May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. It is also a month within the northern season of spring.
May begins with the sun in the sign of Taurus and ends in the sign of Gemini. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the constellation of Aries and ends in the constellation of Taurus.
The month may have been named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman era goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May. Although some historians claim that May was named after the Latin word majores which means older men since they say that May is dedicated to old men. [1]
In Japan, there is a so-called 'May sickness', where new students or workers start to be tired of their new schoolwork or jobs. (In Japan schoolyears and fiscal years start on April 1st.)
In any calendar year, no other month starts on the same day of the week as May. (See:-Months in various calendars)
Events in May
May, from the Très riches heures du duc de Berry
- In the Roman Catholic calendar, May 1 is the feast of St. Joseph the worker.
- In the neopagan Wheel of the Year May begins on Beltane in the northern hemisphere and Samhain in the southern hemisphere.
- In the Irish calendar May 1 is Beltane (Bealtaine), the first day of Summer, and a public holiday is held on the first Monday in May.
- In many countries, May Day is May 1. This is celebrated as Labor Day in many countries.
- In the United Kingdom, May Day is May 1, but a public holiday is held on the first Monday in May.
- In Germany it is an old custom to plant a "tree of May" to honor someone. Often young men set up an adorned birch in front of their girlfriend's house in the night before May 1.
- The first Saturday in May is the date of the annual Kentucky Derby, the most famous horse race in the United States.
- May 4th in the Netherlands is the day of Remembrance of the Dead, commemorating all the casualties in military conflicts involving the Netherlands.
- Cinco de Mayo or the Batalla de Puebla is celebrated in Mexico on May 5.
- May 5th is the Children's Day in Japan and Korea.
- May 5th is Liberation Day in the Netherlands, celebrating the ending of the German occupation.
- In Western Europe May 8 is VE Day. In Eastern Europe it is celebrated on May 9.
- In the European Union May 9 is Europe Day
- Golden Spike Day (1869 - Completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad - Promontory Summit, Utah)
- On May 12, International Nurses Day is celebrated.
- Finland's Day in Finland on the 12th of May.
- May 12 is also International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND). These diseases include Neurofibromatosis, Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS)/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Fibromyalgia, Gulf War Syndrome and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.
- On May 17, the Norwegian Constitution Day is celebrated.
- In Chile, the Battle of Iquique (Combate Naval de Iquique), is celebrated on May 21, and it is a national holiday.
- Eritrea celebrates its Independence Day (Independence from Ethiopia) on May 24.
- In Argentina, the May Revolution (or Revolución de Mayo), a national holiday, is on May 25.
- Towel Day is celebrated in May in tribute to Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
- Under the French Ancien Régime, it was of habit to "plant a May" or a "tree of May" in the honor of somebody. The County of Nice saw girls and boys "turn the May" with the sound of fife and drum, i.e. to dance rounds of May around the tree of May planted on the place of the village.
- The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day in the United States.
- Each year in May, the Eurovision Song Contest is held.
- The Indianapolis 500 is held on the Sunday before Memorial Day.
- Labor Day in Queensland, Australia is celebrated on the 1st Monday in May.
- In Canada, Victoria Day is celebrated on the last Monday on or before May 24.
Monthlong events in May
Weeklong Events in May
3rd Week in May
May Moving Events
First Saturday
Second Sunday
- Is Mothers Day in 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, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.
Second Saturday
Last Monday
See also
External links
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