Month-Long Observances:
- National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Haitian Heritage Month
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- ALS Awareness Month
- Older Americans Month
Religious or Cultural Observances:
- Beltane (5/1), Neo‑Pagan / Wiccan
- Lag BaOmer (5/4–5/5), Jewish
- Ascension Day / Feast of the Ascension (5/14), Christian
- Ascension (5/19), Eastern Orthodox
- Shavuot (5/21–5/23), Jewish
- Declaration of the Báb (5/23–5/24), Bahá’í
- Pentecost (5/24), Christian
- Eid al‑Adha (5/27–5/30), Islamic
- Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (5/28–5/29), Bahá’í
- Vesak / Buddha Day (5/31; May full-moon date, varies by tradition), Buddhist
Dates of Significance:
- National Space Day (5/1)
- Educator Appreciation Week (5/4–5/8)
- Cinco de Mayo (5/5)
- Mother’s Day (5/10)
- National Nurses Week (5/6–5/12)
- Endangered Species Day (5/15)
- Armed Forces Day (5/16)
- International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) (5/17)
- Haitian Flag Day (5/18)
- World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (5/21)
- Harvey Milk Day (5/22)
- Memorial Day (5/25)
Library Resources
Links shared are ebooks, all others are physical resources in our Behind the Eyes Collection.
Month-Long Observances:
National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Haiti and the Americas by Carla Calargé, Raphael Dalleo, Luis Duno-Gottberg & Clevis Headley
Jewish American Heritage Month
A Unique People in a Unique Land : Essays on American Jewish History by Edward Shapiro
Mental Health Awareness Month
Facts and Fictions in Mental Health by Scott O. Lilienfeld
ALS Awareness Month
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health
Religious or Cultural Observances:
Ascension Day / Feast of the Ascension (5/14), Christian
Ascension Day by Salem Press Encyclopedia
Shavuot (5/21–5/23), Jewish
Shavuot by Lindsay Rohan in Salem Press Encyclopedia
Pentecost (5/24), Christian
Pentecost by Salem Press Encyclopedia
Eid al‑Adha (5/27–5/30), Islamic
Eid al-Adha by Miranda Ganzer in Salem Press Encyclopedia
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (5/28–5/29), Bahá’í
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í Holy Day) by Salem Press Encyclopedia
Dates of Significance:
National Space Day (5/1)
Educator Appreciation Week (5/4–5/8)
Cinco de Mayo (5/5)
Cinco de Mayo by Salem Press Encyclopedia
Harvey Milk Day (5/22)
Harvey Milk by Robert B. Ridinger in Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia
Memorial Day (5/25)
Memorial Day by Salem Press Encyclopedia