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South Salt Lake Journal

Enjoy a special day in May

May 01, 2021 10:40AM ● By Bill Hardesty

By Bill Hardesty | [email protected]

It has finally arrived; the merry month of May. According to American naturalist Edwin Way Teale, “The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.” May does feel that way. There are summer dreams of baseball, green grass and a Memorial Day family vacation.

And, of course, spring brings out bad dad jokes like this one I’ve been saving: If April showers bring May flowers, what do Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims. A joke for the season. 

Most scholars believe May is named after the Greek Goddess Maia—daughter of Atlas, lover of Zeus, and mother of Hermes—who is associated with fertility and the earth.

When I was a child in Southern California, there was a great tradition of dancing around the maypole. We spent countless hours learning how to bob and weave around each other as we twisted ribbons around a pole. We then retraced our steps to unwind the ribbons. The tradition comes from Germany, England and Scandinavia, and is still popular in Europe. I am wondering if this makes me a pole dancer?

Another famous dance is the Helston, Cornwall Flora Dance. The residents of Helston celebrate St. Michael’s Day by performing the Flora Dance. The city band strikes the drum at 7 a.m. for the first of four dances on May 8. The most famous is the midday dance. Men dressed in top hats and tails, and women dressed in their finest gowns dance through the streets and selected shops and homes to a tune that has never been written. It started on May 8, 1945 (VE Day) and is held every year except for pandemic years. What can you say, it's so British?   

Even though May is full of fun, it is also the national month for some serious subjects like Arthritis Awareness Month, Mental Health Month, and Jewish American Heritage Month. On the other hand, there are some different celebrations.

  • National Barbecue Month – Bring on the steaks.
  • National Hamburger Month – All we ask is one a day.
  • National Egg Month – There are at least 31 ways to have eggs.
  • National Blood Pressure Month – Because you celebrate the celebrations above.
  • National Pet Month – Celebrate with a new toy or clean water in the fishbowl.
  • National Salad Month – Because you’ve been barbecuing everything.

May also has national weeks of a serious nature, such as Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-8), National Nurses Week (May 6-12), National Women’s Health Week (May 9-15, and National EMS Week (May 16-22). That’s it. No funny weeks. Bummer.

In May, we have many food days:

  • National Hoagie Day (May 5) – How much mayo is too much?
  • National Coconut Cream Pie Day (May 8) – Have a slice or two.
  • International Hummus Day (May 13) – Bring out the pita.
  • National Taffy Day (May 23) – Is it the taffy or the jokes that are best?
  • National Wine Day (May 25) – Not whine but wine.
  • National Mint Julep Day (May 30) – Summer in a glass (minty and cool).

There are serious days:

  • National Day of Prayer (May 6) – Please join me in bowing my head.
  • Mother’s Day (May 9) – Don’t forget like last year.
  • International Day of Families (May 15) – Expand your family tree.
  • National Endangered Species Day (May 21) – Go for a walk and see nature up-close and personal.
  • Memorial Day (May 31) – We can never forget.
  • World No Tobacco Day (May 31) – WHO has a goal to end tobacco use by 2030.

Finally, some exciting days such as:

  • National Beer Pong Day (May 1) – It isn’t just a game; it is a way to win $50,000.
  • National Brothers and Sisters Day (May 2) – Hug yours.
  • Star Wars Day (May 4) – Get it? May the Fourth be with you.
  • International No Diet Day (May 6) – Cut loose. Go to the Cheesecake Factory.
  • National No Pants Day (May 7) – I dare you.
  • National Lost Sock Memorial Day (May 9) – Where are they hiding?
  • National Eat What You Want Day (May 11) – Now, this is a great holiday.
  • National Dance Like a Chicken Day (May 14) – Turn on the song loud and dance like no one is looking.
  • National Pack Rat Day (May 17) – It’s about time we get a day.
  • National Talk Like Yoda Day (May 21) – Difficult it is not.
  • National Paper Airplane Day (May 27) – Sponsor a contest at work.
  • National Put a Pillow on Your Fridge Day (May 29) – It brings prosperity and good fortune. BTW—putting it in the fridge will do the same thing. 

If you found this amusing or informative, let me know. Maybe I can convince my editor to make it a monthly feature.