(51) Holidays in May 2020

May Day – Friday May 1, 2020
This marks the halfway point between the first day of spring and the summer solstice. May Day dates back to the days of the Romans, when it involved many pagan rituals and ancient customs. Festivals, dances, and rituals related to agriculture and fertility were practiced by many Germanic and European countries.

National College Decision Day – Friday May 1, 2020
This celebrates perhaps the most important date for high school seniors; the deadline for upcoming college students to pick their future schools.

World Lyme Day – Friday May 1, 2020
This is a day of awareness about lyme disease, a bacterial disease transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. It is estimated that 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the US every year, making it more highly diagnosed than HIV/AIDS. https://www.lymedisease.org/get-involved/take-action/lyme-awareness-month/

Free Comic Book Day – Saturday May 2, 2020
This is an event organized by the North American comic book industry. It celebrates the day by giving out free comic books as a way to invite new readers into the field. https://www.freecomicbookday.com/

Kentucky Derby – Saturday May 2, 2020
This is one of the oldest horse races in the world. It is a 1 and 1/4 mile long race for three-year-old thoroughbreds on a dirt track. It is held annually at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky and is the first leg of the elusive Triple Crown races. https://www.kentuckyderby.com/history/the-race

World Tuna Day – Saturday May 2, 2020
This day celebrates and brings awareness to the importance of tunas and other similar species.

St James TL / St Philip – Sunday May 3, 2020
This Observance celebrates the lives of Saint Philip and James the Lesser, two of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ. The apostle Philip is the patron saint of hat makers and pastry chefs. He’s also the patron saint of Luxembourg and Uruguay. James, sometimes called James the Lesser, is known as the writer of the epistle of James in the Bible. He is the patron saint of pharmacists, hat makers, and the dying.

World Laughter Day – Sunday May 3, 2020
This is a day where people meet in public to laugh. The goal is to force laughter to induce real laughter.

World Press Freedom Day – Sunday May 3, 2020
This day acts as a reminder of the importance of a free press in a functioning and safe society and serves to commemorate the journalists who have lost their lives in support of free press. In a time when media coverage is prone to fear-mongering and sensationalism, taking the time to appreciate and seek out journalism with integrity has never been more important. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. https://www.un.org/en/observances/press-freedom-day

Star Wars Day – Monday May 4, 2020
The date for this celebration is a pun on the popular Star Wars phrase “May the force be with you” (“May the 4th be with you”). Thanks to the Internet, the pun spread more and more and it became a day of celebration among fans.

Cinco De Mayo – Tuesday May 5, 2020
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the Mexican Army’s victory over France during the Franco-Mexican War at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Although it is considered a minor holiday inside Mexico, it is celebrated in the United States in recognition of the culture and heritage of the Mexican people.

National Teacher Day – Tuesday May 5, 2020
This day provides an opportunity to recognize and show appreciation for the enormous contribution of our nation’s very special school teachers.

World Asthma Day – Tuesday May 5, 2020
This was started by the Global Initiative for Asthma in 1998 as a way to raise awarness about the disease and improve its care. https://ginasthma.org/wad/

National Nurses Day – Wednesday May 6, 2020
This observance celebrates the Nurse’s contributions and importance to patients, hospitals, and clinics. Nurses transform the environment of hospitals and clinics with their energy and positivity. https://www.nursingworld.org/education-events/national-nurses-week/history/

National Day of Prayer – Thursday May 7, 2020
In 1952, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer, to encourage Americans to turn to God in prayer and meditation. https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/history

Vesak Day – Thursday May 7, 2020
Also known as The Day of the Full Moon, this is one of the most important dates on the Buddhist calendar. It celebrates the birth of Buddha, and coincidentally his death, exactly eighty years later.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day – Friday May 8, 2020
This day honors and emphasizes the importance of the “silent heroes”, the spouses and families whose loving support is fundamental for the success of the Military. https://militarybenefits.info/military-spouse-appreciation-day/

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War – Friday May 8, 2020
This observance honors and pays tributes to all victims that died during World War II. The day also reinforces the importance of maintaining peace.

Mother’s Day – Sunday May 10, 2020
This is dedicated to honoring and recognizing the sacrifices and accomplishments of mothers. Mothers are recognized by family and friends regardless of whether they are biological or perceived maternal figures. It is a day to honor and respect mothers for their many sacrifices; a day to show them how important they are to all of us.

Lag B’Omer Starts – Monday May 11, 2020
The Omer (Hebrew: ל״ג בעומר‎‎‎‎) refers to the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot. Lag B’Omer is the (33rd) thirty-third day of the counting of the Omer and is often celebrated with music and dancing around a bonfire.

Bike To Work Day – Friday May 15, 2020
This celebrates and encourages people to ride bicycles, and also raises awareness of how the use of bicycles can help the environment.

Endangered Species Day – Friday May 15, 2020
This day raises awareness of the importance of protecting and preserving animals on the Endangered Species List. https://www.endangered.org/campaigns/endangered-species-day/

International Day of Families – Friday May 15, 2020
This observance recognizes the family as the basic unity of society, and as such, to have its importance acknowledged and celebrated.

National Chocolate Chip Day – Friday May 15, 2020
This day celebrates and recognizes chocolate chips, an ingredient that is included in many of our favorite desserts.

Armed Forces Day – Saturday May 16, 2020
This is a day to recognize members of the Armed Forces that are currently serving, with all branches of the military honored on this single day.

International Day of Light – Saturday May 16, 2020
This day celebrates and appreciates Light and acknowledges the importance that Light has to science, education, culture, and art. The holiday is observed by the UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. https://www.lightday.org/

Int’l. Day of Living Together in Peace – Saturday May 16, 2020
The goal of this day is to increase recognition, respect, acceptance, and being able to live together peacefully. https://www.un.org/en/events/livinginpeace/

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day – Sunday May 17, 2020
This aims to emphasize and raise awareness to the importance of the Internet and other technological means of communication. https://www.un.org/en/observances/telecommunication-day

Lailatul Qadr – Tuesday May 19, 2020
Laylatul-Qadr (Arabic: لیلة القدر‎), The Night of Power, is the holiest night in the Islamic calendar. Muslims believe that on this night, the Quran was sent down from the heaven to the Earth.

National Rescue Dog Day – Wednesday May 20, 2020
This day brings awareness to the large number of dogs that are currently in animal shelters waiting to be adopted. https://www.nationalrescuedogday.com/

World Bee Day – Wednesday May 20, 2020
The goal of the observance is to spread awareness about the importance of Bees as pollinators of our food supply, and how to preserve the species. https://www.worldbeeday.org/en/

Ascension – Thursday May 21, 2020
This commemorates the day that Jesus ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:1-11) after spending 40 days appearing to his disciples after his resurrection.

Red Nose Day – Thursday May 21, 2020
The Red Nose Day was founded by the British charity Comic Relief. The goal of this fund-raising charity event is to change the lives of poor and disadvantaged people. https://rednoseday.org/

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development – Thursday May 21, 2020
This day recognizes and celebrates the world’s cultural diversity. The day also promotes that every culture or religion should be accepted. https://www.un.org/en/events/culturaldiversityday/

International Day for Biological Diversity – Friday May 22, 2020
This day aims to raise awareness and understanding of biological diversity and issues surrounding it. https://www.un.org/en/events/biodiversityday/

World Goth Day – Friday May 22, 2020
This celebrates the Goth style and spreads acknowledgement about the Goth community to the world. http://www.worldgothday.com/

Eid al Fitr Starts – Saturday May 23, 2020
Eid-al-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر‎) is a day of feasting and is celebrated by Muslims to congratulate themselves for fasting the month of Ramadan.

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula – Saturday May 23, 2020
Fistula is one of the worst injuries a woman can have during childbirth. This injury only occurs without proper treatment during labour. The observance aims to promote events and raise awareness so that no women experience the Fistula ever again. https://www.un.org/en/events/endfistuladay/

World Turtle Day – Saturday May 23, 2020
This is a celebration started by the American Tortoise Rescue in 2000 to raise awareness about turtles and tortoises. https://www.worldturtleday.org/

National Brother Day – Sunday May 24, 2020
This day seeks to celebrate brothers, the male sibling and their contributions to each and every one of their families. It seeks to celebrate the bond between brothers and its significance.

Memorial Day – Monday, May 25, 2020
This is a US holiday to honor and remember those who died while serving in the military. It is a day to raise our awareness about the Nation’s freedom and the price for this freedom. http://www.usmemorialday.org/

National Wine Day – Monday, May 25, 2020
This day is celebrated across the United States to acknowledge the love and health benefits of wine.

Towel Day – Monday, May 25, 2020
This day honors and pays tribute Douglas Adams, author of the book series “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”. People who celebrate the observance take pictures and carry around towels during the day. http://www.towelday.org/

Shavuot (Start) – Thursday May 28, 2020
Shavuot (Hebrew: שבועות) is the festival of weeks (Pentecost) falling on the fiftieth day after the first day of Passover. Shavuot celebrates the Israelites receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai.

National Burger Day – Thursday May 28, 2020
This is a day of appreciation for hamburgers. The term hamburger means beef from cattle that is minced and formed into patties.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers – Friday May 29, 2020
This honors and pays tribute to all the peacekeepers that lost their lives defending the United Nation’s flag. https://www.un.org/en/events/peacekeepersday/

National Biscuit Day – Friday May 29, 2020
This day celebrates the awareness of biscuits all over the United States. Biscuits are commonly made with flour, baking powder, salt, milk and butter.

World MS Day – Saturday May 30, 2020
Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system that affects one’s ability to function both physically and mentally. https://multiplesclerosis.net/living-with-ms/30-facts-world-ms-day/

World Otter Day – Saturday May 30, 2020
A day created by the International Otter Survival Fund to raise awareness of their work protecting, saving, and caring for otters everywhere. https://www.otter.org/Public/MediaAndResources_Game.aspx

Pentecost – Sunday May 31, 2020
This is a Christian festival that celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit. Also known as Whitsun Day, the word Pentecost translates as the “fiftieth” day after Easter.

World No Tobacco Day – Sunday May 31, 2020
This serves to generate awareness about the health risks of tobacco use and to advocate for more effective policies that can help reduce worldwide tobacco use.