See May 2023's Full List of Holidays and Observances
April showers bring May flowers, as they say, so bring on the blooms! While May might not quite be the official start of summer (that's one of June's important dates), it sure feels like it. Schools let out for summer vacation, high school and college grads receive their diplomas, and mother figures get their day in the sun. May is a fun-filled month full of big events. Plan ahead by checking out our list of May 2023 holidays and observances, and be sure to mark the official holidays and unofficial national days of celebration on your calendar.
May Day rings in the month on May 1 with baskets of goodies and spring cheer. Cinco de Mayo, as the name implies, falls on the fifth of May, so start scoping out traditional Mexican recipes for the perfect food-fueled fiesta. Let’s not forget about Mother’s Day on May 14th. Honor all the motherly figures in your life — from new mothers to stepmothers — with gifts they’ll love. Of course, we had to include quirky holidays as well, such as National Burger Day (May 28) and National Mint Julep Day (May 30). They are backyard BBQ staples after all, and May is the month to dust off your grill and cook up some of the best grilling recipes.
Take special note of May’s health-related holidays, and place your well-being at the forefront. Book an appointment with a dermatologist for Melanoma Monday on May 1. Move your body with a fun workout on National Fitness Day on May 6, and be sure to check your blood pressure on World Hypertension Day on May 17.
The monthly observances in May include Arthritis Awareness Month, Better Sleep Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, National Walking Month, and Women’s Health Care Month. Self-care is always in style! May is also Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Military Appreciation Month.
Keep reading for a full list of daily holidays and observances in May 2023:
May 1
Global Love Day
Law Day
Lei Day
May Day
Melanoma Monday
National Chocolate Parfait Day
National College Decision Day
National Loyalty Day
National Mother Goose Day
School Principals' Day
World Lyme Day
May 2
International Harry Potter Day
National Brothers and Sisters Day
National Foster Care Day
National Truffle Day
World Asthma Day
World Tuna Day
May 3
AAPI Women's Equal Pay Day
National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day
National Paranormal Day
National Skilled Trades Day
World Press Freedom Day
May 4
International Firefighters Day
Kent State Shootings Remembrance
National Day of Prayer
National Orange Juice Day
National Self-Employed Day
Pesach Sheni
Star Wars Day
May 5
African World Heritage Day
Cinco de Mayo
International Day of the Midwife
National Astronaut Day
National Hoagie Day
National No Pants Day
Vesak
May 6
Free Comic Book Day
International No Diet Day
Join Hands Day
Kentucky Derby
National Beverage Day
National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day
National Fitness Day
National Tourist Appreciation Day
May 7
National Cosmopolitan Day
National Infertility Survival Day
National Lemonade Day
National Tourism Day
World Laughter Day
May 8
International Thalassaemia Day
Lag BaOmer Begins
National Coconut Cream Pie Day
National Have a Coke Day
National Women's Checkup Day
Truman Day
World Ovarian Cancer Day
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War (Through May 9)
May 9
National Lost Sock Memorial Day
National Moscato Day
National Sleepover Day
May 10
National Clean Up Your Room Day
National Lipid Day
National Receptionists' Day
National Shrimp Day
World Lupus Day
May 11
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day
National Eat What You Want Day
National Foam Rolling Day
National Twilight Zone Day
May 12
International Nurses Day
National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
National Limerick Day
National Military Spouse Appreciation Day
National Nutty Fudge Day
National Odometer Day
National Provider Appreciation Day
May 13
International Hummus Day
National Apple Pie Day
National Birth Mother’s Day
National Crouton Day
National Frog Jumping Day
National Fruit Cocktail Day
National Miniature Golf Day
World Fair Trade Day
World Migratory Bird Day
May 14
Mother's Day
National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
National Dance Like a Chicken Day
National Decency Day
May 15
International Family Day
National Chocolate Chip Day
National Nylon Stocking Day
Peace Officers Memorial Day
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 Love a Tree Day
National Mimosa Day
National Piercing Day
National Sea Monkey Day
May 17
National Cherry Cobbler Day
National Graduation Tassel Day
National Juice Slush Day
National Pack Rat Day
National Walnut Day
World Hypertension Day
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
May 18
Ascension Day
International Museum Day
National Cheese Soufflé Day
National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
National No Dirty Dishes Day
National Visit Your Relatives Day
May 19
Malcolm X Day
NASCAR Day
National Bike to Work Day
National Defense Transportation Day
National Devil's Food Cake Day
National Endangered Species Day
National Pizza Party Day
May 20
International Red Sneakers Day
National Armed Forces Day
National Be a Millionaire Day
National Learn to Swim Day
National Pick Strawberries Day
National Rescue Dog Day
National Streaming Day
World Bee Day
Preakness Stakes
World Whisky Day
May 21
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day
International Tea Day
National American Red Cross Founder’s Day
National Memo Day
National Strawberries and Cream Day
National Talk Like Yoda Day
National Waitstaff Day
Take Your Parents to the Playground Day
World Baking Day
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
World Meditation Day
May 22
Harvey Milk Day
International Being You Day
International Day for Biological Diversity
National Buy a Musical Instrument Day
National Craft Distillery Day
National Maritime Day
National Solitaire Day
National Vanilla Pudding Day
Sherlock Holmes Day
Victoria Day (Canada)
World Paloma Day
May 23
National Lucky Penny Day
National Taffy Day
World Turtle Day
May 24
National Asparagus Day
National Brother's Day
National Escargot Day
World Schizophrenia Awareness Day
May 25
National Bath Bomb Day
National Brown-Bag It Day
National Missing Children's Day
National Sing Out Day
National Tap Dance Day
National Wine Day
Shavuot Begins
World Thyroid Day
May 26
Buddha Day
National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
National Cooler Day
National Heat Awareness Day
National Paper Airplane Day
National Road Trip Day
National Sorry Day
World Lindy Hop Day
May 27
National Grape Popsicle Day
National Sunscreen Day
Nothing to Fear Day
May 28
Indianapolis 500
National Brisket Day
National Burger Day
Pentecost
World Blood Cancer Day
May 29
Decoration Day
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
Learn About Composting Day
Memorial Day
Mount Everest Day
National Alligator Day
National Coq Au Vin Day
National Paperclip Day
May 30
International Hug Your Cat Day
Loomis Day
National Creativity Day
National Mint Julep Day
National Water a Flower Day
World Multiple Sclerosis Day
May 31
National Flip Flop Day
National Macaroon Day
National Save Your Hearing Day
National Senior Health and Fitness Day
National Smile Day
Scripps National Spelling Bee Begins
Web Designer Day
World No Tobacco Day
World Otter Day
World Parrot Day
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