May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and the third month to have the length of 31 days. May is also the month with the shortest name.
The Lusty Month of May
"Camelot 1967"
Dazzling number from Lerner & Loewe's Camelot.
A majestic romance set in the days of yore starring Richard Harris as King Arthur with Vanessa Redgrave as the beautiful Queen. Franco Nero co-stars as Lancelot, the classic knight in shining armor.
May is a month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, May in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. Late May typically marks the start of the summer vacation season in the United States and Canada and ends on Labor Day, first Monday of September.
May is a month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, May in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. Late May typically marks the start of the summer vacation season in the United States and Canada and ends on Labor Day, first Monday of September.
Background
The month May was named for the Greek Goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman era goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May. Conversely, the Roman poet Ovid provides a second etymology, in which he says that the month of May is named for the maiores, Latin for "elders," and that the following month (June) is named for the iuniores, or "young people" (Fasti VI.88).
The month May was named for the Greek Goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman era goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May. Conversely, the Roman poet Ovid provides a second etymology, in which he says that the month of May is named for the maiores, Latin for "elders," and that the following month (June) is named for the iuniores, or "young people" (Fasti VI.88).
Mayovka, in the context of the late Russian Empire, was a picnic
in the countryside or in a park in the early days of May, hence the
name. Eventually, "mayovka" (specifically, "proletarian mayovka") came
to mean an illegal celebration of May 1 by revolutionary public, typically presented as an innocent picnic.
Special devotions to the Virgin Mary take place in May. See May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Eta Aquariids
meteor shower appears in May. It is visible from about April 21 to
about May 20 each year with peak activity on or around May 6. The Arietids shower from May 22-July 2, and peaks on June 7. The Virginids also shower at various dates in May.
Ancient Roman observances
Under the calendar of ancient Rome, the festival of Bona Dea fell on May 1, Argei fell on May 14 or May 15, Agonalia fell on May 21, and Ambarvalia on May 29. Floralia was held April 27 during the Republican era, or April 28 on the Julian calendar, and lasted until May 3. Lemuria (festival) fell on 9,11, and 13 May under the Julian calendar. The College of Aesculapius and Hygia celebrated two festivals of Rosalia (festival), one on May 11 and one on May 22. Rosalia was also celebrated at Pergamon on May 24–26. A military Rosalia festival also occurred on May 31. Ludi Fabarici was celebrated on May 29-June 1.
Mercury would receive a sacrifice on the Ides of May (May 15). Tubilustrium took place on May 23 as well as in March. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.
May symbols
May’s birthstone is the emerald which is emblematic of love and success.
The May birth flower is the Lily of the Valley and the Crataegus monogyna. It is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and in the southern Appalachian Mountains in the United States, but has been naturalized throughout the temperate climactic world.
The “mayflower” Epigaea repens is a North American harbinger of May, and the floral emblem of both Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. Its native range extends from Newfoundland south to Florida, west to Kentucky in the southern range, and to Northwest Territories in the north.
The zodiac signs for the month of May are Taurus (until May 20) and Gemini (May 21 onwards).
Julie Andrews
The Lusty Month Of May
From the Broadway Production of "Camelot", Music & Lyrics By Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner
From the Broadway Production of "Camelot", Music & Lyrics By Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner
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