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]]