What “Holidays” Do You Celebrate In May?

Most people love to have something to celebrate any day in the year and the month of May certainly gives one many opportunities to do just that. This year Mother’s Day is on May 14 and is a day that almost everyone celebrates, be it to honor a mother who is still with them, nearby or at a distant location on earth, or to remember a mother who is no longer with them but, I am sure, very well remembered.

May is also National Military Appreciation month and also the month we celebrate Memorial Day, a day that despite the fact that people often wish others a “Happy Memorial Day,” is not actually a ”happy” day as it remembers those who died while serving in the armed forces. This national holiday, originally known as Decoration Day which at that time was celebrated on May 30, is now observed on the last Monday of May and is often celebrated with parades, barbeques and local fellowship.

Other celebrations in May are divided into several categories including some of those which honor someone or something and those that deal with a significant number of health issue awareness. Others recommend celebrating with a variety of types of food and some offer suggestions for things to do on a particular day of the month.

If you would like to choose a favorite event to remember you might start with our final Victory in Europe, VE Day on the 8th when World War II was declared ended in the European Theater, however WW II continued on in the Pacific Theater. Then there is Stars and Stripes Forever Day (14th), World Telecommunications Day (17th), Lucky Pennies (23rd) and African Liberation Day or Geek Pride Day (25th). The 27th is National Road Trip Day (27th) followed by International Jazz Day on the Saturday before Memorial Day (28th). For publication main characters you might consider celebrating Mother Goose (1st), Harry Potter, (2nd), Peter Pan (9th) or Sherlock Holmes (22nd).

To honor special people start with National Brothers and Sisters and Babies (2nd) and move on to National Wordsmith Day (God bless writers!) and on the first Tuesday of the month we remember our wonderful Teachers (3rd) or on the first Wednesday it is for Cartoonists and Museum Lovers (5th). Remember National Receptionists Day or School Nurses and Night Shift Workers on the second Wednesday (11th) and follow that with International Nurses Day on the 12th. On the 15th you can celebrate International Families Day or if it is the Sunday after Mother’s Day there is Stepmother’s Day, followed by National Biographer’s Day on the 16th and on the 25th Red Heads (now I can relate to that!) and Neighbors on the Sunday before Memorial Day (29th). For things and places look no further than the Red Cross (8th), National Hospital Day (12th), International Museum Day (18th) and Endangered Species and Flowers on the 20th and don’t forget World Turtles (23rd), World Otters (25th), Whooping Cranes (28th), Pink Flamingoes plus Paper Clips (29th) and World Parrots Day (31st)!

Although not pleasant for so many there are a number of medical diseases that have a special day set aside during the this month so that others may become aware, for at least a day, of the struggles that those affected by the disease may be facing. Even the whole month of May is dedicated to the awareness of ALS, Lupus and especially Mental Health as Childhood Depression Awareness Day (3) and National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, (5) start off the month. This is followed by Bladder Cancer Awareness on the first Friday (7), World Ovarian Cancer (8), World Melanoma (9), World Lupus (10), National Fibromyalgia Awareness (12), World Hypertension (17), Hepatitis Testing (20), World Schizophrenia Awareness (24), and finally World Digestive Health (29). There is such a large number of people who experience so many different diseases!

Looking for something special to do this month? Well the May observances certainly have a number of suggestions for not only what to do but they are also specific about the day on which you should do it. It is interesting that while the 1st day of the month suggests the World Save Your Hearing Day but the last day of the month is just National Save Your Hearing Day. There is no bullying allowed on the 4th, a day when you should also bike to school and the following day (5th) could be quite busy especially if you attend any of the Cinco de Mayo events locally or as is suggested, make a book or spend some time in prayer. The 6th, however, Is a “don’t do” day as there is to be no homework done (be sure to tell your teacher) and no dieting this day.

If you were unable to bike to school on the 5th perhaps you can spend some time on Saturday (7th) learning to ride a bike so you can go to give someone a cupcake the next day. On the 10th you will need to learn to trust your intuition, clean up your room and stay up all night! (Really?) It is OK to blame someone else on the 13th and you should send flowers to someone on the 15th but on the 16th you’re to love a tree (any old tree?) and be sure to wear purple for peace. Go visit your relatives on the 18th and plant something the following day (maybe that tree you are going to love next year).

Now, on the 20th you are to become a millionaire (unfortunately no instructions were provided), pick some strawberries, go to a pizza party and be ready to play solitaire the next day either before or after you have bought a musical instrument (preferably one you already play or at least one you want to learn to play). Participate in a scavenger hunt on the 24th and since it is the Thursday of the week (26th) eat more fruits and vegetables. And finally take a road trip on Friday (27th), learn about composting (29th), water a flower (30th) and since the 31st is a meditation and smile day, there is to be no tobacco and it is time to learn to speak in complete sentences.

And now to my favorite category, food. May is National Hamburger and National Macaroon month (quite a combination). We start the month with lemonade (1st) and move to truffles the following day. For those who may not know what a truffle is, it is similar to the mushroom in that is also the fruiting body of a fungi, but somewhat difficult to locate and considered to be a delicacy. A truffle is also a delightful chocolate candy which I would definitely prefer to the fungi! Next on the 4th we have orange juice (4th), Hoagies (5th) and empanadas and then coconut cream pie on the 8th. That is followed by Shrimp (10th), nutty fudge (12th) plus Fruit cocktail and apple pie on the 13th. Then we have National Buttermilk Biscuit Day (14th) (pass the sausage gravy please), Chocolate chips (15th) and pickles (16th) followed by walnuts, cherry cobbler and Pinot Grigio Dry (17th).

How about some cheese souffle on the 18th, and hummus (hmmm) and devil’s food cake on the 19th. Then comes the pizza party on the 20th, vanilla pudding (22nd ), taffy (23rd) and escargot and asparagus on the 24th. The 25th is National Wine Day (your choice) then National Blueberry Cheesecake and National Cherry Dessert Day on the 26th. You can try a Grape Popsicle on the 27th before you celebrate International Hamburger Day and National Brisket Day on the 26th and for the end the month enjoy some Macaroons on the 31st

It would seem there are a myriad of things to keep one busy during the “Merry Month of May” so just sitting at home should not be an option. However, first and foremost, it is most important to look to the main remembrances for the month: our Mothers, our Military and especially those who helped in the fight to keep us forever free but unfortunately lost their lives in the effort.