William Shakespeare (in Sonnet 18) wrote, Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May
May is named after the Greek goddess Maia – mother of Hermes, daughter of Atlas and Pleione the Oceania
May is the time for two astrological signs: Taurus the Bull (through May 20th) and Gemini the Twins (beginning May 21st)
May is the time for Lily of the Valley as the official birth flower … but other say the official flowers are daisies and sweet peas.
May is the month for the emerald birthstone – the one of love or success
May begins Beltane in the northern hemisphere, and Samhain in the southern hemisphere
May delivers many colors, but (according to somebody) dark forest green and pale sky blue are its official colors
May is a month of awareness for ALS, APS, arthritis, brain tumors, borderline personality disorder, celiac, cystic fibrosis, EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), fibromyalgia, global civility, home schooling, Huntington’s Disease, lupus, allergies & asthma, hepatitis, Lyme disease, neurofibromatosis, strokes, toxic encephalopathy & chemical injury, pet cancer, preeclampsia. skin cancer, mental health, Tach-Sachs & Canavan diseases, medical orphans, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis, Tourettes Syndrome, skin cancer, Social Security
May is a month of culinary delights as hamburgers, barbecue, salad, salsa, strawberries, eggs, asparagus, beef, sweet Vidalia onions, chocolate custard, and vinegar
May is a month to chip your pet, garden for wildlife, revise your work schedule, get caught reading, heal children, prepare tomorrow’s parents, react, and strike out strokes
May embraces drums, EcoDiving, Latino books, tennis, bicycling, wetlands, clean air, Mediterranean diet, meditation, physical fitness & sports, photos
May promotes better hearing & speech, building safety, foster care, good car keeping, guide dogs, inventors, motorcycle safety, pets, youth safety, drinking water, spiritual literacy, healthy vision, family wellness, creative beginnings, and gifts from the garden
May commemorates Pacific Islander heritage, Haitian heritage, Jewish-American heritage, South Asian heritage, and the Freedom Shine
May wants us to smile more often
May birthdays include these famous people
Let’s conclude with Blue Rodeo singing 5 Days in May
A Frank Angle 
Interesting facts on May, surely one of the most beautiful months of the year anywhere in the world.
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Debra,
May in the Bagni valley must be outstanding!
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May may be merry in the northern hemisphere, but here in the south it is often not even mildly happy! It contains the increasingly cold, wet grey and windy days that wend slowly towards mid-winter……… We await the merry month of Movember 🙂
[Not a spelling mistake, the N being changed out for an M in honour of mustache growing for charity – do you have this too?]
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Pauline,
Blogging has increased my awareness of the two hemispheres being in opposite seasons. Yes … Movember is well noted here as well. I have a tendency to recognize Proctober instead.
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Ah, yes! I suppose if you have one then you must also acknowledge the other …..
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🙂
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Best month of the year
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GFB,
Cheers to your love for the month!
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As a child, I always looked forward to Mayday. We used to dress up in our new Spring clothes, and had a parade at school. I always had to have a new hat, which wasn’t so pleasant, but I suppose it was character-building. Love the William Byrd music and video. 🙂
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Sylvia,
I can flashback to those days as well … and they seem to be gone in today’s society. Glad you enjoyed the music and thanks for sharing.
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May is a ‘sexy month’. Good choice on ‘five days in May’.
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Hudson,
Glad you enjoyed the song … and the song you last posted was awesome!
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I did. My first introduction to Blue Rodeo happened when I was a wee Howl at the Misty Moon in Halifax. NS and subsequently on CBC Radio Canada. They did good ‘shtufffs’ no question.
I thought the song in the last post was rather powerful for a fairly fresh trio out of Winnipeg.
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I’ve been to Halifax once! … Your “wee Howl” reference made me laugh.
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I attended school in Halifax. Actually for the last couple years the search has been on to buy some property in Nova Scotia with the plan to put the finish on life there. Mostly likely along La Baie Sainte-Marie, as there is rock with my name on it just waiting for me.
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Interesting … good luck on your search. I must say that we enjoyed our one-day there.
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My memory of May? Living in Germany as a child and the MayPole dances, Kinderfest in some of the small towns, the Black Forest and the spectacular regional wear with the women’s hats. Strange, that is what I always think of about May.
Great facts about May Frank.
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Val,
Thanks for sharing a bit of your childhood. I wonder if that tradition still exists in that small town.
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Maybe that’s where the May Pole dances here originated. Many German immigrants here. There were always May Day celebrations (May Fete) in the elementary schools here with May Poles. (The upper grades got to hold the ribbons and circle around while the littles watched. It was part of the rites of “graduation” for them. They dressed up in “church clothes” – many of the girls had their first (little) high heels or shoes without that strap across the foot.
May Pole dances and May Fetes. That’s what I think of, too
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Happy May, Frank. It is a lovely month here in the DC area — before it turns hotter than hell!
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Elyse,
Happy May to you as well. …. and oh how I loathe the hot, muggy days.
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May is also the month in which my Sara was born, the month in which my brother was born, the month in which my father died. It’s also Mental Health Awareness month. Merry May, dear Frank!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
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Kathy,
Greetings ahead to Sara’s birthday … and I’ve added mental health to the awareness list. Thanks!
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I feel ten metaphoric pounds lighter now that May is here. The other day I heard grass being mowed. It was music to my ears.
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Carrie,
After our crazy winter, mowing is wonderful sound … and for me, I’m not mowing this year!
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Now that’s something to celebrate!
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Absolutely!!!
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People used to put little baskets/bouquets of flowers people’s door step, ring the doorbell and then hide.
Did they do May Pole dances where you are? They used to here at the elementary schools well into the 50’s.
May May be full of mirth for all!
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Mouse,
I too recall the celebration in elementary school. I’ve got the feeling that only a few experience that tradition these days.
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I love the “May wants us to smile more often” [and W.Byrd!]!!! so here: 🙂 🙂 🙂 !!!!
Beautiful May post, Frank! A merry merry May and a merry weekend! 🙂
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Marina,
Glad you got my delights from this collection.
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I remember in elementary school we celebrated the May Crowning, it was quite the church event. Today I no longer go to church, would rather not be associated with the Roman Catholic Church but I still do believe in God.
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Catherine,
I too recall the crowing of Mary in early May … but I don’t know if they still do it … but I imagine so.
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May and I have a love/hate relationship, Frank. When I was a kid, I could not wait for my birthday in May because I wanted to be older and now that I’m older, I’, overcome with my childhood wish … But I am having a very good birthday weekend with Milton, so this year’s month of May is starting out rather well.
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Lame,
Cheers to both your birthday weekend and Milton providing you company and entertainment. Happy Birthday!!!
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May – a truly lovely transitional month before the hotter days of summer. i love knowing May wants us to smile more! 🙂 tons of blessings to you, Frank!
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Sun,
Smiles is something that crosses all language barriers!
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May is a wonderful month!
We have lots of May bdays in the fam. In our household alone – there are 3.
Talk about celebrating life! 🙂
Happy May-
{Hugs}
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RoSy,
Cheers to your family’s upcoming birthdays this month … and Cinco de Mayo as well!
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May also hosts Star Wars day!
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Guap,
Absolutely … and the Reds have a Star Wars theme evening … but they lost that night.
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Happy May, dear Frank! It was a nice post again. Love, nia
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Nia,
Happy May to you as well … keep smiling!
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May is a full month! Wow… Who knew?
May is going to be my
Month of Naps.
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Audra,
Woo hoo to you planning on using May as a month of naps!
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It’s glorious Frank. Smiling…
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That’s …. smiles more often! … PS: I hope you Red Sox take it easy on my struggling Reds this week.
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Red Sox are stinking up the joint. No worries there. Ugh.
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Oh boy … a battle of the underachievers.
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Looks that way.
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My goodness! May has a whole host of “disease awareness” possibilities I think I know someone with each of the diseases–well, maybe not ALL, but close. It’s good to think of the people with the affliction, too. Maybe a little extra TLC to friends with illness. Thanks for the reminder!
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Debra,
Disease/disorder awareness seem to be prominent every month. Meanwhile, glad this could be a reminder to you to reach out to those friends this month.
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Thanks for this magnificent tribute to May – stunningly written, Frank.
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Frank, Loved this post.. May is my Merry Month as you know.. 🙂 and I guess you would not be surprised to know I have Lilies of the Valley in my front garden under the Rhodi’ bush .. my name too related to Lily.. I was unaware of all the mental disorders though being more prominent.. :-)…
Enjoy your Merry Merry Month… I am. 😀
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Sue,
Glad this post brought you some smiles!
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