1 May (Wednesday) BELTAINE/MAY DAY Wiccan / Pagan

The wheel of the year continues to turn and fertile spring yields to the height of summer.   Many pagans celebrate Beltaine by lighting fires and leaping over them, and/or with maypole dances, symbolizing the mystery of the Sacred Marriage of Goddess and God.

1 May (Wednesday) MAY DAY National

May Day is a public holiday usually celebrated on 1 May or the first Monday of May. It is an ancient festival of Spring and a current traditional spring holiday in many European cultures. Dances, singing, and cake are usually part of the festivities. In 1889, May Day was chosen as the date for International Workers' Day to commemorate the Haymarket Affair in Chicago. International Workers' Day is also called "May Day", but it is a different celebration from the traditional May Day.

5 May (Sunday) EASTER DAY Rastafarian

Easter Day is the most important festival of the Christian year, as it is when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Many Easter traditions, such as the giving of chocolate Easter eggs symbolise the gift of new life.
Matthew 28:1-11, Mark 16:1-10, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10.

5 May (Sunday) EASTER DAY / PASCHA Christian (Orthodox)

Easter Day, the most important festival of the Christian year, is when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. A vigil is kept during the preceding night and the resurrection is greeted with the lighting of candles and the glad affirmation, ‘Christ is risen’.

6 May (Monday) YOM HA-SHOAH (Holocaust Day) Jewish

A day of remembrance for the victims of the Nazi Holocaust. Memorial candles are lit and special services are held.

9 May (Thursday) ASCENSION DAY (40th day after Easter) Christian (Anglican)

This day commemorates the last earthly appearance of the Risen Christ, who, according to Christian belief, ascended into heaven in the presence of many witnesses.

9 May (Thursday) ASCENSION DAY (40th day after Easter) Christian (Roman Catholic)

This day commemorates the last earthly appearance of the Risen Christ, who, according to Christian belief, ascended into heaven in the presence of many witnesses.

12 May (Sunday) – 18 May (Saturday) CHRISTIAN AID WEEK Christian

Initiated in 1945, this fund raising week raises money for work with the needy throughout the world; mainly done by house to house collections and sales of goods of various kinds.

15 May (Wednesday) YOM HA'ATZMA'UT Jewish

Israeli Independence Day. Commemorates the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948.

15 May (Wednesday) BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY Buddhist

Buddha's Birthday (also known as Buddha Jayanti, also known as his day of enlightenment - Buddha Purnima, Buddha Pournami) is a Buddhist festival that is celebrated in most of East Asia and South Asia commemorating the birth of the Prince Siddhartha Gautama, later the Gautama Buddha, who was the founder of Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, Gautama Buddha was born c. 563–483 BCE in Lumbini, Nepal.

19 May (Sunday) PENTECOST / WHIT Christian (Western Churches)

An important festival in the Christian year, Pentecost is often seen as the ‘birthday’ of the Church, since this is when the disciples of Jesus first proclaimed the Gospel after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is named after the Jewish festival day on which this event happened.

22 May (Wednesday) VESAKHA PUJA / WESAK / BUDDHA DAY Buddhist

Wesak is the biggest of Buddhist festivals. Theravadins celebrate the birth, enlightenment   and final passing away of Gautama Buddha. Mahayanists have separate days for each of them, and on Bodhi Day celebrate the enlightenment of the Buddha. Houses are decorated with lanterns and garlands, and temples are ringed with little oil lamps.  People often send ‘Wesak cards’ to their friends, and lay people come together at monasteries at this time.

22 May (Wednesday) ZARATOSHT-NO-DISO Zoroastrian (S)

Zartosht no-diso, or Zarthost no deeso, is an important day of remembrance in the Zoroastrian religion. It is a commemoration of the death anniversary of the prophet Zoroaster

23 May (Thursday) ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF THE BAB Baha’i

The Bab heralded the arrival of Baha’ullah and was co-founder of the Baha’i faith. He first declared his mission in Persia in 1844. He inaugurated the Baha’i calendar which numbers itself from the year of this declaration.

26 May (Sunday) LAG B'OMER Jewish

The Omer lasts 49 days from Pesach to Shavuot. A time of sadness, it is relieved on the 33rd day. It recalls the end of a plague in Roman times. Weddings often take place on this day, since they are not usually permitted during the rest of the Omer period.

26 May (Sunday) TRINITY SUNDAY Christian (Western Churches)

Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Western Christian liturgical calendar, and the Sunday of Pentecost in Eastern Christianity. Trinity Sunday celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the three Persons of God the father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.

28 May (Tuesday) ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASCENSION OF BAHA’U’LLAH Baha’i

Commemorates the death of Baha’u’llah at Bahji, near Acre, in 1892. His shrine there has become the place towards which all Baha’is face when praying.

30 May (Thursday) CORPUS CHRISTI (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ) Christian (Roman Catholic)

Popular festival to celebrate the institution of the Mass/Eucharist.