April showers bring May flowers, as they say. What else is the month of May known for? Cinco de May (May 5), Mother’s Day (May 12), and the federal holiday Memorial Day (May 27) are May holidays you probably already know. But do did you know about National Cherry Cobbler Day (May 17) or Lucky Penny Day (May 23)?
Truly, there are so many special days to celebrate every single day in May, including weekly and monthlong observances too. For instance, did you know May is National Strawberry Month? (Follow-up question: Do we need a reason to enjoy strawberry recipes for days?)
May is for everyday heroes, with days to honor hardworking school lunch heroes, nurses, teachers, receptionists, and waitstaff. Every dog has its day too! Add International Doodle Day, Mayday for Mutts, National Rescue Dog Day, and National Pet Week to your calendar.
After all, celebrating every day is something we relish here at Country Living, so you’ll find plenty of links throughout to help you make the most of these fun May holidays in 2024. And don't forget to peruse our June holidays calendar too.
May Holidays and Observances 2024
May 1
- May Day
- Mother Goose Day
- International Doodle Day: Get a guide to doodle dogs.
- Learn to Ride a Bike Day
- Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day: Sow sunflower seeds in a neglected patch of land for this May 1 holiday. Explore the many types of sunflowers to choose from.
May 2
- International Harry Potter Day
- National Brothers and Sisters Day
- National Play Your Ukulele Day
- National Day of Prayer (1st Thursday)
- World Password Day (1st Thursday): Change those old passwords!
- National Day of Reason (1st Thursday)
May 3
- National Two Different Colored Shoes Day: Let your uniqueness shine!
- Paranormal Day: Ghost stories, anyone?
- National Chocolate Custard Day
- School Lunch Hero Day (1st Friday)
- National Space Day (1st Friday)
- National No Pants Day (1st Friday)
May 4
- Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you.
- National Scrapbook Day (1st Saturday)
- National Fitness Day (1st Saturday)
- Free Comic Book Day (1st Saturday)
- Wildfire Preparedness Day (1st Saturday)
- Kentucky Derby (1st Saturday): Get Kentucky Derby party ideas and recipes.
May 5
- Cinco de Mayo: Start the day with Migas with Chorizo.
- National Astronaut Day
- National Hoagie Day
- Museum Lover's Day
- Hug a Shed and Take a Selfie Day
- Mayday for Mutts (1st Sunday)
- International Permaculture Day (1st Sunday)
May 6
- International No Diet Day
- National Tourist Appreciation Day
- National Nurses Day
May 7
- National Teacher Day (1st Tuesday of the 1st full week)
- National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
May 8
- Coconut Cream Pie Day
- Have a Coke Day
- Receptionists Day (2nd Wednesday)
May 9
- National Moscato Day
- Lost Sock Memorial Day
May 10
- National Clean Your Room Day
- National Shrimp Day: Celebrate America’s favorite seafood with our recipe for Lemon, Shrimp, and Shaved Asparagus Pasta.
May 11
- National Twilight Zone Day
- Eat What You Want Day
- World Fair Trade Day (2nd Saturday)
May 12
- Mother's Day (2nd Sunday)
- National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
- Nutty Fudge Day
May 13
- National Women's Checkup Day (2nd Monday)
- International Hummus Day
- Crouton Day
- Fruit Cocktail Day
- National Apple Pie Day: This Brown Butter Apple Pie gets our National Apple Pie Day vote.
May 14
- National Underground America Day
- Buttermilk Biscuit Day: Try our recipe for Buttermilk Biscuits.
- Dance Like a Chicken Day
May 15
- International Family Day
- National Chocolate Chip Day: Get the recipe for Classic Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.
- Peace Officers Memorial Day
May 16
- National Sea Monkey Day
- National Mimosa Day
- National Celiac Awareness Day
- Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day
- Drawing Day
- National Barbecue Day: Try our best BBQ recipes or hit up your local ’cue joint.
May 17
- National Cherry Cobbler Day
- Walnut Day
- National Endangered Species Day (3rd Friday)
- Bike to Work Day (3rd Friday)
- Pizza Party Day (3rd Friday)
May 18
- National Visit Relatives Day
- HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
- International Astronomy Day
- World Whiskey Day (3rd Saturday): 5 Best Whiskeys to Keep in Your Cabinet
- National Armed Forces Day (3rd Saturday)
May 19
- National Devil's Food Cake Day: Here's our favorite way to dress up a boxed devil's food cake mix.
- Barber Mental Health Awareness Day
May 20
- World Bee Day
- National Rescue Dog Day: Post a cute picture of your rescue pup to celebrate! Get dog Instagram caption ideas.
May 21
- National American Red Cross Founder's Day
- Talk Like Yoda Day
- National Waitstaff Day
May 22
- World Paloma Day: Get the 3-ingredient recipe for a Paloma Cocktail.
- National Maritime Day
- International Day of Biological Diversity
- Harvey Milk Day
May 23
- National Taffy Day
- World Turtle Day
- Lucky Penny Day
- Full moon: Don't miss May's Flower Moon!
May 24
- National Brother's Day
- National Road Trip Day (Friday before Memorial Day): See our guide to the best family road trip destinations in the U.S.
May 25
- May Revolution Day (Argentina)
- National Wine Day
May 26
- National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
- Paper Airplane Day
May 27
- Sunscreen Day: Read up on the 11 best sunscreens for kids.
- Memorial Day (last Monday): Memorial Day dessert recipes right this way.
May 28
- National Brisket Day
- Hamburger Day
May 29
- National Paperclip Day
- Learn About Composting Day: Start with these home composting facts.
May 30
- National Mint Julep Day: Learn how to make a classic Mint Julep cocktail.
- National Creativity Day
May 31
- National Macaroon Day
- National Smile Day
- National Heat Awareness Day (last Friday): Share these 14 tips on how to stay cool in the heat.
May has two zodiac signs—Taurus ♉️ and Gemini ♊️. If you were born between April 20 amd May 20, you're a Taurus and can tend to be stubborn yet reliable, responsible, and practical. If you were born between May 21 and June 20, you're a Gemini and are known to be flexible, clever, extroverted, and sometimes impulsive.
May Weekly Holidays and Observances
- National Nurses Week (May 6-12, every year)
- National Pet Week (May 5-11): It's the perfect time to check out everything we have to offer in the Country Living Pet Lab.
- International Compost Awareness Week (May 5-11):
- Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10)
- Brain Injury Awareness Week (May 11-17)
- National Women's Health Week (May 12-18)
- National EMS Week (May 19-25)
- National Safe Sun Week (May 20-26)
May Monthly Holidays and Observances
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- Women’s Health Month
- National Celiac Awareness Month
- ALS Awareness Month
- National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
- National Inventors Month
- National Strawberry Month: Celebrate with a Double-Strawberry Pie!
- National Pet Month
- National Salad Month
- National Salsa Month
- National Barbecue Month
- National Blood Pressure Month
- Military Appreciation Month
- Creative Beginnings Month: Try your hand at a spring craft.
- National Moving Month
- Compost Awareness Month
