| May 2008 |
May 1 - 31
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
Month designated to recognize the contributions of Asian/Pacific-Americans.
Older Americans Month.
Month established to honor the contributions of older U.S. citizens.
Jewish American Heritage Month.
Month set aside beginning in 2006 to honor the contributions of Jewish people
to the history of the United States.
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May 1
May Day (Labor Day) : International.
Celebrated as a spring festival in many countries or as a day honoring working people (except in U.S. and Canada, where Labor Day is celebrated in September).
- Ascension Day : Christian.
Marks the day Jesus ascended into heaven. Occurs 40 days after Easter.
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May 2
- Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) : Jewish.
Day set aside in memory of the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazi’s during World War II.
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May 3
Constitution Day (Kenpou-kinen-bi): Japan.
Celebration of the establishment of the current constitution in 1947.
Constitution Day : Poland.
Commemorates the establishment of the country’s first constitution in 1791, the second oldest after the U.S. constitution.
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May 5
Cinco de Mayo : Mexico.
Commemorates of the victory by General Ignacio Zaragosa over the French army of Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
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May 8
Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzma’ut) : Israel.
Commemorates the establishment of the independent state in 1948. Day varies according to the lunar calendar.
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May 11
- Pentecost : Christian.
Celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter; commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his ascension.
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May 17
National Day (Syttende Mai) : Norway.
Commemorates the signing of the Norwegian constitution in 1814 and their independence from Denmark in 1814.
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May 19
- Visakaha Day : Buddhist (Theravada)
Celebration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, nirvana by followers of Theravada Buddhism (which predominates in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Burma).
Victoria Day (Observed): Canada.
Public holiday in Canada. May 24th was the birthday of Queen Victoria, who ruled Great Britain and the British empire from 1837 to 1901. Canadians celebrate the day on the Monday which precedes May 25th. They also celebrate the birthday of the reigning queen, Elizabeth II, on Victoria Day.
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May 23
- Declaration of the Bab : Baha’i.
Commemorates the prediction by the Bab in 1844 C.E. that a new message of God would soon appear.
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May 25
Africa Day : Zambia & Zimbabwe.
Celebration of independence from colonial rule.
Anniversary of the Revolution : Argentina.
Celebration of the beginning of the war of independence from Spain in 1810.
Independence Day : Jordan.
Commemorates independence from Britain in 1946.
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May 26
- Memorial Day (Observed) : United States.
Observed on the last Monday in May. Day set aside to honor members of the military who gave their lives in war and to pay respects to family members who have died.
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May 28
Independence Day (First Republic Day) : Armenia.
Commemorates the founding of the first republic in 1918.
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May 29
- Ascension of Baha’u’llah : Baha’i
Commemorates the death of the founder of Baha’i in 1892 C.E.
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