May holidays and observances to add to your calendar
Good news: The April showers are behind us, which means we can embrace all the beauty that May brings — flowers included.
With that, there are tons of holidays, observances and awareness days throughout the month that remind us all to step outside to stop and smell the roses (in some cases, quite literally). Soak up the sunshine on Public Gardens Day, hit the trails on National Fitness Day or take in some scenic views on National Roadtrip Day.
Amid the fun, take some time to check in with yourself and others in honor of Mental Health Awareness month. While the entire month is a reminder to put your mental wellbeing first, there are specific days geared toward advocating for children's mental health, mental health providers and more.
Throughout the month, you'll also small reminders to find moments of peace in the midst of the end-of-school-year chaos. Maybe you quiet your mind on World Meditation Day. Or, if that doesn't sound like your idea of relaxing, pour one out on National Wine Day.
Of course, we can't forget about this month's headliners: Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day and Memorial Day. Luckily, while you wait for the next big holiday to arrive, you'll find another reason to celebrate — like National Cherry Cobbler Day on May 17, perhaps?
To enjoy all that May has to offer, add these holidays, awareness days and observances to your calendar, stat.
Daily holidays and observances in May 2023
May 1
Great Lakes Awareness Day
Learn to Ride a Bike Day
May Day
Melanoma Monday
National Chocolate Parfait Day
School Principals’ Day
World Lyme Day
May 2
International Harry Potter Day
National Brothers and Sisters Day
National Fitness Day
National Foster Care Day
National Play Your Ukulele Day
National Truffle Day
National Teacher Appreciation Day
World Asthma Day
May 3
Bike to School Day
International Wild Koala Day
National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day
National Chocolate Custard Day
National Garden Meditation Day
National Public Radio Day
National Textile Day
May 4
International Firefighters Day
National Orange Juice Day
Pesach Sheni (evening of May 4 - evening of May 5)
Star Wars Day
May 5
Cinco de Mayo
Museum Lover’s Day
National Astronaut Day
National Hoagie Day
Sleep Apnea Awareness Day
May 6
Kentucky Derby
National Herb Day
National Nurses Day
National Scrapbooking Day
National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
May 7
National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
National Tourism Day
Pilates Day
World Laughter Day
May 8
National Coconut Cream Pie Day
National Give Someone a Cupcake Day
National Meeting Planners Appreciation Day
Truman Day
World Ovarian Cancer Day
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
May 9
National Lost Sock Memorial Day
National Sleepover Day
May 10
National Clean Your Room Day
National Golf Day
National Receptionists Day
National School Nurse Day
National Small Business Day
World Lupus Day
May 11
Make a Book Day
National Foam Rolling Day
May 12
Child Care Provider Day
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) International Awareness
National Hospital Day
National Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day
Public Gardens Day
World Topiary Day
May 13
Brunch for Lunch Day
International Hummus Day
National Apple Pie Day
National Dog Mom’s Day
National Fruit Cocktail Day
National Miniature Golf Day
National Train Day
World Fair Trade Day
World Migratory Bird Day
May 14
Bond With Your Dog Day
International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
Mother’s Day
May 15
Bring Flowers to Someone Day
International Day of Families
National Chocolate Chip Day
Peace Officers Memorial Day
Straw Hat Day
May 16
National Barbecue Day
National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day
National Love a Tree Day
National Sea Monkey Day
Ride a Unicycle Day
May 17
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
National Cherry Cobbler Day
National Mushroom Hunting Day
National Walnut Day
World Hypertension Day
May 18
Ascension Day
Global Accessibility Awareness Day
National Cheese Soufflé Day
National Notebook Day
National Visit Your Relatives Day
Send an Electronic Greeting Card Day
May 19
Malcolm X Day
NASCAR Day
National Bike to Work Day
National Devil’s Food Cake Day
National Endangered Species Day
National Pizza Party Day
Plant Something Day
Virtual Assistants Day
World Family Doctor Day
World Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Day
May 20
Armed Forces Day
National Learn to Swim Day
National Pick Strawberries Day
National Rescue Dog Day
National River Cleanup Day
National Women in Aerospace Day
Plant a Lemon Tree Day
World Bee Day
May 21
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day
International Tea Day
National Strawberries and Cream Day
National Talk Like Yoda Day
National Waitstaff Day
Stepmother’s Day
World Baking Day
World Meditation Day
May 22
Buy a Musical Instrument Day
Harvey Milk Day
National Craft Distillery Day
National Solitaire Day
Sherlock Holmes Day
May 23
National Lucky Penny Day
National Taffy Day
World Turtle Day
May 24
National Asparagus Day
National Scavenger Hunt Day
World Schizophrenia Awareness Day
May 25
National Tap Dance Day
National Wine Day
Shavuot (sunset on May 25 - sunset on May 27)
World Thyroid Day
May 26
National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
National Heat Awareness Day
National Paper Airplane Day
National Road Trip Day
Shavuot (sunset on May 25 - sunset on May 27)
May 27
National Grape Popsicle Day
National Italian Beef Day
National Sunscreen Day
Shavuot (sunset on May 25 - sunset on May 27)
May 28
Amnesty International Day
National Hamburger Day
Whooping Crane Day
World Blood Cancer Day
World Hunger Day
May 29
Memorial Day
Mount Everest Day
National Alligator Day
National Snail Day
May 30
National Creativity Day
National Mint Julep Day
National Water a Flower Day
World Multiple Sclerosis Day
May 31
National Macaroon Day
National Save Your Hearing Day
National Senior Health and Fitness Day
World Otter Day
World Parrot Day
Weekly Observances in May 2023
April 30 to May 6: National Small Business Week
May 1 to 7: Be Kind to Animals Week, Dog Anxiety Awareness Week, Hurricane Preparedness Week
May 2 to 8: Children’s Book Week
May 6 to 12: National Nurses Week
May 7 to 13: National Pet Week, National Travel and Tourism Week
May 8 to 13: National Stuttering Awareness Week
May 15 to 21: American Craft Beer Week, Bike to Work Week, National Vegetarian Week
Monthly Observances in May 2023
American Cheese Month
American Wetlands Month
Arthritis Awareness Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Better Sleep Month
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Brain Cancer Awareness Month
Building Safety Month
Celiac Awareness Month
Chip Your Pet Month
Clean Air Month
Family Wellness Month
Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month
Gardening for Wildlife Month
Homeschool Awareness Month
International Drum Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Latino Books Month
Lettuce Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month
National Asparagus Month
National Barbecue Month
National Bicycle Safety Month
National Blood Pressure Month
National Cancer Research Month
National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
National Foster Care Month
National Hamburger Month
National Inventors Month
National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Meditation Month
National Pet Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Salad Month
National Salsa Month
National Strawberry Month
National Tennis Month
National Walking Month
Pet Sitter Safety Month
Small Business Month
Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month (May 15 - June 15)
This article was originally published on TODAY.com