Teach Middle East Magazine May 2014 issue 1 vol. 1 | Page 32

UAE University
Booker T. Washington

Publisher Joseph Pulitzer

William Shakespeare

University of Oxford

SPECIAL DAYS IN
MAY

I

t is said that the month of May
was historically named after the
Greek Goddess Maia. May is the
fifth month of the year in both the
Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is
one of seven months that has thirtyone days.
For educators, the month of May
signifies a mid-way into the last
semester of the school year. This is
usually a time when focus is given to
teacher evaluations. As such, many
educators use this time to sharpen
up on teaching methodologies and
document all they have achieved since
the start of the school year.
May you reflect on your achievements
as we share with you some fascinating
facts about the wonderful month of May.
• The month of May has many celebratory
and important events, including; Haitian
Heritage Month, Mental Awareness
Month, Skin Cancer Awareness Month,

30

May 2014

South Asian Heritage Month, Asian
Pacific American Heritage Month, Pet
cancer Month, National Brain Tumour
Awareness Month, Asthma Awareness
Month and Celiac Awareness Month,
among others.

• On the night before May 1, there is
an old custom to plant a “Maypole” to
honour someone.

• May’s birthstone is the emerald, which
is emblematic of love and success.

• May 10 is Mothers Day in Mexico,
Guatemala and El Salvador.

• In the Catholic Church, the month of
May is dedicated to, and honours the
Blessed Virgin Mary. May 1 is marked
as the feast of St. Joseph the worker in
the Catholic Church.

• Mothers Day is celebrated on the
second Sunday in May in the United
States and many other countries.

• In New Zealand, the month of May is
known as “Month of Music”.

• The last Sunday in May is Mothers
Day in Algeria, Dominican Republic,
France, Tunisia, Haiti, Morocco and
Sweden. It is also Children’s Day in
Hungary.

• May 1 is May Day, which is a significant
date in many countries. It is also celebrated
as Labour Day in some countries.
• In Hawaii, May 1 is Lei Day where it is
customary to wear a lei throughout the day.

After The Bell

• May 5 is Children’s Day in Japan and
Korea.

• May 12 is International Nurses Day.

photos courtesy of wikipedia