1 May (Thursday) 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 (Thursday) 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.

1 May (Thursday) YOM HA'ATZMA'UT Jewish

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

11 May (Sunday) – 17 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.

12 May (Monday) 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.

15 May (Thursday) 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.

16 May (Friday) 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.

22 May (Thursday) 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 (Friday) 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.

28 May (Wednesday) 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.

29 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.

29 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.

31 May (Saturday) DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL / DUANWUJIE / TUAN YANG CHIEH Chinese

Great dragon boat races take place between slim rowing boats (sometimes 100 feet long) shaped like dragons. People also go down to the rivers to picnic and celebrate on boats.