May Is Here

There's something special in May I think. Everytime it's coming my heart leaped a thousand miles. I don't know. But May brought a lot of fond memories in me that I could not forget. It's just amazing to feel the warm breeze of a sunny May weather.

May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of the seven months with the length of thirty-one days. It is the month of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and summer in Europe. It is also the only month that begins and ends on the same day of the week in any year. This month is the only month to have these two properties.

The month of May was named for the Greek goddess "Maia", who was identified with the Roman era goddess of fertility, "Bona Dea". whose festival was held in May. Conversely, the Roman poet Ovid provides a second etymology, in which he says that the month of May is named for the "Maiores", Latin for "elders", and that the following month (June) is named for the "iuniores", or the "young people".

Events celebrate din the month of May around the world are the following:

#April 29 to May 5 - In Japan, which includes four different holidays, is called "Golden Week". Many workers have up to 10 days off. There is also "May sickness", where new students or workers start to be tired of their new routine. (In Japan the school year and fiscal year start on April 1.)

#May 1 - In Hawaii is called "Lei Day". The custom is to wear a lei throughout the day. It is the "Feast of St. Joseph" the worker in the Roman Catholic calendar. In the Irish calendar it is called "Beltane" (Bealtaine), the first day of SUmmer, and a public holiday is held on the first Monday in May. May 1 is the "month of Music" in New Zealand and is "May Day" in many countries. This is also celebrated as "Labour Day" in many countries, just like in the Philippines.

In the Catholic Church the month of May is dedicated to and honors the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Philippines (my home country) children flocke dto the church and offer flowers to Mary as a tradition. I remember when I was little we used to do this. I also learned my Bible during the Cathechism held in the afternoon before we offer the flowers. Until now it is being celebrated there.

In Germany it is an old custom to plant a "Maypole" to honor someone on May 1. Often young men set up an adorned birch in front of their girlfriend's house.

#May 3 - Is when the Polish Constitution Day is celebrated in Poland and Japan.

The first Saturday in May is the date of the annual Kentucky Derby, the most famous horse race in the United States.

#May 4 - is the liberation Day in Denmark, celebrating the ending of the German occupation from April 9, 1940 to May 4, 1945. It is also considered by many Star Wars fans to be Star Wars day for "May the fourth be with you" soundingsimilar to "May the force be with you."

#May 5 - is when "Cinco de Mayo" or the Batalla de Puebla is celebrated in Mexico. It is also celebrated widely in the United States. It is also the "Children's Day" in Japan and Korea as well as in Netherlands, celebrating the ending of the German occupation. It is also "Europe Day" in the European Union.

#May 8 - is VE Day in Western Europe. In Eastern Europe it is celebrated on May 9.

#May 9 - is Europe Day in the European Union countries and also is the Victory Day in the former Soviet Union, celebrating the capitulation of the Nazi Germany.

#May 10 - is the Golden Spike Day (1869 - Completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad - Promontory Summit, Utah). It is also Mother's Day in Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

#May 12 - is INternational Nurses Day, the day of the Finnish language in Finland, and International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND). These diseases include Neurofibromatosis, Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, etc.

#May 13 - is when the Cathoic Church honors the first apparition of our Lady of Fatima to the three children of Fatima, Portugal (May 13, 1917). It was Lemuria the day for seeing spirits to the other side in ancient Rome, the holiday was later moved to November 1st and called All Soul's Day.

#May 15 - is the beginning of Tourette Syndrome awareness month. It ends on June 15th.

#May 17 - is the Norwegian Constitution Day and is the Vesak full moon poya day (Buddhism's Holiest Day, the day of birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and passing away (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha.

#May 18 - is the International Day of Capitalism

#May 21 - is when the Battle of Iquique (Combate Naval de Iquique) is celebrated in Chile, and it is a national holiday.

#May 24 - is when Eritrea celebrates its Independence Day (Independence from Ethiopia). Is also remembered and celebrated in Ecuador as the day of the Battle of Pichincha (May 24, 1823).

#May 25 - is the May Revolution (or Revolucion de Mayo), a national holiday in Argentina. It is Towel Day, in tribute to Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

#May 28 - is Republic day of Nepal (May 28, 2008). It is Armenia's first independence, from the Ottoman Empire (May 28, 1918)

Under the French Ancien Regime, it was of habit to "plant a May" or a "tree of May" in the honor of somebody. The County of Nice saw girls and boys "turn the May" with the sound of fife and drum, ex. to dance rounds of May around the tree of May planted on the place of the village.

The second Sunday in May, the Eurovision Song Contest is held. The Indianapolis 500 is held on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

In Canada, Victoria Day is celebrated on the last Monday on or before May 24. The last Monday of May is Memorial Day in the United States, first celebrated on May 5, 1866, in Waterloo, New York.

Symbols for May includes Emerald as the birthsone, which is emblematic of love and success. The May birth flower is the Lily of the Valley and the Crataegus monogyna. The zodiac signs for the month of May are Taurus (until May 20) and Gemini (May 21 onwards.)