May
19345
225089769
2008-07-11T20:47:21Z
99.249.244.208
{{Month header}}
{{otheruses}}
{| style="float:right;"
|{{MayCalendar}}
|}
'''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 (season)|spring]].
May begins with the [[sun]] in the sign of [[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]] and ends in the sign of [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]]. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the [[constellation]] of [[Aries (astrology)|Aries]] and ends in the constellation of [[Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]].
The month may have been 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. 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. <ref>[http://www.msn.com Majores or Maia, The Debate]</ref>
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 [[schoolyear]]s and [[fiscal year]]s start on April 1st.)
No other month starts on the same day of the week as May in common years. (See:-[[Month#Months in various calendars|Months in various calendars]])
==Events in May==
[[Image:Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry mai.jpg|right|thumb|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 [[neopaganism|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 conflict]]s involving the Netherlands.
* [[Cinco de Mayo]] or the [[Battle of Puebla|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 [[Germany|German]] occupation.
* In [[Western Europe]] [[May 8]] is [[Victory in Europe Day|VE Day]]. In [[Eastern Europe]] it is celebrated on [[May 9]].
* In the [[European Union]] [[May 9]] is [[European Symbols#Europe Day|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 (musical instrument)|fife]] and [[drum]], i.e. to dance [http://mtcn.free.fr/mtcn-traditional-music-midi-round-may.php 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===
* [[Asian Pacific American Heritage Month]] - celebration of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the [[United States]].
* [[Mental Health Awareness Month]] - raising awareness about [[mental illness]] in the [[United States]].
* May is traditionally devoted to the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]] in [[Roman Catholic]] traditions. [[May crowning]] occurs in some locales at the beginning of the month.
* In [[New Zealand]], May is the New Zealand Music Month.
* May is Celebrate Older Adults Month.
*[[Balver Märchenwochen]]
===Weeklong Events in May===
3rd Week in May
* The [[League of American Bicyclists]] is promoting Bike-to-Work Week from May 15-19 and [[Bike-to-Work Day]] on Friday, [[May 19]].
===May Moving Events===
* [[Eastern Christianity]] celebrates [[Easter]] on a [[week|Sunday]] between [[April 4]] and [[May 8]].
* On the full moon of May, [[Vesak]] is celebrated in many southeast Asian countries; it commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of [[Siddhartha Gautama]].
* In [[Canada]], [[Victoria Day]] is observed on the Monday on or before [[May 24]]. In [[Quebec]], it is known as [[National Patriotes Day|Patriots Day]].
First Saturday
* In [[Kentucky]], [[United States]], the [[Kentucky Derby]]
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]], [[Netherlands|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
* [[World Fair Trade Day]] is celebrated.
Last Monday
* In the [[United States]], [[Memorial Day]], a public holiday, is on [[May 30]], but observed on the last Monday in May.
==See also==
* [[Historical anniversaries]]
==External links==
{{reflist}}
{{wiktionarypar|May}}
{{Commonscat|May}}
* {{wikitravel}}*
* [http://www.kidscoop.com/resources/cleanair.html kidscoop on Clean Air Month]
* [http://www.bikemonth.com/ Bike Month Website]
* [http://www.mninternational.com/images/calendar3.pdf#search='National%20Salsa%20Month' M&N International Bright Idea Book](PDF)
{{months}}
[[Category:Months]]
[[Category:May|*]]
[[af:Mei]]
[[als:Mai]]
[[am:መይ]]
[[ang:Þrimilcemōnaþ]]
[[ar:مايو]]
[[an:Mayo]]
[[arc:ܐܝܪ]]
[[frp:Mê]]
[[ast:Mayu]]
[[gn:Jasypo]]
[[ay:Llamayu phaxsi]]
[[az:May]]
[[bn:মে]]
[[zh-min-nan:5 goe̍h]]
[[be:Май]]
[[be-x-old:Травень]]
[[bs:Maj]]
[[br:Mae]]
[[bg:Май]]
[[ca:Maig]]
[[cv:Çу]]
[[ceb:Mayo]]
[[cs:Květen]]
[[co:Maghju]]
[[cy:Mai]]
[[da:Maj]]
[[de:Mai]]
[[dv:މެއި]]
[[dsb:Rozhelony]]
[[et:Mai]]
[[el:Μάιος]]
[[myv:Панжиков]]
[[es:Mayo]]
[[eo:Majo]]
[[ext:Mayu]]
[[eu:Maiatz]]
[[ee:Damɛ]]
[[fa:مه (ماه)]]
[[fo:Mai]]
[[fr:Mai]]
[[fy:Maaie]]
[[fur:Mai]]
[[ga:Bealtaine]]
[[gan:5月]]
[[gv:Boaldyn]]
[[gd:An Cèitean]]
[[gl:Maio]]
[[ko:5월]]
[[haw:Mei]]
[[hy:Մայիս]]
[[hi:मई]]
[[hsb:Meja]]
[[hr:Svibanj]]
[[io:Mayo]]
[[ig:May]]
[[ilo:Mayo]]
[[id:Mei]]
[[ia:Maio]]
[[ie:May]]
[[is:Maí]]
[[it:Maggio]]
[[he:מאי]]
[[jv:Mei]]
[[pam:Mayu]]
[[kn:ಮೇ]]
[[ka:მაისი]]
[[csb:Môj]]
[[kk:Мамыр]]
[[kw:Mys Me]]
[[ky:Май]]
[[sw:Mei]]
[[kv:Ода кора тöлысь]]
[[ht:Me]]
[[ku:Gulan]]
[[lad:Mayo]]
[[lo:ພຶດສະພາ]]
[[la:Maius]]
[[lv:Maijs]]
[[lb:Mee]]
[[lt:Gegužė]]
[[lij:Mazzo]]
[[li:Mei]]
[[ln:Sánzá ya mítáno]]
[[hu:Május]]
[[mg:Mey]]
[[ml:മേയ്]]
[[mt:Mejju]]
[[mi:Haratua]]
[[mr:मे]]
[[ms:Mei]]
[[my:မေ]]
[[nah:Tlamācuīlti]]
[[nl:Mei]]
[[nds-nl:Mei]]
[[ja:5月]]
[[nap:Majo]]
[[no:Mai]]
[[nn:Mai]]
[[nrm:Mai]]
[[nov:Maye]]
[[oc:Mai]]
[[nds:Mai]]
[[pl:Maj]]
[[pt:Maio]]
[[ksh:Meij]]
[[ro:Mai]]
[[qu:Aymuray killa]]
[[ru:Май]]
[[sah:Ыам ыйа]]
[[se:Miessemánnu]]
[[sc:Maju]]
[[sco:Mey]]
[[sq:Maji]]
[[scn:Maiu]]
[[simple:May]]
[[ss:ÍNkhwekhwéti]]
[[sk:Máj]]
[[sl:Maj]]
[[szl:Moj]]
[[so:Maajo]]
[[sr:Мај]]
[[su:Méi]]
[[fi:Toukokuu]]
[[sv:Maj]]
[[tl:Mayo]]
[[ta:மே]]
[[kab:Mayyu]]
[[tt:May]]
[[te:మే]]
[[th:พฤษภาคม]]
[[vi:Tháng năm]]
[[tg:Май]]
[[tpi:Me]]
[[tr:Mayıs]]
[[uk:Травень]]
[[ur:مئی]]
[[vo:Mayul]]
[[fiu-vro:Lehekuu]]
[[wa:May]]
[[vls:Meie]]
[[war:Mayo]]
[[yi:מאי]]
[[yo:May]]
[[zh-yue:5月]]
[[bat-smg:Gegožė]]
[[zh:5月]]