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What are the National Days in May? – Our Handy List Lets You Know!

This handy list of national days in May will give you a quick look at the month to find out how to celebrate your favorite national days.

Use it to plan your crafts ideas, food and drink recipes, and get some ideas for activities.

Each time I cover a new and fun national day about May on the blog, I add new links to the list below, to gives you new ideas for ways to celebrate these days.

Babies in a row, bare feet and plate of nutty fudge with text reading National Days in May.

The list of important days in May is long this month.  With the weather really being warm throughout the US, it gives us lots of opportunities for something related the the outdoors to become a national day.

Learn more about the month of May

Brush up on your knowledge of May with these facts about its history in our calendar.

May is the fifth month of the year in the calendar.  In the Northern Hemisphere, it is getting close to the end of spring, but in the Southern hemisphere it is associated with autumn.

The name of the month comes from the word Maius.  It is associated with Maia, the goddess of spring and growth.

Fun facts about May

The month of May has arrived, so let’s catch up with a few facts about this month where we honor our Moms.Emeralds, lily of the valley and Empire State Building with text reading fun facts about May.

But don’t stop these activities, with all these other fun and unusual holidays, there is more than just outdoor eating to celebrate this month.

  • The birthstone of May is the emerald and the birth flowers for May are lily of the valley (often confused with the Easter lily) and hawthorne.
  • Taurus (the bull) is the zodiac sign of May until the 20th, then Gemini (the Twins) is the sign from May 21 on.
  • It was once considered bad luck to be married in May. There was even a saying “Marry in May and you’ll rue the day“. 
  • The Indianapolis 500 car race is held each year in May.
  • Be sure to go to the Kentucky Derby on the 1st Saturday of May.
  • The Catholic Church celebrates the Virgin Mary in May each year.
  • Hand made May baskets with candy goodies used to be delivered to friends on May 1st but this is not such a common custom now.
  • The Empire State Building was officially dedicated on May 1, 1931.
  • The first Saturday in May is known as naked gardening day!

May national monthly observances

May is National BBQ month, which is apt, since Memorial Day falls at the end of the month and many of us barbecue on this day.

It is also National Hamburger Month, National Strawberry Month and National Salsa Month.

But don’t stop with these activities. There are so many more things to honor.

Hands holding a folded green ribbon and words May is National Mental Health Awareness Month.

On the medical front May is National Mental Health Awareness month and National Stroke Awareness month. It also has many more monthly observances.

  • ALS Awareness Month
  • American Cheese Month
  • Better Speech and Language Month
  • Celiac Disease Awareness Month
  • Correct Your Posture Month
  • National Salad Month
  • National Salsa Month
  • National Strawberry Month
  • Jewish American Heritage Month
  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Month
  • National Asparagus Month
  • National Dental Care Awareness Month
  • National Military Appreciation Month
  • National Motorcycle Awareness Month
  • Sturge-Weber Syndrome Awareness
  • National Wild Fire Awareness Month
  • National Brain Cancer and Brain Tumor Awareness Month
  • National Blood Pressure Education Month
  • National Foster Care Month
  • Older Americans Month
  • National Barbecue Month
  • National Bike Month
  • National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
  • National Egg Month
  • National Get Caught Reading Month
  • National Hamburger Month
  • National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
  • National Mediterranean Diet Month
  • National Photography Month
  • Melanoma Awareness Month
  • Skin Cancer Awareness Month
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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April is a promise that May is bound to keep.  Hal Borland  Check out the national days in May on Always the Holidays. #nationaldays #maydays #springtimeinmay 🌷🌻🌸 Click To Tweet

List of national days in May

The list below breaks down the May national days, day by day. Some of these days have links to pages on my site where you can find more information about that interesting and fun national day.

I add to this page each week with new links and fun facts about your favorite national day, so be sure to check back often for new ideas.

There seem to be more special days in May that in the other months. From May Day on May 1 to Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May, there are dozens of days to celebrate this month.

We even celebrate dinosaur day and National Truffle day in the first part of the month.

Plate of trufffles and T Rex dinosaur with text reading: National Days in May

May 1

  • May Day
  • National Loyalty Day
  • National Chocolate Parfait Day
  • National Mother Goose Day
  • National Skilled Trades Day
  • National Purebred Dog Day
  • School Principals’ Day
  • Silver Star Service Banner Day
  • Couple Appreciation Day
  • Law Day
  • Frequent Flyer Day
  • Save the Rhino Day
  • New Homeowners Day
  • Phone in Sick Day

May 2

  • National Life Insurance Day
  • National Truffle Day
  • Baby Day
  • Sibling Appreciation Day (also known as Brothers and Sisters Day)
  • National Fire Day
  • National Play Your Ukulele day
  • World Tuna Day
  • Take a Baby to Lunch Day

May 3

  • National Textiles Day
  • National Chocolate Custard Day
  • National Garden Meditation Day
  • National Lumpy Rug Day
  • National SAN Architect Day
  • National Paranormal Day
  • National Raspberry Popover Day
  • National Specially-Abled Pets Day
  • National Montana Day
  • National Two Different Colored Shoes Day
  • Public Radio Day
  • Sun Day

May 4

  • Bird Day
  • National Candied Orange Peel Day
  • National Orange Juice Day
  • National Renewal Day
  • National Star Wars Day
  • National Weather Observers Day
  • Anti Bullying Day
  • National Kid’s Fitness Day

Cartoonist and Cinco de Mayo scene with words National Days in May.

May 5

  • National Astronaut Day
  • National Cartoonists Day
  • National Silence the Shame Day
  • Cinco de Mayo
  • National Hoagie Day
  • National Totally Chipotle Day

May 6

  • National Beverage Day
  • National Crepe Suzette Day
  • National Nurses Day
  • International No Diet Day
  • National Tourist Appreciation Day
  • International Permaculture Day

May 7

  • National Barrier Awareness Day
  • National Packaging Design Day
  • National Paste-Up Day
  • National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
  • National Cosmopolitan Day
  • National Tourism Day

May 8

More national days in May

May 9

May 10

  • National Lipid Day
  • National Shrimp Day
  • National Clean Up Your Room Day
  • National Washington Day
  • National Small Business Day
  • Trust Your Intuition Day
  • World Lupus Day

May 11

Foam rolling image over a Twilight Zone background and words reading: May National Days.

May 12

  • National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
  • National Limerick Day
  • National Nutty Fudge Day
  • National Odometer Day
  • International Nurses Day

May 13

  • National Crouton Day
  • National Apple Pie Day
  • National Frog Jumping Day
  • National Fruit Cocktail Day
  • National Leprechaun Day
  • Cough Drop Day
  • International Hummus Day
  • World Cocktail Day
  • Top Gun Day
  • Tulip Day

May 14

May 15

  • National Chocolate Chip Day
  • National Nylon Stocking Day
  • National Peace Officers Memorial Day
  • National Safety Dose Day
  • International Day of Families
  • Straw Hat Day
Find about all of the national days of May at Always the Holidays #nationaldays #mothersday #memorialday Click To Tweet

Extra national days in May that change each year

Some days of the year don’t have an exact date that they fall on in any given year.  These days depend on the calendar for the current year.

National days in May in the first half of the month

  • National School Nurses Day – Date changes each year – May 8 in 2024
  • National Lemonade Day – (1st Sunday)
  • World Laughter Day – (1st Sunday)
  • National Infertility Survival Day – Sunday before Mother’s Day
  • Melanoma Monday – (1st Monday)
  • National Foster Care Day – (1st Tuesday)
  • World Asthma Day – (1st Tuesday)
  • Poem on your Pillow Day – (1st Tuesday)
  • National Concert Day – (1st Tuesday)
  • National Teacher Appreciation Day – Tuesday of the first full week in May
  • National Day of Prayer – 1st Thursday in May
  • National Day of Reason – 1st Thursday in May
  • World Password Day – 1st Thursday in May
  • International Space Day – (1st Friday)
  • National School Lunch Hero Day – (1st Friday)
  • International Tuba Day – (1st Friday)
  • International Sauvignon Blanc Day – (1st Friday)
  • No Pants Day – (1st Friday)
  • National Military Spouse Appreciation Day – Friday before Mother’s Day
  • National Provider Appreciation Day – Friday before Mother’s Day
  • National Public Gardens Day (Friday before Mother’s Day)
  • National Homebrew Day – (1st Saturday)
  • National Join Hands Day – (1st Saturday)
  • National Bombshells’ Day – (1st Saturday)
  • National Scrapbook Day – (1st Saturday)
  • National Start Seeing Monarchs Day – (1st Saturday)
  • Free Comic Book Day – (1st Saturday)
  • National Bike to School Day – (Date changes each year) – May 17 in 2024
  • National Babysitter’s Day – Saturday before Mother’s Day
  • National Birth Mother’s Day – Saturday before Mother’s Day
  • Mother’s Day – (2nd Sunday in May)
  • National Women’s Checkup Day (2nd Monday)
  • National Receptionists’ Day – (2nd Wednesday)
  • National Third Shift Workers Day – (2nd Wednesday)
  • National Dog Mom’s Day – (2nd Saturday)
  • National Archery Day – (2nd Saturday)
  • National Miniature Golf Day – (2nd Saturday)
  • National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day – (2nd Saturday)
  • Cornelia De Lange Syndrome Awareness Day – (2nd Saturday) 
  • Herb Day – (2nd. Saturday)
  • National Chardonnay Day – (Thursday before Memorial Day)
  • National Train Day (Saturday closest to May 10)

Butterfly, drink and pizza with words National Days in May.

National days in May the second half of the month

  • Stepmother’s Day (Sunday after Mother’s Day)
  • World Baking Day – ( 3rd Sunday)
  • Dinosaur Day – (3rd Tuesday)
  • National Juice Slush Day  – (3rd Wednesday)
  • National Hummus Day – (3rd Thursday)
  • National Aperatif Day – (3rd Thursday)
  • National Notebook Day – (3rd Thursday)
  • National Don’t Fry Day– Friday before Memorial Day
  • National Bike to Work Day – (3rd Friday)
  • National Defense Transportation Day – (3rd Friday)
  • National Endangered Species Day – (3rd Friday)
  • National Pizza Party Day – (3rd Friday)
  • National NASCAR Day – (3rd Friday)
  • National Armed Forces Day – (3rd Saturday)
  • Culture Freedom Day – (3rd Saturday)
  • National Learn to Swim Day – (3rd Saturday)
  • National River Clean up Day – (3rd Saturday)
  • World Whiskey Day – (3rd Saturday)
  • Memorial Day  – (last Monday)
  • National Senior Health & Fitness Day – (last Wednesday)
  • Heat Awareness Day – (last Friday)
  • No Homework Day – (last Friday)

More national days in May to celebrate

Here we are half way through the month, already! Has your favorite national day been listed yet?  Don’t give up. We have lots more fun national days coming up in May. How about National Rescue Dog Day or No Dirty Dishes Day?  Both are still to come!

May 16

  • National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day
  • National Barbecue Day
  • National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day
  • National Biographer’s Day
  • National Coquilles Saint Jacques Day
  • National Love a Tree Day
  • National Piercing Day
  • National Sea Monkey Day
  • National Mimosa Day
  • Biographer’s Day
  • Wear Purple for Peace Day

May 17

  • National Graduation Tassel Day
  • National Cherry Cobbler Day
  • National Pack Rat Day
  • National Pinot Grigio Day
  • National Walnut Day
  • National Idaho Day
  • National Mushroom Hunting Day
  • World Hypertension Day
  • International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

Mimosas, graduation tassel and books, and escargot in a collage with a pale blue background.

May 18

  • National Cheese Soufflé Day
  • National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
  • National No Dirty Dishes Day
  • National Visit Your Relatives Day
  • I love Reeses© Day
  • Mother Whistler Day
  • International Museum Day
  • Send an Electronic Greeting Card Day

May 19

  • National Devil’s Food Cake Day
  • National May Ray Day
  • Boys Club Day
  • National Hepatitis Testing Day

May 20

  • National Rescue Dog Day
  • National Be a Millionaire Day
  • National Pick Strawberries Day
  • National Quiche Lorraine Day
  • Flower Day
  • Eliza Doolittle Day
  • Weights and Measures Day
  • World Bee Day
  • Agender Pride Day

May 21

  • National American Red Cross Founder’s Day
  • National Memo Day
  • National Strawberries and Cream Day
  • National Waitstaff Day
  • Rapture Party Day
  • I need a Patch for that Day

May 22

  • National Solitaire Day
  • National Craft Distillery Day
  • National Buy a Musical Instrument Day
  • National Vanilla Pudding Day
  • National Maritime Day
  • Canadian Immigrants Day
  • Sherlock Holmes Day
  • World Goth Day

May 23

  • National Lucky Penny Day
  • National Taffy Day
  • World Turtle Day

Bowl of snails and bottles of wine.

May 24

  • National Escargot Day
  • National Scavenger Hunt Day
  • National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day
  • National Brother’s Day
  • National Wyoming Day
  • National Tiara Day
  • Anniversary of the Judgement of Paris

May 25

  • National Brown-Bag It Day
  • National Missing Children’s Day
  • National Tap Dance Day
  • National Wine Day
  • Towel Day
  • Greek Pride Day

May 26

  • National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
  • International Jazz Day
  • National Cherry Dessert Day
  • National Paper Airplane Day
  • World Dracula Day
  • World Lindy Hop Day
  • World Redhead Day

May 27

  • National Cellophane Tape Day
  • National Grape Popsicle Day
  • Nothing to Fear Day
  • Old Time Player Piano Day
  • Sunscreen Protection Day

May 28

  • National Brisket Day
  • National Hamburger Day
  • International Hamburger Day
  • Amnesty International Day

May 29

  • National Coq Au Vin Day
  • National Paperclip Day
  • Learn about Composting Day
  • World Digestive Health Day
  • International Coq au Vin Day

May 30

May 31

  • National Autonomous Vehicle Day 
  • National Macaroon Day
  • National Utah Day
  • Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Day
  • National Save Your Hearing Day
  • National Speak in Sentences Day
  • National Smile Day
  • National Meditation Day

Just for the foodies – National days in May and other months!

If you are a foodie, I have some special national day pages just for you.

Moscow mule in a copper mug with patriotic looking fruit and words reading: Foodie National Days.

Each month has its own list of foodie national days and each month celebrates different food holidays. Here are some other foodie national day lists that feature only food holidays to honor with your favorite recipes:

National day word search printables

If you like to do puzzles, be sure to check out my monthly printables. Each one features several national days that I have hidden in a word find puzzle.

Pages of a red calendar opening up.

For the national days word search printables for the other months, check out these pages:

Other word search puzzles to be updated soon. Stay tuned!

Green bokeh background with words national days of the year.

Monthly national day lists

There are over 2000 national days in the year and each month has over 150 special days to celebrate.  Get all the monthly lists here:

Which are your favorite national day of May?

Pin this list of national days in May

Would you like a reminder of the national days that are celebrated in May? Just pin this image to one of your holiday boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

May 2 block calendar with flowers and eggs and words List of National Days in May.
Admin note: This post for the list of national days in May first appeared on the blog in March of 2018. I have updated the post to add all new images, more links to national days and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: 1 to do list

National Days of May To-Do List

Print out this planner to accompany the May calendar with holidays, and fill it in with your favorite national days in May. It's a great way to keep track and plan for the whole month.

Active Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Difficulty easy
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • Card stock, computer paper, or glossy photo paper

Tools

  • computer printer

Instructions

  1. Load your paper, heavy cardstock or glossy photo paper into your computer printer.
  2. Choose portrait layout and "fit to page" in your settings if possible.
  3. Print the planner and fill in your favorite national days.
  4. Start planning!
  5. Using this print function on this card will print a calendar that fills about 1/2 - 3/4 of an 8 x 11 sheet of paper.
  6. To fill the entire page, choose 125% or "fit to page" on your printer if you have this setting,

Notes

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Ken

Monday 17th of April 2023

Nice work, Carol. Holidays are so good for the soul. National days and National Weeks gives additional purpose and focus.

Mike

Monday 9th of May 2022

Would you please add National Recruiter Day to the list??

Carol

Wednesday 11th of May 2022

Happy to do so. I've added the day to the May list.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission from the sale, but the price is the same for you. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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