoa Regional Council *Roma Street, Brisbane, a ...

) *** Police Day (Georgia) *** Yuri's Day (

Russian Orthodox Church , native_name_lang = ru , image = Moscow July 2011-7a.jpg , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia , abbreviation = ROC , type ...

) * May 7 ** Defender of the Fatherland Day (Kazakhstan) **

Dien Bien Phu Victory Day Public holidays Public holidays in Vietnam are days when workers get the day off work. Prior to 2007, Vietnamese workers observed 8 days of public holiday a year, among the lowest in the region. On 28 March 2007 the government added the traditio ...

(Vietnam) ** Radio Day (Russia, Bulgaria) *

May 8 Events Pre-1600 * 453 BC – Spring and Autumn period: The house of Zhao defeats the house of Zhi, ending the Battle of Jinyang, a military conflict between the elite families of the State of Jin. * 413 – Emperor Honorius signs a ...

** Miguel Hidalgo's birthday (Mexico) **

Parents' Day Parents' Day is observed in South Korea on May 8 and in the United States (fourth Sunday of July). The South Korean designation was established in 1973, replacing the Mother's Day previously marked on May 8, and includes public and private celeb ...

(South Korea) **

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War The Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War (May 8 and May 9) is an annual List of minor secular observances#May, international day of remembrance designated bResolution 59/26of the United ...

, continues to May 9 **

Truman Day Truman Day is a commemorative holiday to celebrate the birth of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States. It is celebrated May 8 in Missouri as a state holiday, according to Missouri Revised Statutes Section 9-035 Public Holidays a ...

(

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

, United States) **

White Lotus Day White Lotus Day is a celebration of Theosophists. It is celebrated 8 May, the anniversary of the death of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society. Though there are several theosophical organisations, this is one celebration ...

(

Theosophy Theosophy is a religion established in the United States during the late 19th century. It was founded primarily by the Russian Helena Blavatsky and draws its teachings predominantly from Blavatsky's writings. Categorized by scholars of religion a ...

) **

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is an annual celebration of the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. World Red Cross Red Crescent Day is celebrated on 8 May each year. This date is the anniversary of the bir ...

Veterans Day (Norway) Veterans Day ( no, Veterandagen) in Norway on May 8 was first observed in 2011. It recognizes the efforts of veterans of World War II, United Nations peacekeeping initiatives and other international operations. It was instituted in 2010 by Norwa ...

** VE Day in

Western Europe Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean ...

. In

Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a subregion of the Europe, European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russ ...

it is celebrated on

May 9 Events Pre-1600 * 328 – Athanasius is elected Patriarch of Alexandria. *1009 – Lombard Revolt: Lombard forces led by Melus revolt in Bari against the Byzantine Catepanate of Italy. *1386 – England and Portugal formally rati ...

. *

** Anniversary of Dianetics (

Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a scientology as a business, bu ...

) **

(

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...

) ** Liberation Day (

Guernsey Guernsey (; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; french: Guernesey) is an island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy that is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency. It is the second largest of the Channel Islands ...

), commemorating the end of the

German occupation of the Channel Islands The military occupation of the Channel Islands by Nazi Germany lasted for most of the Second World War, from 30 June 1940 until liberation on 9 May 1945. The Bailiwick of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernsey are two island countries and British ...

during World War II. **

Liberation Day (Jersey) In Jersey and Guernsey, Liberation Day ( Jèrriais: ''Jour d'la Libéthâtion'') is celebrated each year on 9 May, to mark the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. It is celebrated as Guernsey and Jersey's national day. ...

, commemorating the end of the

during World War II. **

, continued from May 8. ** Victory Day observances, celebration of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

victory over

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

(

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...

Belarus Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...

, Georgia,

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...

Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the east. ...

Moldova Moldova ( , ; ), officially the Republic of Moldova ( ro, Republica Moldova), is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The List of states ...

, 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 **

(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

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) **

(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) **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 (

) 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) **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 *

**Anguilla Day (

) **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)

References

{{Authority control May, Months, *05

Ancient Roman observances

May symbols

May observances

Month-long observances

United States

Non-Gregorian observances, 2020

Movable observances, 2020

Movable Eastern Christian observances, 2020 dates

Non-religious and civic observances with movable dates

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

First Thursday: May 2

First Saturday: May 4

= First Sunday: May 5

First full week: May 5–11

= Tuesday of First full week: May 4

= Wednesday of first full week: May 8

Second week in May: May 5–11

First Tuesday: May 7

Friday preceding Second Sunday in May: May 10

Saturday closest to May 10: May 11

Second Saturday: May 8

Second Weekend: May 11–12

Second Sunday: May 9

Week of May 12: May 6-12

Third Weekend, including Friday: May 14-16

Third Friday: May 21

Third Saturday: May 15

Third Sunday: May 16

Monday on or before May 24: May 24

Third Monday: May 17

Monday on or before May 25: May 24

Last Monday preceding May 25: May 24

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

Saturday closest to May 30: May 29

Last Weekend: May 29–30

Last Sunday: May 30

Last Monday: May 31

Last Wednesday: May 26

Last Thursday: May 27

Fixed observances in May

See also

References