May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and

Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian cale ...

s. Its length is 31 days. May is a month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and

autumn Autumn, also known as fall (especially in US & Canada), 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 ( Southern Hemisphe ...

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. Its length is 30 days. November was the ninth month of the calendar of Romulus . November retained its name (from the Latin ''novem'' meaning " ...

in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. Late May typically marks the start of the summer vacation season in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

(

Memorial Day Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It i ...

) and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

(

Victoria Day Victoria Day () is a federal Canadian public holiday observed on the last Monday preceding May 25 to honour Queen Victoria, who is known as the "Mother of Confederation". The holiday has existed in Canada since at least 1845, originally on Vic ...

) that ends on

Labor Day Labor Day is a Federal holidays in the United States, federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the Labor history of the United States, American labor movement and the works and con ...

, the first Monday of September. May (in

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

, ''

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

'') was named for the

Greek god In ancient Greece, deities were regarded as immortal, anthropomorphic, and powerful. They were conceived of as individual persons, rather than abstract concepts or notions, and were described as being similar to humans in appearance, albeit larg ...

dess

Maia Maia (; Ancient Greek: Μαῖα; also spelled Maie, ; ), 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 daughter of A ...

, who was identified with the

Roman era In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...

goddess A goddess is a female deity. In some faiths, a sacred female figure holds a central place in religious prayer and worship. For example, Shaktism (one of the three major Hinduism, Hindu sects), holds that the ultimate deity, the source of all re ...

of fertility,

Bona Dea Bona Dea (; 'Good Goddess') was a List of Roman deities, goddess in Religion in ancient Rome, ancient Roman religion. She was associated with chastity and fertility among married Women in ancient Rome, Roman women, healing, and the protection of t ...

, whose

festival A festival is an event 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, Melā, mela, or Muslim holidays, eid. A ...

was held in May. Conversely, the Roman poet

Ovid Publius Ovidius Naso (; 20 March 43 BC – AD 17/18), known in English as Ovid ( ), was a Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a younger contemporary of Virgil and Horace, with whom he i ...

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

Eta Aquariids The Eta Aquariids are a meteor shower associated with Halley's Comet. The shower is visible from about April 19 to about May 28 each year with peak activity on or around May 5. Unlike most major annual meteor showers, there is no sharp peak fo ...

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, bu ...

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 Vir ...

also shower at various dates in May.

Ancient Roman observances

Under the calendar of ancient Rome, the festival of

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 p ...

fell on May 14 or May 15,

Agonalia An Agonalia or Agonia was an obscure archaic religious observance celebrated in ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in ...

fell on May 21, and

Ambarvalia Ambarvalia was a Roman agricultural fertility rite, involving animal sacrifices and held on 29 May in honor of Ceres, Bacchus and Dea Dia. However, the exact timing could vary since Ambarvalia was a "fariae conceptivae" - a festival not bound ...

on May 29.

Floralia The Floralia was a Roman festival, festival of Religion in ancient Rome, ancient Roman religion in honor of the Flora (mythology), goddess Flora, held on 27 April during the Roman Republic, Republican era, or 28 April in the Julian calendar. The ...

was held April 27 during the Republican era, or April 28 on the

Julian calendar The Julian calendar is a solar calendar of 365 days in every year with an additional leap day every fourth year (without exception). The Julian calendar is still used as a religious calendar in parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church and in parts ...

, and lasted until May 3.

Lemuria Lemuria (), or Limuria, was a continent proposed in 1864 by zoologist Philip Sclater, theorized to have sunk beneath the Indian Ocean, later appropriated by occultists in supposed accounts of human origins. The theory was discredited with the dis ...

fell on 9,11, and 13 May under the Julian calendar. The College of Aesculapius and Hygia celebrated two festivals of Rosalia, one on May 11 and one on May 22. Rosalia was also celebrated at

Pergamon Pergamon or Pergamum ( or ; ), also referred to by its modern Greek form Pergamos (), was a rich and powerful ancient Greece, ancient Greek city in Aeolis. It is located from the modern coastline of the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north s ...

on May 24–26. A military Rosalia festival, Rosaliae signorum, also occurred on May 31. Ludi Fabarici was celebrated May 29 – June 1. Mercury would receive a sacrifice on the Ides of May (May 15). Tubilustrium took place on May 23 as well as in March. These dates do not correspond to the modern

Symbols

May's

birthstone A birthstone is a gemstone that represents a person's birth period, usually the month or zodiac sign. Birthstones are often worn as jewelry or a pendant necklace. History of birthstones Western custom The first-century historian Josephus bel ...

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 ...

, which is emblematic of love and success. 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 ''

Crataegus monogyna ''Crataegus monogyna'', known as common hawthorn, whitethorn, one-seed hawthorn, or single-seeded hawthorn, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family, Rosaceae. It grows to about tall, producing plant sexuality, hermaphrodite flowers i ...

''. 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. Lily of the valley

The "Mayflower" '' Epigaea repens'' is a North American harbinger of May, and the floral emblem of both

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...

and

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

. 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 and south celestial latitude of the ecliptic – the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. Within this zodiac ...

signs are Taurus (until May 20) and Gemini (May 21 onward).. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.

Observances

Month-long

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

Blessed Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

. 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 Jesus, as "the Queen of May". These services may take place inside or outside. A "May Crownin ...

Flores de Mayo Flores de Mayo (Spanish language in the Philippines, 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 Santa ...

(Philippines) *

Borderline personality disorder Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive, long-term pattern of significant interpersonal relationship instability, an acute fear of Abandonment (emotional), abandonment, and intense emotiona ...

awareness month * Celiac Awareness Month *

Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder inherited in an autosomal recessive manner that impairs the normal clearance of Sputum, mucus from the lungs, which facilitates the colonization and infection of the lungs by bacteria, notably ''Staphy ...

Awareness Month * Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness month * Garden for Wildlife month *

Huntington's Disease Huntington's disease (HD), also known as Huntington's chorea, is an incurable neurodegenerative disease that is mostly Genetic disorder#Autosomal dominant, inherited. It typically presents as a triad of progressive psychiatric, cognitive, and ...

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

Labuan Labuan (), officially the Federal Territory of Labuan (), is an island federal territory of Malaysia. It includes and six smaller islands off the coast of the state of Sabah in East Malaysia. Labuan's capital is Victoria, which is best kno ...

Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...

) * 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 Skin cancers are cancers that arise from the Human skin, skin. They are due to the development of abnormal cells (biology), cells that have the ability to invade or metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. It occurs when skin cells grow ...

Awareness Month * South Asian Heritage Month (International) * World Trade Month

United States

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (, officially changed from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Month) is an annually observed commemorative month in the United States. It is celebrated during the month of May, an ...

* National ALS Awareness Month * 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 indigenous Dakota people, Dakota and Sioux peoples. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minneso ...

) * National Electrical Safety Month * National Foster Care Month * National Golf Month * Jewish American Heritage Month * Haitian Heritage Month *

Hepatitis Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver parenchyma, 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), Anorexia (symptom), poor appetite ...

Awareness Month * Mental Health Awareness Month * National Military Appreciation Month * National Moving Month * National

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

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

''(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 a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, bu ...

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 All observances begin at sunset the day prior to the Gregorian date listed unless otherwise noted, and end on nightfall of the date in question, which is defined as the appearance of three stars in the sky. On leap years (which occur every 2–3 ...

List of observances set by the Islamic calendar All Islamic calendar, Islamic observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted. Holidays for 1441 (2019-2020) {, class="wikitable" !width=20%, Date on Islamic Calenda ...

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 to 2023. {, class="wikitable" , - style="background:#efefef;" ! Holiday date !!Holiday name !! Description !!March equinox on March 19 !!M ...

Movable, 2019

* Phi Ta Khon (Dan Sai, Loei province,

Isan Northeast Thailand or Isan (Isan language, Isan/, ; ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pāli ''isāna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 provinces in northeastern Thai ...

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

): May 5 – 11 * National Hurricane Preparedness Week (

): May 5 – 11 * New Zealand Sign Language Week: May 6 – 12 * Green Office Week (

Britain Britain most often refers to: * Great Britain, a large island comprising the countries of England, Scotland and Wales * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a sovereign state in Europe comprising Great Britain and the north-eas ...

): May 13 – 17 * Walk Safely to School Day (

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

): May 17 * Emergency Medical Services Week (

): May 19 – 25 * Bike to Work Week Victoria (May 27 – June 2)

Western Christian

* Special devotions to the

Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

take place in May. See

. Labour Day: May 1 *

International Workers' Day International Workers' Day, also called Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of Wage labour, labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement and occurs every yea ...

Sunday after Divine Mercy Sunday: May 5 * Jubilate Sunday Monday and Tuesday in the week following the third Sunday of Easter: May 6–7 *

Hocktide Hocktide (also Hock tide or Hoke Day) is the Monday and Tuesday in the second week after Easter. It was an English medieval festival; both the Tuesday and the preceding Monday were the Hock-days. Together with Whitsuntide and the twelve days of ...

(

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

) Fourth Sunday after Easter: May 12 * Cantate Sunday * Good Shepherd Sunday Fourth Friday after Easter: May 17 * Store Bededag (

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

) Third Sunday of May: May 19 * Feast of Our Lady of the Audience Sunday preceding the Rogation days: May 26 * Rogation Sunday 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 The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ (also called the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Ascension Day, Ascension Thursday, or sometimes Holy Thursday) commemorates the Christian belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. It ...

Father's Day Father's Day is a day set aside for honoring one's father, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. "Father's Day" complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Mother's Day and, in som ...

(Germany) ** Festa della Sensa (

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

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

Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...

)

Eastern Christian

Wednesday after Pascha: May 1 * Bright Wednesday Thursday after Pascha: May 2 * Bright Thursday Friday after Pascha: May 3 * Bright Friday Saturday after Pascha: May 4 * Bright Saturday 8th day after Pascha: May 5 *

Thomas Sunday The Second Sunday of Easter is the eighth day of the Christian season of Eastertide, and the seventh after Easter Sunday. It is known by various names, including Divine Mercy Sunday, the Octave Day of Easter, White Sunday (), Quasimodo Sunday, B ...

2nd Tuesday of Pascha, or 2nd Monday of Pascha, depending on region: May 6 or May 7 *

Radonitsa Radonitsa ( Russian: Ра́доница, Belarusian: Ра́даўніца "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 ...

(

Russian Orthodox The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC; ;), also officially known as the Moscow Patriarchate (), is an autocephaly, autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Christian church. It has 194 dioceses inside Russia. The Primate (bishop), p ...

) 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

Movable civic

Last Friday in April to the first Sunday in May

* National Arbour Week (

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada)

First Thursday

* Arbour Day (

, Canada) * National Day of Prayer (

) *

National Day of Reason The National Day of Reason is a secular Celebration (party), celebration for humanists, atheists, secularists, and freethinkers. The day is celebrated annually on the first Thursday in May, in response to the United States federal observances, ...

(United States)

First Saturday

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...

* Free Comic Book Day * Green Up Day (

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...

, United States) * World Naked Gardening Day

= First Sunday

= *

Mother's Day Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in Mar ...

(

Angola Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-Central Africa, central coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking world, Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) country in both total area and List of c ...

Cape Verde Cape Verde or Cabo Verde, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, is an island country and archipelagic state of West Africa in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about . These islands ...

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, 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 and ...

Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, 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, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...

, Mozambique, Portugal, Spain) * World Laughter Day * Children's Day (South Korea)

First full week

* Teachers' Day, National Teacher Appreciation Week (

) * North American Occupational Safety and Health Week

= Tuesday of First full week

= * Teachers' Day, National Teacher Appreciation Day (

)

= Wednesday of first full week

= * Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day

Second week in May

* National Stuttering Awareness Week (

)

First Tuesday

* World Asthma Day

Friday preceding Second Sunday in May

* Military Spouse Day (

) * National Public Gardens Day (United States)

Saturday closest to May 10

* National Train Day (

)

Second Saturday

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

Second Weekend

* National Mills Day, National Mills Weekend (United Kingdom) * World Migratory Bird Day

Second Sunday

* American Health Care Association, National Nursing Home Week (United States) * Children's Day (Spain) * Father's Day (Romania) *

(Anguilla, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Croatia, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Malta, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe) * Public holidays in Belarus, State Flag and State Emblem Day (Belarus) * World Fair Trade Day

Week of May 12

* International Nurses Day, National Nursing Week (United States)

Third Weekend, including Friday

* Sanja Matsuri (Tokyo, Japan)

Third Friday

* 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

* 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

* 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

* Victoria Day (Scotland)

Third Monday

* Discovery Day (Cayman Islands)

Monday on or before May 25

* National Patriots' Day (Quebec)

Last Monday preceding May 25

(

)

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

* Bermuda Day (Bermuda)

Saturday closest to May 30

* Armed Forces Day (Spain)

Last Weekend

* Kyiv Day (Kyiv)

Last Sunday

* Arbor Day (Venezuela) * Children's Day (Hungary) *

(Algeria, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Sweden, Tunisia) * Turkmen Carpet Day (Turkmenistan)

Last Monday

* Heroes' Day (Turks and Caicos Islands) *

(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

* Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, World Multiple Sclerosis Day

Last Thursday

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

Fixed

* 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 (

) ** 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 Battle of Shusha (1992), 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) ** International Day of Light * 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 recognition, 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 X, Crown Prince's Birthday (Denmark) ** Independence Day (Guyana) ** Independence Day (Georgia) **

(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) **

(Nicaragua) ** Parliament Day (Croatia) * May 31 ** Royal Brunei Land Force, 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

External links

{{Authority control May, Months, *05