May Holidays and Observances From Around the World to Celebrate in 2024

May is certainly a fun-filled month full of big events. Apart from the usual suspects like Cinco de Mayo (May 5), Mother’s Day (May 12) and Memorial Day (May 27), there are some other fun holidays many might not know about.

Photo by Leeloo The First

For instance, Have a Coke Day is celebrated on May 8 while Eat What You Want Day on May 11. As for international holidays, some of the known ones are International Day of Families, which is celebrated on May 15 since 1993 and International Red Sneakers Day which takes place on May 20.

After all, celebrating every day is something everyone should do. The fun, creative and meaningful 2024 May holidays shown below will help you make the most of the spring season.

May 1

• Beltane
• Chimney Sweep’s Day
• Global Love Day
• Haitian Heritage Month
• International Bereaved Mother’s Day — First Sunday in May
• International Doodle Day
• International Workers’ Day
• Law Day
• Learn to Ride a Bike Day
• Lei Day
• Loyalty Day
• Marshall Islands Constitution Day
• May Day
• Mother Goose Day
• National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day
• National Chocolate Parfait Day
• National Interpreter Appreciation Day
• National Library Legislative Day (NLLD)
• National Skilled Trades Day
• School Principals’ Day
• St. Walburga’s Day
• Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day
• World Laughter Day — First Sunday in May
• World Lyme Day

May 2

• Astronomy Day
• International Harry Potter Day
• International Scurvy Awareness Day
• National Brothers and Sisters Day
• National Day of Prayer (1st Thursday)
• National Day of Reason (1st Thursday)
• National Life Insurance Day
• National Play Your Ukulele Day
• National Truffles Day | National Chocolate Truffles Day
• World Password Day (2024)|(1st Thursday)
• World Tuna Day

May 3

• Dia de la Cruz
• Garden Meditation Day
• International Wild Koala Day
• National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day
• National Chocolate Custard Day
• National Garden Meditation Day
• National Montana Day
• National No Pants Day (1st Friday)
• National Paranormal Day
• National Public Radio Day
• National Raspberry Popover Day
• National Space Day (1st Friday)
• National Specially-Abled Pets Day
• National Textiles Day
• National Two Different Colored Shoes Day
• Paranormal Day
• School Lunch Hero Day (1st Friday)
• St Thomas Day
• Sun Day
• World Asthma Day (1st Tuesday)
• World Press Freedom Day

May 4

• Bird Day
• Dodenherdenking
• Free Comic Book Day (1st Saturday)
• Haymarket Riot
• International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD)
• Join Hands Day
• Kent State Shootings
• Kentucky Derby (1st Saturday)
• National Candied Orange Peel Day
• National Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Day
• National Fitness Day (1st Saturday)
• National Orange Juice Day
• National Pilates Day
• National Play Outside Day
• National Renewal Day
• National Scrapbook Day (1st Saturday)
• National Weather Observers Day
• National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (1st Saturday)
• Rhode Island Independence Day
• Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you
• Youth Day

May 5

• African World Heritage Day
• Cinco de Mayo
• Europe Day (Council of Europe)
• Hug a Shed and Take a Selfie Day
• International Day of the Midwife
• International Midwives Day
• International Permaculture Day (1st Sunday)
• Kodomo-no-hi
• Mayday for Mutts (1st Sunday)
• Museum Lover’s Day
• National Astronaut Day
• National Cartoonist Day
• National Enchilada Day
• National Ferret Day
• National Hoagie Day
• National Lemonade Day
• National Silence the Shame Day
• National Totally Chipotle Day
• Sleep Apnea Awareness Day
• World Hand Hygiene Day
• World Laughter Day
• World Portuguese Language Day
• Yom HaShoah

May 6

• Beverage Day
• Great Lakes Awareness Day
• International No Diet Day
• Melanoma Monday
• National Crepe Suzette Day
• National Herb Day
• National Meeting Planners Appreciation Day
• National Nurses Day
• National Scrapbooking Day
• National Tourist Appreciation Day
• Teacher Appreciation

May 7

• International Drone Day (1st Saturday)
• International Female Ride Day (1st Saturday)
• National Asthma Day
• National Barrier Awareness Day
• National Cosmopolitan Day
• National Foster Care Day
• National Packaging Design Day
• National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
• National Teacher Appreciation Day
• National Tourism Day
• Paste Up Day
• World Naked Gardening Day (1st Saturday)

May 8

• Buddha Day
• Coconut Cream Pie Day
• Flora Day
• Have a Coke Day
• International Thalassaemia Day
• Iris Day
• National Coconut Cream Pie Day
• National Give Someone a Cupcake Day
• National Have a Coke Day
• National Receptionists Day
• National Student Nurse Day
• Parents’ Day, South Korea
• Receptionists Day (2nd Wednesday)
• Stork Day
• Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War (May 8 & 9)
• Truman Day
• Victory in Europe Day
• World Ovarian Cancer Day
• World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day

May 9

• Ascension Day
• Europe Day (European Union)
• Lemuria | Lemuralia
• Make A Book Day
• National Alphabet Magnet Day
• National Butterscotch Brownie Day
• National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
• National Lost Sock Memorial Day
• National Moscato Day
• National Sleepover Day
• Victory Day

May 10

• Child Care Provider Day
• Golden Spike Day
• Military Spouse Appreciation Day
• Mother Ocean Day
• National Clean Your Room Day
• National Golf Day
• National Lipid Day
• National Liver and Onions Day
• National Provider Day
• National School Nurse Day
• National Shrimp Day
• National Small Business Day
• Public Gardens Day
• World Lupus Day

May 11

• Brunch for Lunch Day
• Fair Trade Day
• National Archery Day
• National Babysitter’s Day
• National Dog Mom’s Day
• National Eat What You Want Day
• National Foam Rolling Day
• National Miniature Golf Day
• National Mocha Torte Day
• National Root Canal Appreciation Day
• National Train Day
• National Twilight Zone Day
• Pullman Strike
• World Fair Trade Day (2nd Saturday)
• World Migratory Bird Day

May 12

• Garland Day
• International Nurses Day (IND)
• Limerick Day
• Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday)
• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) International Awareness Day
• National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
• National Hospital Day
• National Limerick Day
• National Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day
• National Nutty Fudge Day
• Nutty Fudge Day
• National Odometer Day
• World Topiary Day
• Yom HaZikaron

May 13

• Crouton Day
• Fruit Cocktail Day
• IEEE Global Engineering Day
• International Hummus Day
• Leprechaun Day
• National Apple Pie Day
• National Frog Jumping Day
• National Fruit Cocktail Day
• National Third Shift Workers Day
• National Women’s Checkup Day (2nd Monday)
• World Cocktail Day
• Yom Ha’atzmaut

May 14

• Barabbata
• Bond With Your Dog Day
• Dance Like a Chicken Day
• International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
• Jamestown Colony Founded
• National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
• National Dance Like A Chicken Day
• National Decency Day
• National Underground America Day
• Underground America Day
• World Fair Trade Day (2nd Saturday)
• World Migratory Bird Day (2nd Saturday)
• Yellow Day/Rose Day

May 15

• Aoi Matsuri
• Bring Flowers to Someone Day
• International Day of Families
• International Kangaroo Care Day
• National Chocolate Chip Day
• National Nylon Stocking Day
• National Slider Day
• Peace Officers Memorial Day
• San Isidro’s Feast Day
• Straw Hat Day
• World Baking Day (3rd Sunday)

May 16

• Drawing Day
• Honor Our LGBT Elders Day
• International Day of Light
• International Day of Living Together in Peace
• National Barbecue Day
• National Biographer’s Day
• National Celiac Awareness Day
• National Check Your Wipers Day
• National Classic Movie Day
• National Coquilles St. Jacques Day
• National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day
• National Love a Tree Day
• National Mimosa Day
• National Notebook Day
• National Piercing Day
• National Sea Monkey Day
• Ride a Unicycle Day
• Wear Purple For Peace Day

May 17

• Bike to Work Day (3rd Friday)
• Endangered Species Day
• International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
• Malcolm X Day
• NASCAR Day
• National Bike to School Day (2024)
• National Bike to Work Day (3rd Friday) (2024)
• National Cherry Cobbler Day
• National Endangered Species Day (3rd Friday)
• National Mushroom Hunting Day
• National Pack Rat Day
• National Pizza Party Day
• National Walnut Day
• Norway’s Constitution Day
• Pizza Party Day (3rd Friday)
• Virtual Assistants Day
• Walnut Day
• World Hypertension Day
• World Telecommunication & Information Society Day

May 18

• Buddha Day
• Global Accessibility Awareness Day
• HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
• International Astronomy Day
• International Museum Day
• National Armed Forces Day (3rd Saturday)
• National Cheese Soufflé Day
• National Learn to Swim Day
• National No Dirty Dishes Day
• National River Cleanup Day
• National Visit Your Relatives Day
• Plant a Lemon Tree Day
• Preakness Stakes
• Send an Electronic Greeting Card Day
• World AIDS Vaccine Day
• World Goodwill Day
• World Whiskey Day (3rd Saturday)

May 19

• Barber Mental Health Awareness Day
• Dark Day
• National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
• National Caesar Day — Thursday Before Victoria Day
• National Devil’s Food Cake Day
• Pentecost
• Plant Something Day
• Stepmother’s Day
• World Baking Day
• World Family Doctor Day
• World Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Day

May 20

• Eliza Doolittle Day
• Homestead Act
• International Red Sneakers Day
• Lafayette Day
• National Be A Millionaire Day
• National Defense Transportation Day
• National Pick Strawberries Day
• National Quiche Lorraine Day
• National Rescue Dog Day
• National Streaming Day
• National Women in Aerospace Day
• National Pick Strawberries Day
• Weights and Measures Day
• Whit Monday
• World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day
• World Bee Day
• World Metrology Day

May 21

• Anastenaria
• Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day
• International Tea Day (UN)
• Lilies and Roses Day
• National American Red Cross Founder’s Day
• National Memo Day
• National Strawberries and Cream Day
• National Talk Like Yoda Day
• National Waitstaff Day
• Pesach Sheni (evening of May 21 to nightfall on May 22)
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
• World Meditation Day

May 22

• Buy a Musical Instrument Day
• Emergency Medical Services for Children Day
• Harvey Milk Day
• International Being You Day
• International Day for Biological Diversity
• National Craft Distillery Day
• National Maritime Day
• National Solitaire Day
• National Vanilla Pudding Day
• Sherlock Holmes Day
• World Goth Day
• World Paloma Day

May 23

• International Chardonnay Day
• International Day to End Obstetric Fistula
• Linnaeus Day
• National Lucky Penny Day
• National Taffy Day
• World Turtle Day

May 24

• Aviation Maintenance Technician Day
• International Tiara Day
• La Fete des Saintes Maries
• National Asparagus Day
• National Brother’s Day
• National Cooler Day
• National Escargot Day
• National Road Trip Day (Friday before Memorial Day)
• National Scavenger Hunt Day
• World Schizophrenia Awareness Day

May 25

• Africa Day
• Geek Pride Day
• International Plastic Free Day *
• International Missing Children’s Day
• May Revolution Day (Argentina)
• National Italian Beef Day
• National Missing Children’s Day
• National Tap Dance Day
• National Wine Day
• Towel Day
• World Thyroid Day

May 26

• National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
• National Cherry Dessert Day
• National Family Fun Day
• National Paper Airplane Day
• Trinity Sunday
• World Dracula Day
• World Lindy Hop Day
• World Redhead Day

May 27

• Memorial Day (last Monday)
• National Cellophane Tape Day
• National Grape
• National Grape Popsicle Day
• National Gray Day
• National Italian Beef Day
• National Sunscreen Day

May 28

• Amnesty International Day
• Menstrual Hygiene Day
• National Brisket Day
• National Burger Day
• National Hamburger Day
• Whooping Crane Day
• World Blood Cancer Day
• World Hunger Day

May 29

• International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
• Learn About Composting Day
• Mount Everest Day
• National Alligator Day
• National Coq Au Vin Day
• National Flip Flop Day
• National Paperclip Day
• National Senior Health and Fitness Day
• National Snail Day
• Oak Apple Day
• World Digestive Health Day
• World Otter Day

May 30

• Corpus Christi
• International Hug Your Cat Day
• National Creativity Day
• National Mint Julep Day
• National Water a Flower Day
• Red Nose Day (Comic Relief)
• World Multiple Sclerosis Day

May 31

• International Flight Attendant Day
• National Heat Awareness Day (last Friday)
• National Macaroon Day
• National Save Your Hearing Day
• National Smile Day
• Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Day
• Speak in Complete Sentences Day
• World No Tobacco Day
• World Parrot Day

Week-long Holidays and Observances in May

Week 1

• Children’s Book Week
• Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
• Choose Privacy Week
• Hurricane Preparedness Week
• Jewish Heritage Week
• National Herb Week
• National Hospital Week
• National Music Week
• National Nurses Week (May 6–12, every year)
• National Pet Week® (May 5–11)
• National Physical Education and Sport Week
• National Small Business Week
• National Stuttering Awareness Week
• National Vegetarian Week
• National Wildflower Week
• North American Occupational Safety & Health Week | NAOSH Week
• Preservation Week
• Public Service Recognition Week
• Screen-Free Week
• Small Business Week
• Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6–10)
• Women in Construction Week

Week 2

• Be Kind to Animals Week®
• Bike to Work Week
• Brain Injury Awareness Week (May 11–17)
• Conserve Water Week
• Food Allergy Awareness Week
• Make sure no water is being used inside or outside of your house.
• Medical Fitness Week
• National Alcohol- and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Awareness Week
• National Etiquette Week
• National Hamburger Week
• National Nurses Week
• National Postcard Week
• National Raisin Week
• National Salvation Army Week
• National Stuttering Awareness Week
• National Women’s Health Week (May 12–18)
• Peripheral Neuropathy Awareness Week
• Police Week
• Public Works Week
• UN Global Road Safety Week | Road Safety Week
• Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories

Week 3

• American Craft Beer Week®
• National Emergency Medical Services Week | EMS Week (May 19–25)
• National Bike to Work Week
• National Hurricane Preparedness Week
• National Public Works Week
• National Safe Sun Week (May 20–26)
• National Travel and Tourism Week
• National Volunteers Week
• Poppy Week
• Reading is Fun Week

Week 4

• International Pickle Week
• Healthy and Safe Swimming Week
• Poppy Week
• National Gardening Week

Month-long Holiday Celebrations in May

• ALS Awareness Month
• Amaranth Month
• American Cheese Month
• American Stroke Awareness Month
• American Wetlands Month
• Arthritis Awareness Month
• Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
• Aussie Wine Month
• Better Hearing and Speech 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
• Creative Beginnings Month
• Family Wellness Month
• Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month
• Flower Month
• Food Allergy Action Month
• Gardening for Wildlife Month
• Get Caught Reading Month
• Gifts from the Garden Month
• Global Employee Health and Fitness Month (GEHFM)
• Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
• Haitian Heritage Month
• Healthy Vision Month
• Hepatitis Awareness Month
• High Blood Pressure Education Month
• Homeschool Awareness Month
• International Drum Month
• International Mediterranean Diet Month
• National Mediterranean Diet Month
• Jewish American Heritage Month
• Latino Books Month
• Lettuce Month
• Lupus Awareness Month
• Lyme Disease Awareness Month
• Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• Military Appreciation Month
• Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
• National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month
• National Asparagus Month
• National Barbecue Month
• National Beef Month
• National Bicycle Safety Month
• National Bike Month
• National Blood Pressure Month
• National Brain Cancer and Brain Tumor Awareness Month
• National Cancer Research Month
• National Chamber Music Month
• National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
• National Egg Month
• National Electrical Safety Month
• National Foster Care Month
• National Hamburger Month
• National Home Improvement Month
• National Inventors Month
• National Loaded Potato Month
• National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
• National Meditation Month
• National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM)
• National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
• National Pet Month
• National Photography Month
• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
• National Recommitment Month
• National Salad Month
• National Salsa Month
• National Smile Month
• National Strawberry Month
• National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
• National Tennis Month
• National Walking Month
• National Water Safety Month
• National Wildfire Awareness Month
• Older Americans Month
• Personal History Awareness Month
• Pet Sitter Safety Month
• Preeclampsia Awareness Month
• Recreation Vehicle and Camping Month
• Skin Cancer Awareness Month
• Small Business Month
• South Asian Heritage Month
• Sturge-Weber Syndrome Awareness Month
• Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month (May 15 — June 15)
• Ultraviolet Awareness Month
• Women’s Health Month