As we come into a fresh, new spring season, we may find ourselves missing the fall and winter holiday seasons. The good news is, there are still tons of holidays you can enjoy in the spring time. In addition to honoring our country’s heroes on Memorial Day (May 29th) and appreciating our matriarchs on Mother’s Day (May 14th), here are some May holidays you may want to celebrate this year.
May Day: Always observed on May 1st, this holiday has been celebrated since ancient times as a way to enjoy spring and anticipate summer. Ways to celebrate May Day include having a party, making a Maypole and dancing around it, and gifting someone with flowers.
Kentucky Derby Day: This holiday always surrounds the big horse-racing event in Louisville, Kentucky, “The Run for Roses” on the first Saturday in May. Around 155,000 people attend the all-day event, but the only action is the actual two-minute race. The rest is celebrating the history of the event, dressing in extravagant clothes and hats and drinking Mint Juleps. You can celebrate Kentucky Derby Day by attending the event itself, watching it on television, hosting a Kentucky Derby party, or enjoying a Mint Julep (if you are 21 years old or older, of course).
National Nurses Week: There is an entire week dedicated to appreciating nurses in May, starting on the 6th and ending on the 12th, which is Florence Nightingale’s birthday. It is important to appreciate nurses who use their profession as a means to show their community how much they care for the health of humanity. If you want to celebrate Nurse’s Week, consider expressing your thanks to nurses you know, sending local nurses cards or e-cards, or dropping off some flowers or treats at hospitals and/or clinics near you. (Call ahead to make sure they will accept gifts from members of the community.)
