18 Fascinating Facts About May
May is a month that is associated with spring, growth, and renewal.
The fifth month of the year is celebrated and noted for its beauty, the advent of a bounty of flowers, the beginning of gardening, and festivities.
Here are some incredible and fascinating entertaining facts about May.
1. The name May is the modern-day English adaption of the Latin word Maius, which has origins going back to the time of the ancient Greeks. They named the month of May (or Maius) after the Greek goddess of growth.
2. The Roman poet Ovid provided a second theory for the origin of the month name in the word maiores (Latin for elders).
3. The word May wasn't actually used until the middle ages were on their way out, around the 15th Century AD. Up until then, the Roman word Maius was still used.
4. The birthstone for May is the emerald.
Emeralds are symbols of fertility and rebirth.
Emeralds are a type of stone called beryl and typically range from a deep-sea green to a lighter color.
5. May actually has two birth flowers – the Lily-of-the-Valley and the Hawthorn.
The Hawthorn flower is a symbol of hope, while the Lily-of-the-Valley represents the return of happiness and sweetness.
6. May also has two Zodiac signs, Taurus and Gemini.
People born under the sign of Taurus are said to be ambitious and smart, yet trustworthy.
Those born under the sign of Gemini are said to be passionate, adaptable, and smart.
7. May was Thrimilce, or "the month of three milkings," when livestock were often so well fed on fresh spring grass that they could be milked three times a day.
8. May was once considered an incredibly ill-omened time to get married.
9. According to an old Cornish superstition, it was unlucky to buy a new broom in this month.
10. May is the month that the Eurovision song contest is held every year.
11. May is the month that the Eurovision song contest is held every year.
12. May the 4th is celebrated as Star Wars day, due to the way the date sounds similar to "May the Force."
13. It is said that those born in May have a greater chance of being more successful in life and experience more love.
Many famous people were born in May, such as Mark Zuckerberg, Karl Marx, Clint Eastwood, Wes Anderson, John F. Kennedy, Queen Victoria, and Catherine the Great!
14. The Empire State Building opened its doors on May 1, 1931.
15. May is a pretty good month for US presidents.
Every other month of the year, at least one US president has died, but never in May!
16. May has some pretty interesting month-long observances.
In the U.K., May is National Pet Month and National Smile Month.
In the US, May is National Burger Month, Older Americans Month, and National Military Appreciation Month.
17. Every year there is a particular meteor shower in May called the Eta Aquariids meteor shower.
Discovered in 1870, this meteor shower passes by Earth between April 19 and May 28.
It's easiest to view it from the equatorial regions of the world and can be glimpsed passing by just before dawn.
18. Back in the day in Europe, it wasn't a good May if you didn't celebrate it with a maypole. In the UK, at least, they were present since at least 1350 AD.
A maypole is a tall pole with ribbons attached to the top around which people dance to celebrate springtime celebrations, particularly May Eve or Beltane but also occasionally Midsummer. The tradition has its roots in Germanic tradition and continues on the British Isles today.
Also Read: 22 Fun Facts About June
Sources
National Day Calendar / Wikipedia / Ducksters
