May 2021 Observances for Your
Senior Activity Calendar
Find interesting and unique observances and holidays for you to use as inspiration for your senior activity program.
May 2021 Monthly Observances
- American Wetlands Month
- Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Asthma Awareness Month
- Better Hearing and Speech Month
- Celiac Disease Awareness Month
- Clean Air Month
- Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month
- Gardening for Wildlife Month
- Get Caught Reading Month
- Gifts From the Garden Month
- Global Civility Awareness Month
- Haitian Heritage Month
- Healthy Vision Month
- Hepatitis Awareness Month
- Homeschooling Awareness Month
- Huntington's Disease Awareness Month
- International Mediterranean Diet Month
- International Victorious Woman Month
- Jewish-American Heritage Month
- Latino Books Month
- Mental Health Month
- Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
- Mystery Month
- National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
- National Arthritis Awareness Month
- National Barbecue Month
- National Bike Month
- National Foster Care Month
- National Good Car-Keeping Month
- National Hamburger Month
- National Meditation Month
- National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
- National Military Appreciation Month
- National Osteoporosis Month
- National Photography Month
- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- National Salad Month
- National Salsa Month
- National Stroke Awareness Month
- National Sweet Vidalia Onion Month
- National Vinegar Month
- Older Americans Month
- Personal History Awareness Month
- Play Tennis Month
- Preservation Month
- Save Your Tooth Month
- Skin Cancer Awareness Month
- Strike Out Stroke Month
- Ultraviolet Awareness Month
- Women's Health Month
- Young Achievers/Leaders of Tomorrow Month
May 2021 Weekly Observances
- Choose Privacy Week (May 1-7)
- National Pet Week (May 2-8)
- National Small Business Week (May 2-8)
- National Travel and Tourism Week (May 2-8)
- Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3-7)
- National Nurses Week (May 6-12)
- Root Canal Awareness Week (May 4-11)
- Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8)
- National Nurses Week (May 6-12)
- National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 9-15)
- National Police Week (May 9-15)
- National Skilled Nursing Care Week (May 9-15)
- Salute to 35+ Moms Week (May 9-15)
- Work at Home Moms Week (May 9-15)
- National Etiquette Week (May 10-14)
- National Stuttering Awareness Week (May 10-16)
- International New Friends, Old Friends Week (May 16-22)
- National Transportation Week (May 16-22)
- National Unicycle Week (May 16-22)
- National Safe Boating Week (May 22-28)
- National Backyard Games Week (May 23-29)
- Week of Solidarity With the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories (May 25-31)
May 2021 Daily Observances
May 1
- Free Comic Book Day
- Keep Kids Alive – Drive 25 Day, encouraging people to follow residential speed limits
- Labour Day in United Kingdom
- Law Day
- Learn to Ride a Bike Day
- Lei Day in Hawaii
- Loyalty Day
- May Day
- May One Day, a day to encourage schoolchildren to choose a dream and to go after it
- Mother Goose Day
- National Auctioneers Day
- National Chocolate Parfait Day
- National College Decision Day, the day high school students must make final college decisions
- National Fancy Hat Lunch Day
- New Home Owner's Day
- School Principals' Day
- World Lyme Day
- 147th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky
May 2
- National Fitness Day
- National Truffles Day
- Robert's Rules of Order Day, honoring the birthday of the author of the parliamentary guide Robert's Rules of Order, Henry Martyn Robert
- World Laughter Day
- World Tuna Day
May 3
- Garden Meditation Day
- Lumpy Rug Day
- Melanoma Monday, a day to encourage people to examine their skin (also called National Skin Self-Examination Day)
- National Raspberry Popover Day
- National Specially-abled Pets Day, a day to recognize owners of disabled pets
- National Textiles Day
- National Two Different Colored Shoes Day
- World Press Freedom Day
May 4
- International Respect for Chickens Day
- National Candied Orange Peel Day
- National Orange Juice Day
- National Teacher Day
- Star Wars Day
- World Asthma Day
May 5
- African World Heritage Day
- Bike to School Day
- Cartoonists Day
- Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday remembering the Battle of Puebla in 1862
- International Day of the Midwife
- National Astronaut Day
- National Hoagie Day
- World Portuguese Language Day
May 6
- International No Diet Day
- National Beverage Day
- National Day of Reason
- National School Nurse Day
- No Homework Day
May 7
- Beaufort Scale Day, honoring Sir Francis Beauford who created the Beaufort Scale, a scale that measures wind speeds
- Military Spouse Appreciation Day
- National Space Day
May 8
- Mother Ocean Day
- National Babysitters Day
- National Coconut Cream Pie Day
- National Have a Coke Day
- National Student Nurses Day
- National Train Day
- No Socks Day
- Stay Up All Night Night
- V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day)
- World Belly Dance Day
- World Fair Trade Day
- World Migratory Bird Day
- World Red Cross Red Crescent Day
May 9
- Mother's Day
- National Butterscotch Brownie Day
May 10
- National Shrimp Day
- World Lupus Day
May 11
- Eat What You Want Day
May 12
- Donate a Day's Wages to Charity Day
- International Nurses Day
- Limerick Day
- National Nightshift Workers Day
- National Nutty Fudge Day
- National Receptionists Day
May 13
- Ascension Day, commemorating Christ's ascension into heaven
- Children of Fallen Patriots Day
- National Apple Pie Day
- National Fruit Cocktail Day
- National Hummus Day
May 14
- National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
- "The Stars and Stripes Forever" Day
- Underground America Day, honoring those who live in houses that are in or underground
May 15
- Armed Forces Day
- International Learn to Swim Day
- National Chocolate Chip Day
- National Slider Day, a day to honor the petite burgers
- Peace Officer Memorial Day
- Spring Astronomy Day
- 146th running of the Preakness Stakes (horse racing) in Baltimore, Maryland
May 16
- Biographers Day
- International Day of Light
- International Day of Living Together in Peace
- National Piercing Day
- Ride a Unicycle Day
- Rural Life Sunday, focusing on the importance of the earth and the environment in Christian denominations
May 17
- National Cherry Cobbler Day
- National Walnut Day
- World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
May 18
- I Love Reese's Day
- International Museum Day
- Visit Your Relatives Day
May 19
- Hepatitis Testing Day
- National Devil's Food Cake Day
May 20
- Eliza Doolittle Day, honoring the literary character's commitment to speaking her native language properly
- National Rescue Dog Day
- Weights and Measures Day
- World Bee Day
May 21
- Bike to Work Day
- Endangered Species Day
- "I Need a Patch for That" Day, a day recognizing the availability of patches that help with ailments
- International Virtual Assistants Day
- National Defense Transportation Day
- National Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day
- National Pizza Party Day
- National Strawberries and Cream Day
- National Waitstaff Day
- World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
May 22
- Canadian Immigrants' Day
- International Day for Biological Diversity
- National Maritime Day
- National Vanilla Pudding Day
- World Goth Day
May 23
- National Best Friend-in-Law Day, honoring the best friends of spouses
- National Taffy Day
- Whitsunday, Christian celebration of Pentecost
- World Turtle Day
May 24
- Brother's Day
- International Tiara Day
- Victoria Day in Canada
- Whitmonday, the day after Whitsunday
May 25
- African Freedom Day
- National Brown-Bag-It Day
- National Missing Children's Day
- National Tap Dance Day
- National Wine Day
- Towel Day
May 26
- Full Flower Moon
- Lunar Eclipse
- National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
- National Cherry Dessert Day
- National Senior Health and Fitness Day
- World Lindy Hop Day
- World Otter Day
May 27
- National Grape Popsicle Day
May 28
- National Hamburger Day
- National Sunscreen Day
May 29
- International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
May 30
- National Mint Julep Day
- 105th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race in Indianapolis, Indiana
May 31
- Memorial Day
- National Macaroon Day
- What You Think Upon Grows Day
- World No-Tobacco Day