May

May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days. May have been named for the Roman goddess Maia or more likely the Roman goddess of fertility Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May.

In Japan, there is the so-called May sickness, a kind of sickness where new students or workers start to be tired of their new schoolwork or jobs. It is due to a Japanese custom that all schoolyears and fiscal years start on April 1st.

Events in May:

• In many countries, May Day is May 1.
• In the United Kingdom, May Day is May 1, but a public holiday is held on the first Monday in May.
• In the US, Canada and Australia, Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May.
• In the US, Memorial Day, a public holiday, is on May 30, but observed on the last Monday in May.

Historical anniversaries