Celebrations Events & Special Days in May 2021
Image Credit: Ilona
Events, celebrations, awareness events, saint's days, annual campaigns - UK and global festivities happening in Britain and around the world in May 2021.
May Day
1st May 2021
May Day is an ancient spring festival, traditionally celebrated with maypole dancing.
Related: May Day Printables
May Day Bank Holiday
3rd May 2021
A Bank Holiday in the UK and Ireland. In 2020 this has been moved to a Friday to celebrate VE Day
National Sun Awareness Week
3rd May to 9th May 2021
Raising awareness of the dangers of excessive sun exposure and how to avoid sunburn and skin cancers.
More about National Sun Awareness Week
Related: Children's Sun Protection Clothing
Doctor Who Immersive Experience London
Opens May 26th 2021 - Booking NOW!
Screen-Free Week
3rd May to 9th May 2021
Annual event to encourage us to unplug from digital entertainment and spend all that free time playing, reading, daydreaming, creating, exploring, and connecting with family and friends.
International Gilbert & Sullivan Day
3rd May 2021
Celebrating the comic operas of Gilbert & Sullivan, on the birthday of the man who brought them together, Richard D'Oyly Carte.
World Laughter Day
3rd May 2021
The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive manifestation for World Peace and it builds up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter.
Star Wars Day
4th May 2021
May The Fourth Be With You!
Related: Star Wars Day Colouring Pictures
Cinco De Mayo
5th May 2021
Celebration of Mexican culture to commemorate the Mexican Army's unlikely victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla. It has now become a more general celebration of Mexican culture.
National Bike to School Day
5th May 2021
Strap on your helmets, raise your kickstands, and join the thousands of students, families, community partners, and elected officials all around the country who will be participating in this year's Bike to School Day.
National Doughnut Week
8th May to 16th May 2021
Fundraising event in aid of The Children's Trust organised by the baking industry.
Mother's Day (US)
9th May 2021
Let your Mom know how much you love her on her special day
International Nurses Day
12th May 2021
Held on the birthday of Florence Nightingale to mark the contributions that nurses make to society.
National Children's Day UK
16th May 2021
National Children's Day UK is all about the importance of a healthy childhood and protecting the rights and freedoms of children so that they can grow into happy, healthy adults.
Walk To School Week
17th May to 21st May 2021
Annual event to encourage children and their parents to walk to school, organised by Living Streets.
More about Walk To School Week
National Numeracy Day
19th May 2021
An annual celebration of the importance of numbers in everyday life and will bring together individuals, employers, educators and influencers to improve numeracy.
World Bee Day
20th May 2021
The purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development.
International Day for Biological Diversity
22nd May 2021
United Nations sponsored international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues.
World Turtle Day
23rd May 2021
World Turtle Day's aim is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.
Towel Day
25th May 2021
In memory of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy author Douglas Adams.
Africa Day
25th May 2021
The annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963.
Oakapple Day
29th May 2021
Also known as Restoration Day, it is a traditional English celebration of the restoration of the monachy in 1660, following the death of Oliver Cromwell.
Elmer Day
29th May 2021
A celebration of reading, of elephants and of accepting yourself and others, just like Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, star of the Elmer books by David McKee.
May Half Term
31st May to 4th Jun 2021
Check with your school for individual date variations.
Spring Bank Holiday Monday
31st May 2021
A Bank Holiday in the UK and Ireland.
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