Important days - May

May 1

International Labour Day

• The theme of 2018: Uniting Workers for Social and Economic Advancement.
• It is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and a traditional spring holiday in many cultures.
• May Day was chosen as the date for International Workers' Day by the Socialists and Communists of the Second International to commemorate the Haymarket affair (1886) in Chicago.

• The Haymarket affair (also known as the Haymarket massacre or Haymarket riot) began as a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an eight-hour day in Chicago.

World Asthma Day - 1 May 2018 (1st Tuesday of May)

• It was an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).
• The inaugural World Asthma Day was held in 1998.

• The theme of 2018: Never Too Early, Never Too Late. It’s Always the Right Time to Address Airways Disease.

Maharastra Day

• It is commemorating the formation of the state of Maharashtra from the division of the Bombay State on 1 May 1960.
• The state of Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed according to the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 enacted by the Parliament of India on 25 April 1960.
• The act came into effect on 1 May 1960.

May 2

World Tuna Day

• The United Nations (UN) established World Tuna Day on May 2 to raise awareness about the importance of tuna and to promote more sustainable fishing practices.

• It was observed for the first time in 2017.

May 3

World Press Freedom Day

• It is celebrated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) since 1993.
• It aims to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• It is marking the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek in 1991.
• UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day by conferring the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize since 1997 on a deserving individual, organization or institution.
• The Prize is named in honor of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper, El Espectador, in Bogotá, on 17 December 1986.
• In 2018, UNESCO Conference was held at Accra (Ghana).
• The theme of 2018: Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law.

International Energy Day

• It is celebrated by the International Energy Agency (IEA) all over the world.

May 4

International Firefighters Day

• It was instituted after proposal emailed out across the world on January 4, 1999, due to the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bushfire in Australia.

May 5

African World Heritage Day

• It is a day declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to celebrate the cultural and natural heritage of Africa.
• The day is celebrated on the 5th of May each year.
• UNESCO declared the first observation day in 2018.
• It was proclaimed by the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO (November 2015), to observe African World Heritage Day on 5 May.

International Day of the Midwife

• It was first celebrated on May 5th 1991.
• The idea of having a day to recognize and honor midwives came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwives conference in the Netherlands.

World Naked Gardening Day (WNGD)

• It is an annual international event celebrated on the first Saturday of May by gardeners and non-gardeners alike.
• It was Organised by Body Freedom Collaborative.
• Inaugurated - Saturday, September 10, 2005.
• Founder - Jacob Gabriel & Mark Storey.

May 6

International No Diet Day (INDD)

• It is an annual celebration of body acceptance, including fat acceptance and body shape diversity.
• Its symbol is a light blue ribbon.

• The first International No Diet Day was celebrated in the UK in 1992.

World Laughter day - 1st Sunday of may – May 6th

• The first celebration was on May 10, 1998, in Mumbai, India, and was arranged by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement.

May 7

World Athletics Day

• It was first initiated by Primo Nebiolo (Italy) the president of the worldwide athletics federation International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 1996.

May 8

World Red Cross Day

• The theme of 2018: Memorable Smiles from Around the World.
• It is celebrated every year as the birthday anniversary of the founder of the Red Cross.

• Henry Dunant was the founder of the Red Cross as well as the founder of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), born in the Geneva in the year 1828.
• He was the most famous person and became the recipient of the 1st Nobel Peace Prize.

United Nations Observance

• Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War.
• The UN General Assembly declared 8–9 May as such day.
• The UN General Assembly noted in November 2004 that 2005 marked the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

May 9

Rabindra Jayanti

• It is celebrated in early May, on the 25th day of the Bengali month of Boishakh since Tagore was born on this day of the year 1268 (1861 AD) of the Bengali calendar.
• The day of Boishakh 25th currently overlaps with either 8th May or 9th May on Gregorian calendar.
• According to the English calendar, he was born on 7th May 1861 in Kolkata to parents Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.
• In Kolkata, Tagore Jayanti is popularly known as Poncheeshe Boishakh.

Europe Day

• Europe Day is the name of two annual observance days, 5 May by the Council of Europe and 9 May by the European Union.
• It recognizes the peace and prosperity within Europe both have achieved since their formation.

• The first recognition of a "Europe Day" was by the Council of Europe, introduced in 1964 and made a public holiday by Ukraine in 2003 held on the third Saturday of March.
• The European Union later started to celebrate its own European Day in commemoration of the 1950 Schuman Declaration. It was leading it to be referred to by some as 'Schuman Day'.
• Both days are celebrated usually with the displaying of the "European flag".

May 11

National Technology Day (India)

• On 11th May 1998, India achieved a major technological breakthrough by successfully carrying out nuclear tests at Pokhran.
• Also, first, indigenous aircraft "Hansa-3" was test flown at Bangalore on this day. It was first of its kind general aviation two-seater plane used for flight training as well as personal flying.
• India also performed successful test firing of the Trishul missile on the same day. Trishul missile was developed as part of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) by DRDO.
• The focus this year 2018 was ‘Commercializing Indigenous Technologies: Journey from Benchside to Business Programme’.

May 12

International Nurses Day

• It is an international day celebrated around the world on 12 May (the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth) of each year, the founder of modern nursing.
• The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has celebrated this day since 1965.
• Theme: Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Health is a Human Right.

World Migratory Bird Day - 12 May 2018 (2nd Saturday of May)

• World Migratory Bird Day was initiated in 2006 by the Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
• From 2018 onwards, the new joint campaign will adopt the single name of "World Migratory Bird Day" and major events to celebrate the day will be organized twice a year, on the Second Saturday in May and in October.

• The year 2018 marks a new start for World Migratory Bird Day.
• The theme of 2018: Unifying our Voices for Bird Conservation.

World Fair Trade Day - 12 May 2018 (2nd Saturday of May)

• The World Fair Trade Day is an initiative of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
• The theme of 2018: Live Fair, One Product at a Time.

May 13

International Mothers’ Day -13 May 2018 (2nd Sunday of May)

• Anna Marie Jarvis (May 1, 1864 – November 24, 1948) was the founder of the Mother's Day in the United States.
• Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908 when a lady named Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia (where the International Mother’s Day Shrine is held) after her mother passed away in 1905.
• In 1914, Woodrow Wilson of the USA signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers.

May 15

International Day of Families

• The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993.
• This year’s observance will explore the role of families and family policies in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 16.
• The theme of 2018: Families and Inclusive Societies.

May 16

International Day of Light

• The International Day of Light is celebrated on 16 May each year, the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman.
• It is being observed by the UNESCO.

International Day of Living Together in Peace

• The UN General-Assembly declared 16 May as such a day.
• In 1997, the General-Assembly proclaimed the year 2000 as the "International Year for a Culture of Peace".
• In 1998, it proclaimed the period 2001-2010 as the "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World."
• In 1999, The General-Assembly adopted the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.

May 17

World Hypertension Day

• It is a day designated and initiated by The World Hypertension League (WHL).
• The WHL launched its first WHD on May 14, 2005.
• Since 2006, the WHL has been dedicating May 17 of every year as WHD.
• The theme of 2018: Know Your Numbers.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

• It marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union in 1865.
• The theme of 2018: Enabling the Positive Use of Artificial Intelligence for All.

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

• It is an observed on May 17 and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights to work worldwide.

• That date was chosen to commemorate the decision to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1990.
• The theme of 2018: Alliances for Solidarity.

May 18

International Museum Day

• It is coordinated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), a non-profit, permanent institution since 1977.
• The theme of 2018: Hyperconnected Museums: New approaches, New Publics.

World AIDS Vaccine Day

• It is also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.
• The concept of World AIDS Vaccine Day is rooted in a May 18, 1997 commencement speech at Morgan State University made by then-President Bill Clinton.
• The first World AIDS Vaccine Day was observed on May 18, 1998, to commemorate the anniversary of Clinton’s speech.

May 20

World Metrology Day

• It celebrates the signature by representatives of seventeen nations of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875.
• The original aim of the Metre Convention – the worldwide uniformity of measurement – remains as important today as it was in 1875.
• The World Metrology Day project is currently realized jointly by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML).
• The theme for World Metrology Day 2018 is Constant evolution of the International System of Units.

World Bee Day

• 20 May coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia.
• The proposal was set forth by the Republic of Slovenia, with the support of Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations and FAO (FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization) in 2016.

• 2017 – Proposal for World Bee Day was submitted for consideration at the 40th Session of FAO Conference.
• 2017 – UN General Assembly unanimously proclaimed 20 May as World Bee Day.
• 20 May 2018 – First Observance of World Bee Day.

May 21

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

• In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the UN General Assembly declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

National Anti-terrorism Day (India)

• The official announcement of National Anti-Terrorism Day was made after the assassination of India's seventh Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on 21 May 1991.
• Then, under V.P. Singh government the center has decided to observe 21st May as Anti-Terrorism Day.

May 22

International Day for Biological Diversity

• The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
• The theme of 2018: Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity.

May 23

World Turtle Day

• The purpose of World Turtle Day, May 23, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, 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.

• It was founded in 1990.
• The term "World Turtle Day" is trademarked by Susan Tellem of Malibu, California.

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula

• The prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, which is ensuring healthy lives; in this case, improving maternal health.
• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has observed the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula since 2013.
• The theme of 2018 International Day is "Leaving no one behind: Let us commit to ending fistula now!"

May 25

International Missing Children’s Day

• It is celebrated on May 25, the same day as the United States' National Missing Children's Day designated by Ronald Reagan in 1983.
• It was launched in 1998 as a joint venture of the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) and the US's National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
• The Global Missing Children's Network (GMCN) is a network of countries that connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and images of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations.

World Thyroid Day

• In 2008, the European Thyroid Association (ETA) and American Thyroid Association (ATA) joined to create, for the first time ever, a day to be devoted globally to the Thyroid and its numerous and often ‘invisible’ symptoms.
• In 2009, a yearly commemorative ‘day of the thyroid’, May 25th, was firmly established as World Thyroid Day (WTD) with International Thyroid Awareness Week, which ‘surrounds’ the main Day.

• The theme of 2018: Environment and the Thyroid.

May 28

International Day of Action for Women’s Health

• On May 28, 1987, during the IV International Women’s Health Meeting in Costa Rica, women’s rights activists proposed to celebrate May 28 as the International Day of Action for Women’s Health.
• Since then it is being celebrated as an International Day.

May 29

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

• It was so designated by United Nations General Assembly Resolution, on December 11, 2002, after an official request of the Ukrainian Peacekeepers Association and the Government of Ukraine to the UN General Assembly and first celebrated in 2003.
• The date, May 29, marks the anniversary of the creation of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in 1948 to monitor the ceasefire after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
• The day is marked at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
• The theme of 2018: 70 Years of Service and Sacrifice.

May 30

Goa Statehood Day

• Goa became a state on 30 May 1987.
• Daman and Diu were separated from Goa and continue to be administered as the Union territory of Daman and Diu.

Hindi Journalism Day

• On 30 May 1826, the first Hindi newspaper of India called Udant Martand was edited and published.
• The Hindi Journalism completed its 187 years in India.
• First Hindi newspaper was initiated by Jugal Kishor Shukla.
• Jugal Kishor Shukla helped in creating journalism as the fourth pillar of the Indian democracy.

May 31

World No-Tobacco Day

• The member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) created World No Tobacco Day in 1987.

• The theme of 2018: Tobacco and Heart Disease.

Africa Day and Week 2018

• May 22-25 of 2018.
• The Africa week has been initiated as part of the celebration of World Africa Day (May 25th).
• This day celebrates the commemoration of the creation of the African Union Organization on May 25th, 1963 in Addis Ababa.

Global Road Safety Week 2018

• The Fourth UN Global Road Safety Week held from 8-14 May 2018.
• In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
• A specific stand-alone target (3.6) in the Health Goal to reduce road traffic fatalities was adopted.
• The #SlowDown campaign calls for urgent action around speed management to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries.
• The #SlowDown campaign operates on the principles of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011 – 2020.

International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories

• The UN General Assembly, by its resolution on 8 December 2005, requested the annual observance of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
• In 1946, several UN Member States identified a number of Territories under their administration that was not self-governing and placed them on a UN list.

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