View source for May

{{short description|Fifth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars}}
{{About|the month}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Calendar}}

'''May''' is the fifth month of the year in the [[Julian calendar|Julian]]  and [[Gregorian calendar]]s.  Its length is 31 days.

May is a month of [[Spring (season)|spring]] in the Northern Hemisphere, and [[autumn]] in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, May in the [[Southern Hemisphere]] is the seasonal equivalent of [[November]] in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. Late May typically marks the start of the summer vacation season in the [[United States]] ([[Memorial Day]]) and [[Canada]] ([[Victoria Day]]) that ends on [[Labor Day]], the first Monday of September.

May (in [[Latin]], ''[[Maius]]'') was named for the [[Greek god]]dess [[Maia (mythology)|Maia]], who was identified with the [[Roman era]] [[goddess]] of fertility, [[Bona Dea]], whose [[festival]] was held in May. Conversely, the Roman poet [[Ovid]] provides a second etymology, in which he says that the month of May is named for the ''maiores,'' Latin for "elders", and that the following month (June) is named for the ''iuniores,'' or "young people" (''Fasti VI.88'').
[[File:Podophyllum peltatum Shenks Ferry 2.jpg|alt=|thumb|May apples blooming. Common name given due to the plant's tendency to bloom in the month of May.]]
[[File:Lady of the Rosary altar, Inner City Parish Church, 2016 Budapest.jpg|thumb|220px|upright=0.9|Special devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary take place in May]]

[[Eta Aquariids]] meteor shower appears in May. It is visible from about April 21 to about May 20 each year with peak activity on or around May 6. The [[Arietids]] shower from May 22 – July 2, and peaks on June 7. The [[Virginids]] also shower at various dates in May.

== Ancient Roman observances ==
Under the calendar of ancient Rome, the festival of [[Bona Dea]] fell on May 1, [[Argei]] fell on May 14 or May 15, [[Agonalia]] fell on May 21, and [[Ambarvalia]] on May 29. [[Floralia]] was held April 27 during the [[Roman Republic|Republican era]], or April 28 on the [[Julian calendar]], and lasted until May 3. [[Lemuria (festival)|Lemuria]] fell on 9,11, and 13 May under the Julian calendar. The [[College of Aesculapius and Hygia]] celebrated two festivals of [[Rosalia (festival)|Rosalia]], 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]], also occurred on May 31. [[Rosalia (festival)#Military Rosaliae|Ludi Fabarici]] was celebrated May 29 – June 1. [[Mercury (god)|Mercury]] would receive a sacrifice on the Ides of May (May 15). [[Tubilustrium]] took place on May 23 as well as in March. These dates do not correspond to the modern [[Gregorian calendar]].{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

== Symbols ==
[[File:Hooker emerald.jpg|alt=Emerald brooch|thumb|[[Emerald]] brooch]]May's [[birthstone]] is the [[emerald]], which is emblematic of love and success. Birth flowers are the [[Lily of the Valley]] and ''[[Crataegus monogyna]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shgresources.com/gems/birthflowers/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911093344/http://www.shgresources.com/gems/birthflowers/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-11|title=U101 College Search|work=shgresources.com}}</ref>  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.
[[File:Lily of the valley.jpg|thumb|The [[Lily of the Valley]]]]
[[File:Crataegus-monogyna.JPG|alt=Crataegus monogyna|thumb|''[[Crataegus monogyna]]'']]
[[File:Trailing arbutus.jpg|alt=Mayflowers|thumb|Mayflowers]]The "Mayflower" ''[[Epigaea repens]]'' is a North American harbinger of May, and the floral emblem of both [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Massachusetts]]. Its native range extends from Newfoundland south to Florida, west to Kentucky in the southern range, and to Northwest Territories in the north. The [[zodiac]] signs are [[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]] (until May 20) and [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]] (May 21 onward).<ref>The Earth passed the junction of the signs at 13:49 UT/GMT May 20, 2020, and will pass it again at 19:37 UT/GMT May 20, 2021.</ref><ref name=astrology>{{citation |title=Astrology Calendar |url=https://www.yourzodiacsign.com/calendar/ |website=yourzodiacsign |access-date=2020-03-29 |archive-date=2020-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329204306/https://www.yourzodiacsign.com/calendar/ |url-status=live }}. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.</ref>

== Observances ==

=== Month-long ===
* Working class history month
* Better Hearing and Speech Month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asha.org/bhsm/|title=May is Better Hearing & Speech Month|work=asha.org|access-date=2015-05-11|archive-date=2015-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508235337/http://asha.org/bhsm/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In Catholic tradition, May is the Month of the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]]. See [[May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary]]
** [[Flores de Mayo]] (Philippines)
* [[Celiac Awareness Month]]
* [[Cystic Fibrosis]] Awareness Month<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cff.org/GetInvolved/CFAwareness/|title=Raise CF Awareness|work=cff.org|access-date=2014-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419025234/https://www.cff.org/GetInvolved/CFAwareness/|archive-date=2014-04-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome]] Awareness month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lifewitheds.com/2013/03/what-can-i-do-for-may-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-awareness-month.html|title=What Can I Do for May Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Month?|website=www.lifewitheds.com|access-date=2016-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420172932/http://www.lifewitheds.com/2013/03/what-can-i-do-for-may-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-awareness-month.html|archive-date=2016-04-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Garden for Wildlife month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Garden-Month.aspx|title=May is Garden for Wildlife Month|work=nwf.org|access-date=2014-05-28|archive-date=2014-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603211950/http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Garden-Month.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Huntington's disease|Huntington's Disease]] Awareness Month (International)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hda.org.uk/get-involved/awareness-month-may-2019|title=Raising awareness of Huntington's Disease|access-date=2019-05-02|archive-date=2019-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502093540/https://www.hda.org.uk/get-involved/awareness-month-may-2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* International Mediterranean Diet Month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oldwayspt.org/programs/mediterranean-foods-alliance/national-mediterranean-diet-month|title=International Mediterranean Diet Month|work=oldwayspt.org|access-date=2014-05-28|archive-date=2014-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624005933/http://oldwayspt.org/programs/mediterranean-foods-alliance/national-mediterranean-diet-month|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Kaamatan]] harvest festival ([[Labuan]], [[Sabah]])
* New Zealand Music Month (New Zealand)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz/|title=NZ Music Month 2015 — Official Site|author=Cactuslab|work=nzmusicmonth.co.nz|access-date=2015-05-12|archive-date=2012-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508130816/http://www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[National Pet Month]] (United Kingdom)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nationalpetmonth.org.uk/|title=National Pet Month – promoting responsible pet ownership across the UK|work=nationalpetmonth.org.uk|access-date=2014-05-28|archive-date=2014-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519062311/http://www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[National Smile Month]] (United Kingdom)
* [[Emancipation Day|Season of Emancipation]] (April 14 to August 23) (Barbados)
* [[Skin Cancer]] Awareness Month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skincancer.org/media-and-press/Press-Release-2011/skin-cancer-awareness-month-reminder|title=Skin Cancer Awareness Month Reminder|work=skincancer.org|access-date=2015-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511012232/http://www.skincancer.org/media-and-press/Press-Release-2011/skin-cancer-awareness-month-reminder|archive-date=2015-05-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[South Asian Heritage Month]] (International)
* World Trade Month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trade.gov/worldtrademonth/|title=World Trade Month|access-date=2014-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721024042/http://www.trade.gov/worldtrademonth/|archive-date=2014-07-21|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== United States ====
[[File:Mental Health Awareness Month.jpg|thumb|right|The green ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness.]]
* [[Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month]]
* National [[ALS Awareness Month]]
* [[Bike Week (Bicycle Week)|Bicycle Month]]
* National Brain Tumor Awareness Month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.MilesForHope.org|title=Miles for Hope is now Brain Tumor Alliance|author=Frank Ranieri|work=milesforhope.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415093348/http://www.milesforhope.org/|archive-date=2013-04-15}}</ref>
* National Burger Month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nationalhamburgermonth.com/ |title=Hamburgers and Purifiers for All &#124; we really do eat massive hamburgers! |access-date=2014-05-28 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517184553/https://nationalhamburgermonth.com/ |archive-date=2014-05-17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Denver's Best Burgers – Celebrate National Burger Month with the Mile High City's 25 tastiest beef-and-bun combos. |url=https://www.5280.com/2018/05/denvers-best-burgers/ |website=5280 Magazine |access-date=24 April 2019 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424181414/https://www.5280.com/2018/05/denvers-best-burgers/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Community Action Awareness Month ([[North Dakota]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://governor.nd.gov/media-center/proclamation/community-action-awareness-month-3|title=Community Action Awareness Month|work=nd.gov|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093816/http://governor.nd.gov/media-center/proclamation/community-action-awareness-month-3|archive-date=2015-05-18}}</ref>
* [[Electrical Safety Foundation International#National Electrical Safety Month|National Electrical Safety Month]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://esfi.org/|title=Electrical Safety Foundation International|work=esfi.org|access-date=2014-05-28|archive-date=2014-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531180316/http://www.esfi.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* National Foster Care Month<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/|title=National Foster Care Month 2015: Building Blocks Toward Permanent Families|work=childwelfare.gov|access-date=2014-05-28|archive-date=2014-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517101654/https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* National Golf Month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalgolfmonth.com/|title=National Golf Month at Mipins|work=nationalgolfmonth.com|access-date=2014-05-28|archive-date=2014-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606192502/http://www.nationalgolfmonth.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Jewish American Heritage Month]]
* [[Haitian Heritage Month]]
* [[Hepatitis]] Awareness Month<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HepAwarenessMonth.htm|title=May is Hepatitis Awareness Month|work=cdc.gov|date=2 April 2021|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811002612/https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hepawarenessmonth.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Mental Health Awareness Month]]
* [[National Military Appreciation Month]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nmam.org/cr328.htm|title=NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH 2005|work=nmam.org|access-date=2009-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914134615/http://www.nmam.org/cr328.htm|archive-date=2008-09-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* National [[moving company|Moving]] Month<ref>{{Cite book | last = McGuire | first = Holly | author2 = Keil, Kathryn | title = Chase's 2010 Calendar of Events | publisher = McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc | year = 2010 | url = http://www.answers.com/topic/national-moving-month | access-date = 2010-03-31 | archive-date = 2010-07-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100705124302/http://www.answers.com/topic/national-moving-month | url-status = live }}</ref>
* National [[Osteoporosis]] Month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nof.org/|title=National Osteoporosis Foundation|work=nof.org|access-date=2014-05-28|archive-date=2014-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606082124/http://nof.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[National Stroke Awareness Month]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=awareness|title=Stroke Awareness Resource Center|work=Stroke.org|access-date=2013-05-20|archive-date=2013-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508193054/http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=awareness|url-status=live}}</ref>
* National Water Safety Month<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalwatersafetymonth.org/|title=National Water Safety Month|work=nationalwatersafetymonth.org|access-date=2014-05-28|archive-date=2014-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517192739/http://nationalwatersafetymonth.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Older Americans Month<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20050511-21 GovTrack.us: Tracking the U.S. Congress]{{dead link|date=May 2016}}</ref>

=== 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]]
* [[List of observances set by the Chinese calendar]]
* [[List of observances set by the Hebrew calendar]]
* [[List of observances set by the Islamic calendar]]
* [[List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar]]

=== Movable, 2019 ===
* [[Phi Ta Khon]] (Dan Sai, [[Loei province]], [[Isan]], Thailand) Dates are selected by village mediums and can take place anywhere between March and July.
* National Small Business Week ([[United States]]): May 5 – 11<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Small Business Week Virtual Summit|url=https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week|access-date=2021-07-28|website=National Small Business Week Virtual Summit|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728041715/https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[National Hurricane Preparedness Week]] ([[United States]]): May 5 – 11<ref>{{Cite web|last=US Department of Commerce|first=NOAA|title=Social Media: Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 5-11, 2019|url=https://www.weather.gov/wrn/2019-social-media-hpw|access-date=2021-07-28|website=www.weather.gov|language=EN-US|archive-date=2021-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618085548/https://www.weather.gov/wrn/2019-social-media-hpw|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[List of unofficial observances in New Zealand#Weeks|New Zealand Sign Language Week]]: May 6 – 12<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://deaf.org.nz/nzslw |title=New Zealand Sign Language Week |access-date=2018-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506035838/http://deaf.org.nz/nzslw |archive-date=2018-05-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Green Office Week]] ([[United Kingdom|Britain]], [[United States]]): May 13 – 17<ref>{{Cite web|title=green office week|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/fs-tags/green-office-week|access-date=2021-07-28|website=US Forest Service|language=en|archive-date=2021-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022033136/https://www.fs.usda.gov/fs-tags/green-office-week|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Walk Safely to School Day]] ([[Australia]]): May 17<ref>{{Cite web|title=Walk Safely to School Day, 2020|url=https://www.walkingsa.org.au/walk/walk-event/walk-safely-school-day-2020/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=Walking SA|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728172820/https://www.walkingsa.org.au/walk/walk-event/walk-safely-school-day-2020/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Emergency Medical Services Week]] ([[United States]]): May 19 – 25<ref>{{Cite web|title=EMS Week|url=https://www.acep.org/administration/ems-resources/emsweek/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=www.acep.org|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729043756/https://www.acep.org/administration/ems-resources/emsweek/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Bike to Work Week Victoria]] (May 27 – June 2)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biketowork.ca/victoria/btww-2019|title=2019 Greater Victoria Bike to Work Week|website=Go By Bike BC|access-date=2019-05-01|archive-date=2019-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501123015/https://www.biketowork.ca/victoria/btww-2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Western Christian ====
* Special devotions to the [[Virgin Mary]] take place in May. See [[May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary]].
'''Labour Day: May 1 '''
* [[International Workers' Day]]

'''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]] ([[England]])
'''Fourth Sunday after Easter: May 12 '''
* [[Cantate Sunday]]
* [[Fourth Sunday of Easter|Good Shepherd Sunday]]
'''Fourth Friday after Easter: May 17 '''
* [[Store Bededag]] ([[Denmark]])
'''Third Sunday of May: May 19 '''
* [[Madonna dell'Udienza|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]]
'''39 days after Easter: May 30 '''
* [[Feast of the Ascension]]
** [[Vatertag|Father's Day]] (Germany)
** [[Festa della Sensa]]  ([[Venice]])
** [[Day of Prayer#Global Day of Prayer|Global Day of Prayer]]
** [[Public holidays in Cameroon|Sheep Festival]] ([[Cameroon]])

==== Eastern Christian ====
'''Wednesday after Pascha: May 1'''
* [[Bright Week|Bright Wednesday]]
'''Thursday after Pascha: May 2 '''
* [[Bright Week|Bright Thursday]]
'''Friday after Pascha: May 3 '''
* [[Bright Week|Bright Friday]]
'''Saturday after Pascha: May 4 '''
* [[Bright Week|Bright Saturday]]
'''8th day after Pascha: May 5 '''
* [[Thomas Sunday]]
'''2nd Tuesday of Pascha, or 2nd Monday of Pascha, depending on region: May 6 or May 7 '''
* [[Radonitsa]] ([[Russian Orthodox]])
'''2nd Sunday following Pascha: May 12 '''
* [[Pentecostarion#Sunday of the Myrrhbearers|Sunday of the Myrrhbearers]]
'''4th Sunday of Pascha: May 26 '''
* [[Pentecostarion#Sunday of the Paralytic|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 ====
* [[Arbor Day|National Arbour Week]] ([[Ontario]], Canada)

==== First Thursday ====
* [[Arbor Day|Arbour Day]] ([[Nova Scotia]], Canada)
* [[National Day of Prayer]] ([[United States]])
* [[National Day of Reason]] (United States)

==== First Saturday ====
* [[Kentucky Derby]]
* [[Free Comic Book Day]]
* [[Green Up Day]] ([[Vermont]], United States)
* [[World Naked Gardening Day]]

===== First Sunday =====
* [[Mother's Day]] ([[Angola]], [[Cape Verde]], [[Hungary]], [[Lithuania]], [[Mozambique]], [[Portugal]], [[Spain]])
* [[World Laughter Day]]
* [[Children's Day]] (South Korea)

==== First full week ====
* [[Teachers' Day|National Teacher Appreciation Week]] ([[United States]])
* [[North American Occupational Safety and Health Week]]

===== Tuesday of First full week =====
* [[Teachers' Day|National Teacher Appreciation Day]] ([[United States]])

===== Wednesday of first full week =====
* [[Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day]]

==== Second week in May ====
* [[National Stuttering Awareness Week]] ([[United States]])

==== First Tuesday ====
* [[World Asthma Day]]

==== Friday preceding Second Sunday in May ====
* [[Military Spouse Day]] ([[United States]])
* [[National Public Gardens Day]] (United States)

==== Saturday closest to May 10 ====
* [[National Train Day]] ([[United States]])

==== 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)
* [[Mother's Day]] ([[Anguilla]], Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, [[Bonaire]], Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Croatia, [[Curaçao]], Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, [[Hong Kong]], Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Malta, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe)
* [[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 ====
* [[Arbor Day|Arbour Day]] ([[Prince Edward Island]], Canada)
* [[National Defense Transportation Day]]
* [[Endangered species|Endangered Species]] Day (United States)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/esday/|title=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Endangered Species Day|author=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service|work=fws.gov|access-date=2015-05-15|archive-date=2015-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509114742/http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/esday/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[List of food days#May|National Pizza Party Day (United States)]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-pizza-party-day-third-friday-in-may/|title=NATIONAL PIZZA PARTY DAY – Third Friday in May|work=[[National Day Calendar]]|date=4 February 2024|access-date=15 May 2015|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518092044/http://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-pizza-party-day-third-friday-in-may/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 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]])
* [[Madonna dell'Udienza|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 ====
* [[Victoria Day]] ([[Canada]])

==== 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)
* [[Mother's Day]] (Algeria, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Sweden, Tunisia)
* [[Turkmen Carpet Day]] (Turkmenistan)

==== Last Monday ====
* [[Heroes' Day]] (Turks and Caicos Islands)
* [[Memorial Day]] (United States), a public holiday, is on [[May 30]], but observed on the last Monday in May.
* [[Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day]] (Fiji), removed as a national holiday in 2010.

==== Last Wednesday ====
* [[Multiple Sclerosis International Federation|World Multiple Sclerosis Day]]

==== Last Thursday ====
* [[Take a Girl Child to Work Day]] (South Africa)

=== Fixed  ===
[[File:Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry mai.jpg|right|thumb|May, from the ''[[Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry]]'']]
[[File:Mai Leandro Bassano.jpg|thumb|''May'', [[Leandro Bassano]]]]
[[File:Rosa chinensis.jpg|right|thumb|[[Rosa chinensis]], the flower symbol of May]]
* [[April 29]] to [[May 5]] in Japan, which includes four different holidays, is called "[[Golden Week (Japan)|Golden Week]]". Many workers have up to 10 days off. There is also 'May sickness', where new students or workers start to be tired of their new routine. (In Japan the [[school year]] and [[fiscal year]] start on April 1.)
* [[Mayovka]], in the context of the late [[Russian Empire]], was a [[picnic]] in the countryside or in a park in the early days of May, hence the name. Eventually, "mayovka" (specifically, "proletarian mayovka") came to mean an illegal celebration of [[May 1]] by revolutionary public, typically presented as an innocent picnic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homofestivus.ru/maevki.html|title=Маевки|work=homofestivus.ru|access-date=2015-05-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518100624/http://homofestivus.ru/maevki.html|archive-date=2015-05-18|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[May 1]]
** [[Armed Forces Day]] ([[Mauritania]])
** [[Beltane]] ([[Ireland]], [[Neopaganism]])
** [[Constitution Day]] ([[Argentina]])
** [[May Day|Lei Day]] ([[Hawaii]], United States)
** [[May Day]] ([[International observance]])
* [[May 2]]
** [[Dos de Mayo Uprising#Impact of the uprising|Anniversary of the Dos de Mayo Uprising]] ([[Holiday of the Region of Madrid|Community of Madrid]], Spain)
** [[Birth Anniversary of Third Druk Gyalpo]] ([[Bhutan]])
** [[Flag Day]] ([[Poland]])
** [[Indonesia National Education Day]]
* [[May 3]]
** [[Constitution Day]]  ([[Poland]])
** [[Constitution Memorial Day]] ([[Japan]])
** [[Roodmas]]
** [[Sun Day]] ([[International observance|International]])
** [[World Press Freedom Day]]
* [[May 4]]
** [[Anti-Bullying Day]] ([[United Nations]])
** [[Bird Day]] ([[United States]])
** [[Cassinga Day]] ([[Namibia]])
** [[Remembrance days in Slovakia|Death of Milan Rastislav Štefánik Day]] ([[Slovakia]])
** [[Greenery Day]] ([[Japan]])
** [[International Firefighters' Day]]
** [[May Fourth Movement]] commemorations:
*** [[Literary Day]] ([[Taiwan]])
*** [[Youth Day (China)]]
** [[Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled]] (Afghanistan)
** [[Remembrance of the Dead]] (Netherlands)
** [[Public holidays in Latvia|Restoration of Independence day]] (Latvia)
** [[Star Wars Day]] ([[International observance]])
** [[GiveForward.com|World Give Day]]
** [[List of festivals in Fiji|Youth Day (Fiji)]]
* [[May 5]]
** [[Children's Day]] (Japan, Korea)
** [[Cinco de Mayo]]
** [[Constitution Day|Constitution Day (Kyrgyzstan)]]
** [[Coronation Day (Thailand)]]
** [[Europe Day]] in Europe (uncommon usage, largely replaced by May 9).
** [[Feast of al-Khadr]] or [[Saint George]] ([[Palestinian people]])
** [[Indian Arrival Day]] (Guyana)
** [[International Midwives' Day]]
** [[Liberation Day (Denmark)]]
** [[Liberation Day (Netherlands)]]
** [[Lusophone|Lusophone Culture Day]] ([[Community of Portuguese Language Countries]])
** [[Martyrs' Day (Albania)]]
** [[Patriots' Victory Day]] (Ethiopia)
** [[Senior Citizens Day]] (Palau)
** [[Tango no sekku]] (Japan)
* [[May 6]]
** [[Public holidays in Gabon|Martyrs' Day]] (Gabon)
** [[Martyrs' Day (Lebanon and Syria)]]
** [[International No Diet Day]]
** [[Teachers' Day]] (Jamaica)
** The first day of [[Hıdırellez]] (Turkey)
** [[St George's Day]] related observances ([[Eastern Orthodox Church]]):
*** [[Army Day#Bulgaria|Day of Bravery]], also known as ''Gergyovden'' (Bulgaria)
*** [[Đurđevdan]] ([[Gorani people|Gorani]], [[Romani people|Roma]])
*** [[Public holidays in Georgia|Police Day]] (Georgia)
*** [[George's Day in Spring|Yuri's Day]] ([[Russian Orthodox Church]])
* [[May 7]]
** [[Defender of the Fatherland Day (Kazakhstan)]]
** [[Dien Bien Phu Victory Day]] (Vietnam)
** [[Radio Day]] (Russia, Bulgaria)
* [[May 8]]
** [[Public holidays in Mexico|Miguel Hidalgo's birthday]] (Mexico)
** [[Parents' Day]] (South Korea)
** [[Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War]], continues to May 9
** [[Truman Day]] ([[Missouri]], United States)
** [[White Lotus Day]] ([[Theosophy (Blavatskian)|Theosophy]])
** [[World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day]]
** [[Veterans Day (Norway)]]
** [[Victory in Europe Day|VE Day]] in [[Western Europe]]. In [[Eastern Europe]] it is celebrated on [[May 9]].
* [[May 9]]
** [[Scientology holidays|Anniversary of Dianetics]] ([[Church of Scientology]])
** [[Europe Day]] ([[European Union]])
** [[Liberation Day]] ([[Guernsey]]), commemorating the end of the [[German occupation of the Channel Islands]] during World War II.
** [[Liberation Day (Jersey)]], commemorating the end of the [[German occupation of the Channel Islands]] during World War II.
** [[Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War]], continued from May 8.
** [[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]] observances, celebration of the [[Soviet Union]] victory over [[Nazi Germany]] ([[Public holidays in the Soviet Union|Soviet Union]], [[Public holidays in Azerbaijan|Azerbaijan]], [[Public holidays in Belarus|Belarus]], [[Public holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Public holidays in Georgia|Georgia]], [[Public holidays in Israel|Israel]], [[Public holidays in Kazakhstan|Kazakhstan]], [[Public holidays in Kyrgyzstan|Kyrgyzstan]], [[Public holidays in Moldova|Moldova]], [[Public holidays in Russia|Russia]], [[Public holidays in Serbia|Serbia]], [[Public holidays in Tajikistan|Tajikistan]], [[Public holidays in Turkmenistan|Turkmenistan]], [[Public holidays in Uzbekistan|Uzbekistan]])
** [[Victory Day over Nazism in World War II]] (Ukraine)
** [[Victory and Peace Day]] (Armenia) marks both the [[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]]&nbsp;– [[Promontory Summit]], Utah)<ref name="WDL">{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11371/ |title = Ceremony at "Wedding of the Rails," May 10, 1869 at Promontory Point, Utah |website = [[World Digital Library]] |date = 1869-05-10 |access-date = 2013-07-20 |archive-date = 2013-10-18 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131018052635/http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11371/ |url-status = live }}</ref>
** [[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]] ([[Lithuania]])
** [[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<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cig.gov.pt/IDAHOT/|title=IDAHOT Forum 2018 - Lisboa {{!}} From global to local politics: Equality everywhere, for everyone|website=www.cig.gov.pt|date=10 February 2018|access-date=2019-12-14|archive-date=2020-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307035948/https://www.cig.gov.pt/IDAHOT/|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[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)]]
** [[Mother's Day]] (Poland)
** [[National Day of Healing]] (Australia)
** [[National Paper Airplane Day]] (United States)
* [[May 27]]
** [[Armed Forces Day (Nicaragua)]]
** [[Children's Day (Nigeria)]]
** [[Mother's Day (Bolivia)]]
** [[Navy Day (Japan)]]
** [[Politics of Guadeloupe|Slavery Abolition Day]] ([[Guadeloupe]], [[Saint Barthélemy]], [[Collectivity of Saint Martin|Saint Martin]])
** [[World MS Day]]
** Start of [[National Reconciliation Week]] (Australia)
* [[May 28]]
** [[Armed Forces Day (Croatia)]]
** [[Downfall of the Derg Day]] (Ethiopia)
** [[Flag Day]] (Philippines) (Display of the flag in all places until June 12 is encouraged)
** [[Independence Day]] (Armenia)
** [[Republic Day]] (Nepal)
** [[Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic|TDFR Republic Day]]
** [[Youm-e-Takbir]] (Pakistan)
* [[May 29]]
** [[Armed Forces Day|Army Day]] (Argentina)
** [[International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers]] ([[International observance|International]])
** [[Oak Apple Day]] (England), and its related observance:
*** [[Castleton Garland Day]] ([[Castleton, Derbyshire|Castleton]])
** [[List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union|Statehood Day]] ([[Rhode Island]] and [[Wisconsin]])
** [[Veterans Day (Sweden)]]
** [[World Digestive Health Day]]
* [[May 30]]
** [[Anguilla Day]] ([[Anguilla]])
** [[Canary Islands Day]] (Spain)
** [[Indian Arrival Day (Trinidad and Tobago)]]
** [[Lod Massacre Remembrance Day]] (Puerto Rico)
** [[Mother's Day]] (Nicaragua)
** [[Parliament Day (Croatia)]]
* [[May 31]]
** [[Royal Brunei Land 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]])

== See also ==
* [[List of historical anniversaries]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{sister project links|d=Q119|c=Category:May|n=Category:May|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=May|species=no}}
{{months}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:May| ]]
[[Category:Months|*05]]