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
- Lei 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)