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May 2024 Events Celebrations & Special Days

May 2024 Events Celebrations & Special Days

Image Credit: Ilona

Events, celebrations, awareness events, saint's days, annual campaigns, major sporting events - UK and global festivities happening in Britain and around the world in May 2024.

Spring is in full swing, and in May we celebrate May Day, schools break up for half term and we can tuck into a tasty treat for World Biscuit Day!

Here are all of the key dates and  events happening this May in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as around the world.

May 2024 Events Celebrations & Special Days

May Day

1st May 2024

May Day is an ancient pagan spring festival, traditionally celebrated across Europe with maypole dancing and the crowning with a floral crown of a May Queen.

May Day Printable Wordsearch


International Gilbert & Sullivan Day

3rd May 2024

Celebrating the comic operas of Gilbert & Sullivan, on the birthday of the man who brought them together, Richard D'Oyly Carte.

All About Gilbert & Sullivan

Gilbert & Sullivan Printable Wordsearch


World Laughter Day

3rd May 2024

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.

Website


Star Wars Day

4th May 2024

A pun on the date 4th May inspired the phrase May The Fourth Be With You. So this day is now known as Star Wars Day, so fans have the perfect excuse to watch their favourite film or spin-off TV series today.

Star Wars Day Colouring Pictures


Cinco De Mayo

5th May 2024

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.

What Is Cinco De Mayo All About?

Cinco de Mayo Wordsearch

Cinco de Mayo Colouring Picture


May Day Bank Holiday

6th May 2024

Held on the Monday closest to May Day, this day is a Bank Holiday in the UK and Ireland.


Screen-Free Week

6th May to 12th May 2024

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.

How To Take Part In Screen Free Week

Website

Revision

National Sun Awareness Week

6th May to 12th May 2024

Organised by the British Association of Dermatologists, the aim of this day is raising awareness of the dangers of excessive sun exposure and how to avoid sunburn and skin cancers.

Tips for Staying Safe in The Sun

Website

Children's Sun Protection Clothing

Stay Safe in the Sun Colouring Poster


Eurovision Song Contest

7th May to 11th May 2024

Eurovision is an annual internationl celebration of music. The 68th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Malmo, Sweden. It is the 7th time that Sweden has hosted the contest.

Website


Europe Day

9th May 2024

A day celebrating peace and unity in Europe. It is celebrated by displaying the Flag of Europe and commemorates the founding of the Council of Europe.

Website


International Nurses Day

12th May 2024

Held on the birthday of Florence Nightingale to mark the contributions that nurses make to society. It is a day to recognise the important role of nurses around the world.

Website


Mother's Day (US)

12th May 2024

This is the day when you let your Mom know how much you love her on her special day. Established by Anna Jarvis in 1908, it recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds.

How To Celebrate Mothers Day


National Children's Day UK

12th May 2024

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.

Website


International Day of Families

15th May 2024

A UN designated day to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

Website


National Doughnut Week

18th May to 26th May 2024

National Doughnut Week is a fundraising event in aid of The Children's Trust organised by the baking industry. The Children's Trust is the UK's leading charity for children with brain injury.

Website

UK Mother and Baby Free Stuff

International Museum Day

18th May 2024

A day to raise awareness on the fact that museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.

Website


Walk To School Week

20th May to 24th May 2024

Annual event to encourage children and their parents to walk to school, organised by Living Streets. Many schools take part in the event, giving out badges to those who walk, cycle or roll to school.

More About Walk To School Week + Free Printable Colouring Picture

Website

Walk To School Colouring Poster


World Bee Day

20th May 2024

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.

Website


International Tea Day

21st May 2024

A UN designated day to take action to promote the sustainable production and consumption of tea and raise awareness of its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.

Website


International Day for Biological Diversity

22nd May 2024

United Nations sponsored international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues, covering a broad spectrum of issues including climate change, sustainability, food security, transport and vulnerable groups including indiginous peoples.

Website


National Numeracy Day

22nd May 2024

An annual celebration of the importance of numbers in everyday life and will bring together individuals, employers, educators and influencers to improve numeracy.

Website


World Turtle Day

23rd May 2024

The aim of World Turtle Day 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.

Website


Africa Day

25th May 2024

The annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963. The day is marked with both speeches by political and social leaders, and concerts featuring cultural entertainment, poetry and speakers.

Website


Towel Day

25th May 2024

In memory of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy author Douglas Adams. To celebrate the writer's life and work fans will openly carry around a towel all day, because a froody person who was really together always knew where their towel was.

Website


Elmer Day

25th May 2024

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.

How To Celebrate Elmer Day

Website

Elmer Day Wordsearch


Geek Pride Day

25th May 2024

Geek Pride Day is a fun worldwide celebration of geekiness and nerdom. So if you are wildly enthusiastic about something today is the day to tell all your friends about it!


May Half Term

27th May to 31st May 2024

Schools break up for a week, but do check with your school for individual date variations.

Things To Do In May Half Term


Late Spring Bank Holiday

27th May 2024

The late spring Bank Holiday, held on the last Monday in May, was originally know as Whit Monday. The Whitsun weekend was traditionally a time for fairs, morris dancing and parades with brass bands.


National Biscuit Day

29th May 2024

A celebration of this tasty treat, whether you regard it as a sweet snack to go with a cup of tea, or a savory addition to a meal.

Free Printable Biscuit Wordsearch


Oakapple Day

29th May 2024

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.


Here are some more important events that are coming soon.

<<< Events in April 2024      Events in June 2024 >>>



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