- Well, what we think of as the first month of summer anyhow.
Do you know these May fun facts? It’s the start of some delicious produce seasons, that’s for sure.
- May is National Barbecue Month in the United States, which makes
sense because the warmer it gets, the more people want to cook outside. - In the Southern Hemisphere, May is the beginning of the autumn season.
- Early May in Japan is Golden Week when they have a cluster of national holidays.
- The Anglo-Saxons referred to May is “Tri-Milchi” according to Anglo-Saxons, meaning cows could be milked three times a day thanks to the lush spring grass.
- Asparagus season begins on May 1st and lasts until Midsummer’s Day in the UK.
- Mother’s Day is celebrated in many countries during May and it’s usually the second Sunday of the month.
- The Empire State Building has had different lighting displays throughout May to celebrate multiple things since its first light show in 1932.
- Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis got a patent for blue jeans with copper rivets on May 20th, 1873.
- May is the beginning of the midnight sun period in the Arctic, where the sun never sets. This is one of the coolest May fun facts.
- Typically in May, the Cannes Film Festival is one of the world’s most prestigious film events.
- Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy. She’s known as the founder of modern nursing.
- National Hamburger Month in the United States is celebrated in May to honor one of America’s favorite foods.
- One of New York City’s most iconic landmarks, The Brooklyn Bridge, opened on May 24, 1883.
- Strawberries are in season once we enter the month of May for most parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
- World War II ended in Europe of on May 8th and is commemorated every year, known as V-E Day aka Victory in Europe Day.
- “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” is another name for the
Kentucky Durby. The event is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May. - May 1st is celebrated globally as International Workers’ Day and also called Labour Day in many countries including the United States and celebrates workers’ rights and labor movements.
- May Day is “Lei Day” in Hawaii since 1927. The moto says “May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii,” and celebrates Hawaiian culture and music
- Giant pandas mating season happens once a year in the spring, between March and May. Females are fertile for only 24-36 hours during this time period. How interesting is this as one of the May fun facts?
- Friends ended May 6th 2024, with a total of about 52.5 million Americans tuning in.
- The classic Kentucky Derby drink is mint juleps and closely associated with the month of May.
- Catherine the Great, also the Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, ruling through the empire’s Golden Age, was born on On May 2, 1729.
- Migratory birds in the Northern Hemisphere return to their breeding grounds in May.
- It’s considered unlucky to “buy a broom in May” in Old English superstition.
- The name “May” is believed to come from the Greek goddess Maia, most associated with growth and spring.
- The NBA and NHL playoffs both end in May, with championship series beginning or concluding during this month.
- Celebrated on May 1st, May Day has roots in ancient Celtic and Roman festivals, like Beltane and Floralia, showing the beginning of spring.
- Butterfly populations really peak in the Month of May for many regions.
- Lots of wildflowers reach peak blooming period in the month of May.
- 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was born on May 29, 1917.
- Cinco de Mayo, on May 5th, celebrates the Mexican Army’s victory against the French Empire in 1862.
Which of these May fun facts were your favorites? Let me know in the comments!