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May

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This article is about the month. For other uses, see May (disambiguation).
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May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days.

May is a month of 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 goddess 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).

Mayapples blooming. Common name given due to the plant's tendency to bloom in the month of May.
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

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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 Republican era, or April 28 on the Julian calendar, and lasted until May 3. Lemuria 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 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 Gregorian calendar.[citation needed]

Symbols

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Emerald brooch
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.[1] 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.

The Lily of the Valley
Crataegus monogyna
Crataegus monogyna
Mayflowers
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 (until May 20) and Gemini (May 21 onward).[2][3]

Observances

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Month-long

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United States

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The green ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness.

Non-Gregorian

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(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.)

Movable, 2019

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Western Christian

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Labour Day: May 1

Sunday after Divine Mercy Sunday: May 5

Monday and Tuesday in the week following the third Sunday of Easter: May 6–7

Fourth Sunday after Easter: May 12

Fourth Friday after Easter: May 17

Third Sunday of May: May 19

Sunday preceding the Rogation days: May 26

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

39 days after Easter: May 30

Eastern Christian

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Wednesday after Pascha: May 1

Thursday after Pascha: May 2

Friday after Pascha: May 3

Saturday after Pascha: May 4

8th day after Pascha: May 5

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

2nd Sunday following Pascha: May 12

4th Sunday of Pascha: May 26

Wednesday after the Sunday of the Paralytic: May 29

Movable civic

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Last Friday in April to the first Sunday in May

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First Thursday

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First Saturday

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First Sunday
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First full week

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Tuesday of First full week
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Wednesday of first full week
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Second week in May

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First Tuesday

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Friday preceding Second Sunday in May

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Saturday closest to May 10

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Second Saturday

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Second Weekend

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Second Sunday

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Week of May 12

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Third Weekend, including Friday

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Third Friday

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Third Saturday

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Third Sunday

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Monday on or before May 24

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Third Monday

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Monday on or before May 25

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Last Monday preceding May 25

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

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Saturday closest to May 30

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Last Weekend

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Last Sunday

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Last Monday

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Last Wednesday

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Last Thursday

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Fixed

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May, from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
May, Leandro Bassano
Rosa chinensis, the flower symbol of May

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "U101 College Search". shgresources.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Astrology Calendar", yourzodiacsign, archived from the original on 2020-03-29, retrieved 2020-03-29. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.
  4. ^ "May is Better Hearing & Speech Month". asha.org. Archived from the original on 2015-05-08. Retrieved 2015-05-11.
  5. ^ "Raise CF Awareness". cff.org. Archived from the original on 2014-04-19. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  6. ^ "What Can I Do for May Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Month?". www.lifewitheds.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  7. ^ "May is Garden for Wildlife Month". nwf.org. Archived from the original on 2014-06-03. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  8. ^ "Raising awareness of Huntington's Disease". Archived from the original on 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  9. ^ "International Mediterranean Diet Month". oldwayspt.org. Archived from the original on 2014-06-24. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  10. ^ Cactuslab. "NZ Music Month 2015 — Official Site". nzmusicmonth.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  11. ^ "National Pet Month – promoting responsible pet ownership across the UK". nationalpetmonth.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  12. ^ "Skin Cancer Awareness Month Reminder". skincancer.org. Archived from the original on 2015-05-11. Retrieved 2015-05-11.
  13. ^ "World Trade Month". Archived from the original on 2014-07-21. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  14. ^ Frank Ranieri. "Miles for Hope is now Brain Tumor Alliance". milesforhope.org. Archived from the original on 2013-04-15.
  15. ^ "Hamburgers and Purifiers for All | we really do eat massive hamburgers!". Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  16. ^ "Denver's Best Burgers – Celebrate National Burger Month with the Mile High City's 25 tastiest beef-and-bun combos". 5280 Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  17. ^ "Community Action Awareness Month". nd.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18.
  18. ^ "Electrical Safety Foundation International". esfi.org. Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  19. ^ "National Foster Care Month 2015: Building Blocks Toward Permanent Families". childwelfare.gov. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  20. ^ "National Golf Month at Mipins". nationalgolfmonth.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  21. ^ "May is Hepatitis Awareness Month". cdc.gov. 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  22. ^ "NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH 2005". nmam.org. Archived from the original on 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  23. ^ McGuire, Holly; Keil, Kathryn (2010). Chase's 2010 Calendar of Events. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Archived from the original on 2010-07-05. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  24. ^ "National Osteoporosis Foundation". nof.org. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  25. ^ "Stroke Awareness Resource Center". Stroke.org. Archived from the original on 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  26. ^ "National Water Safety Month". nationalwatersafetymonth.org. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  27. ^ GovTrack.us: Tracking the U.S. Congress[dead link‍]
  28. ^ "National Small Business Week Virtual Summit". National Small Business Week Virtual Summit. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  29. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Social Media: Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 5-11, 2019". www.weather.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-06-18. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  30. ^ "New Zealand Sign Language Week". Archived from the original on 2018-05-06. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  31. ^ "green office week". US Forest Service. Archived from the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  32. ^ "Walk Safely to School Day, 2020". Walking SA. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  33. ^ "EMS Week". www.acep.org. Archived from the original on 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  34. ^ "2019 Greater Victoria Bike to Work Week". Go By Bike BC. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
  35. ^ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Endangered Species Day". fws.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-05-09. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  36. ^ "NATIONAL PIZZA PARTY DAY – Third Friday in May". National Day Calendar. 4 February 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  37. ^ "Маевки". homofestivus.ru. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  38. ^ "Ceremony at "Wedding of the Rails," May 10, 1869 at Promontory Point, Utah". World Digital Library. 1869-05-10. Archived from the original on 2013-10-18. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  39. ^ "IDAHOT Forum 2018 - Lisboa | From global to local politics: Equality everywhere, for everyone". www.cig.gov.pt. 10 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2020-03-07. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
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