May is a spring month in the northern half of the world, and a fall month in the southern half. It is likely named after Maia, the goddess of growth.
May is the fifth month in the
Gregorian calendar
and has 31 days. It is the last month of
astronomical spring
in the
Northern Hemisphere
and of
astronomical fall
in the
Southern Hemisphere
.
What Is the Meaning of May?
May comes from the Latin
Maius
, probably referring to the
goddess Maia
. She embodied the concept of growth, both in nature and in business. Others connect
Maius
with
Maiores
, the ancestors or “the greater ones.”
In May, the ancient Romans celebrated
Floralia
, a festival for fertility. Floralia lasted from April 27 to May 3 and included theater plays, dancing, and banquets. The Romans sacrificed a pregnant sow to the earth goddess Terra for a fruitful harvest.
Important Dates in May
May Day
Since ancient times, the beginning of May has been celebrated as the coming of summer—from the Roman
Floralia
to the
Walpurgisnacht
(Night of St Walpurga), a Germanic celebration with bonfires on April 30 still celebrated today.
Many countries
in Europe and North America celebrate
May Day
on
May 1
with dances around a
maypole
, a high wooden pole adorned with colors and flowers.
Labor Day
In many countries, May Day and
Labor Day
are both celebrated on May 1. Labor Day started as
International Workers’ Day
. It goes back to labor unions fighting for an
eight-hour working day
. After a bloody demonstration known as the
Haymarket Riot
on May 4, 1886, Chicago’s workers’ union started their yearly protests on May 1, 1889.
May the 4th
May 4 is
Star Wars Day
because the date, stated as “May the fourth” sounds like the well-known phrase from Star Wars,
“May the force be with you.”
The sentence first appears in
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
(1977). The characters say it to wish each other good luck.
Two years after the movie was released, the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom congratulated their candidate, Margaret Thatcher, for being elected Prime Minister. On
May 4, 1979
, they published an ad in a newspaper saying, “May The Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations.” This might have been the beginning of May 4 as Star Wars Day.
Cinco the Mayo
Cinco de Mayo
means “the fifth of May” in Spanish. The day is observed in Mexico and in
parts of the United States
on May 5 and celebrates the defeat of the French army during the
Batalla de Puebla
(Battle of Puebla) in Mexico on May 5, 1862.
In the US, Cinco de Mayo is seen as a day to celebrate the culture, achievements, and experiences of people with a Mexican background. Businesses promote Mexican food, drinks, and music, and traditional symbols of Mexican life are celebrated.
Memorial Day
On the
last Monday of May
, people in the United States remember and mourn the soldiers and military personnel who died in military service. It is tradition to visit cemeteries and memorials, some also place flags on the soldiers’ graves. Memorial Day is a
federal holiday
in the United States and seen as the start of the summer season.
Astronomical Events in May 2024
Earthshine Nights
:
The
Waxing
and
Waning Crescent Moon
phases in
April
and
May
are the best time to see
earthshine
, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. It is also known as Da Vinci glow.
Eta Aquarid Meteors
:
On May 6, 2024, you have a chance to spot the shower that is named after the brightest star of the constellation Aquarius (water bearer), Eta Aquarii. Use our handy
Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map
to increase your chances of meteor spotting.
Flower Moon
:
The
Full Moon
of May is known as the
Flower Moon
, named after the blooming flowers in the Northern Hemisphere, where these traditional
Full Moon names
originated.
See all events in the Cosmic Calendar
History of May
In the old
Roman calendar
, May was called
mens maius
and was the third month because the year started in March. In the year 154
BCE
, a rebellion forced the Roman senate to change the beginning of the civil year from March to January 1. With this reform, May officially became
the fifth month
in the year 153
BCE
.
May Birthstone and Birth Flowers
According to tradition, the birthstone for May is
the emerald
, representing love and success. Its birth flowers are the lily of the valley (
Convallaria majalis
) and the common hawthorn (
Crataegus monogyna
), also known as
mayflower
or maythorn.
Zodiac Signs in May
Topics:
May
,
Months