There is a lot to celebrate in May. This is a list of pretty much everything that goes on during the fifth month of the year. Many of these dates change from year to year. The days that change are marked with this » symbol.
May Lore and General Info
Astronomical Events
- 11 » New Moon
- 26 » Full moon – Hare’s Moon, Supermoon
- 26 » Total Lunar Eclipse
Astrological Events
Depending on which astrological system you adhere to, these are the signs that show up in May of 2021. Be aware that some of these dates will vary from year to year. Unlike the Sun signs which might just shift by 1 or 2 days, the dates of the various Moon signs will vary widely from year to year. The same holds true for the Chinese Zodiac. The Celtic Tree Signs are based on an arbitrary system and stay the same from year to year.
Western Astrology
The May Sun begins in Taurus and finishes up in Gemini:
- Apr 19 thru May 20 » Sun in Taurus
- May 20 thru Jun 21 » Sun in Gemini
The 2021 May Moon cycles through the signs as follows:
- Apr 30 – May 2 » Moon in Capricorn
- May 2 – May 5 » Moon in Aquarius
- May 5 – May 7 » Moon in Pisces
- May 7 – May 9 » Moon in Aries
- May 9 – May 12 » Moon in Taurus
- May 12 – May 15 » Moon in Gemini
- May 15 – May 27 » Moon in Cancer
- May 17 – May 19 » Moon in Leo
- May 19 – May 22 » Moon in Virgo
- May 22 – May 24 » Moon in Libra
- May 24 – May 26 » Moon in Scorpio
- May 26 – May 28 » Moon in Sagittarius
- May 28 – May 30 » Moon in Capricorn
- May 30 – Jun 1 » Moon in Aquarius
You will notice that the Moon might begin the day in one sign and by the end of the day may have moved into another sign, so timing matters if you are wanting to be precise.
The Celtic Tree Signs in May:
- Apr 15 to May 12 – Willow Tree Month
- May 13 to Jun 9 – Hawthorn Tree Month
The Alternative Celtic Zodiac is as follows:
- Poplar: May 1 – May 10
- Chestnut: May 11 – May 20
- Ash: May 21 – May 30
- Hornbeam: May 31 – Jun 10
The Chinese Calendar and Zodiac
We are currently in the year of the Ox (sometimes referred to as the Cow). Each Month is also assigned a specific animal. Here’s what shows up in May 2021.
- Dragon: Apr 4 – May 4 (Chinese Zodiac – Stem Branch Calendar)
- Dragon: Apr 12 – May 11 (Lunar Calendar – 3rd Lunar Month)
- Snake: May 5 – Jun 4 (Chinese Zodiac – Stem Branch Calendar)
- Snake: May 12 – Jun 9 (Lunar Calendar – 4th Month)
Note: The traditional Chinese Astrology birth chart is built by the Chinese Stem Branch Calendar, not the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which I think is really confusing. Because of a difference in time zones, the lunar months will have different pattern between China and the USA.
Lucky and Unlucky Days
You might want to plan moving, traveling, major purchases, court dates, and weddings around these dates, avoiding the unlucky days and utilizing the lucky ones.
- These are the lucky days in May:
3, 18, and 31. - These are the unlucky days in May:
7, 8, 17, 20, 27, 29 and 30.
Fatal Days
The third to slay poor man hath power.
The seventh destroyeth in an hour.
Holidays and Holy Days
Many of the holidays begin on the eve of the night before and end on the eve of the day of. It’s also important to remember that the dates of archaic festivals and feast days may vary widely depending on the source.
May 1
- 1: Mayday
- 1: Samhain (Southern Hemisphere)
- 1 » World Naked Gardening Day
- 1: Yom HaShoah – Jewish
- 1 thru 31: Flores de Mayo
May 2
- 2 » Humane Day
- 2: National Day of Prayer
- 2 » Los Mayos in Alhama de Murcia
May 3
- 3 to 4: Bona Dea
May 4
- 4: Midori no Hi – Greenery Day (Japan)
May 5
- 5: Cinco de Mayo
- 5: Kodomo-no-hi, Japan
- 5 thru 6: Kakava Spring Festival
May 6
- 6: Hidrellez – Spring Festival
- 6: Durdevan and the Feast of St. George
- 6 » Dakini Day (Tibetan)
May 7
- 7 » Day of Ekadashi (Hindu)
May 8
- 8: The Festival of Mens – the Roman goddess of mind and consciousness.
- 8: The Furry Dance
May 9
- 9 » Mother’s Day
- 9: A-ma Festival – Portugal and China, dates often vary
- 9 » Festival of Cats – held every 3rd year on the 2nd Sunday in May
- 9, 11, 13: Feast of the Lemures – see also Day of Remembrance
May 10
- 10 » Night of Hekate Suppers
- 10 and 31: Rosalia – Roman Memorial Day
May 11
- 11 thru 13: Icemen Days
May 12
- 12 » The Noumenia
- 12 thru 19: Ludi Cereales
May 13
- 13 » Celebrating The Agathos Daimon
- 13: Sacred Thorn Tree Day
- 13 » Eid al Fitr – Islam
- 13 » Ascension Day
May 14
May 15
- 15: Festival of Mercury – the Roman god of merchants and travelers
- 15: Cold Sophie
May 18
May 19
- 19: Visakha Puja – Buddha Day
- 19 thru 28: Festival of Kallyntaria and Plynteria
May 20
May 21
- 21 thru 23: The Anastenaria
May 23
- 23: World Turtle Day
- 23: The Tubilustrium
- 23 » Day of Ekadashi (Hindu)
- 23 » Pentecost – Whit Sunday
- 23 or 24: Declaration of the Bab
May 24
- 24 » Whit Monday
- 24 » Victoria Day
- 24: The Thargalia
- 24, 25: Festival of the Holy Marys – Gypsy festival and pilgrimage
- 24 thru 28: Mothers of Arles
May 25
- 25: Celebration of the Tao – The Mother of the World
May 26
May 27
- 27: Frigga Blot
May 28
- 28: Einherjar Day
- 28: Insect Hearing Festival
May 29
- 29: The Ambarvalia
- 29: Oak Apple Day
May 30
May 31
- 31 » Memorial Day
- 31: Flores de Mayo ends with the Santacruzan Procession
Saint Days
There is a surprising amount of magick associated with Saint days. This is a very short list of the Saint days in May, there are many many more. As time goes by I may end up listing them all, but for now, this is what I have.
- 3: Feast day of Saint Philip
- 3: Feast day of Saint James
- 6: Feast of St. George
- 7: St Agathius Day (sometimes listed as May 8)
- 19: St Dunstan’s Day
Recipes For May
- May Wine – May Day, and The Floralia
- May Serpent Cake – May Day
- May Day Maple Hearth Bread – May Day
- Elderflower Fritters – Beltane, May Day, and The Floralia
- Farls – For Beltane – Beltane
- Simnel Cake – Easter, Ostara,the Vernal Equinox, and Mother’s Day
Many more seasonal recipes, including recipes for new and full moon ceremonies, ancient Greek and Roman holidays, Asian festivals and etc can be found here: Seasonal Recipes.
Notes:
Any May lore, almanac, astrological, and celebration dates that have been shared after this post was published can be found by searching the May posts to see what’s new.
A lot of work went into this post. It was compiled from various sources by Shirley Twofeathers for The Pagan Calendar, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.
- Rachel V Perry: Emancipation Day
- Rachel: The Nemesia
- Bethan: Mawlid an Nabi
- Alexis: Hygeia’s Day
- Nice: The Agonalia
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