As we say hello to the new month of May, yes the fifth month of the year, for those who live in the Northern hemisphere, we say goodbye to cooler days and look forward to warmer ones. With spring flowers blooming, birds chirping, many of us find life is starting to seem a little more joyful, especially in these Covid times!
If you’re on the other side of the world, in the southern hemisphere, then it’s a time when summer is gone and the nights are getting colder and darker, warm soups and hearty casseroles may start appearing in menu plans.
But, no matter where in the world you are, I wish you a Happy May.
A Few FactsThe name May is the modern-day English adaption of the Latin word Maius, which has origins going back to the time of the ancient Greeks. They named the month of May (or Maius) after the Greek goddess of growth.
Every year there is a particular meteor shower in May called the Eta Aquariids meteor shower. Discovered in 1870, this meteor shower passes by Earth between April 19 and May 28. It’s easiest to view it from the equatorial regions of the world and can be glimpsed passing by just before dawn.
May is pretty exclusive when it comes to days of the week. No other month in one single year starts or finishes on the same weekday as May. Basically, if the first of May is on a Friday, and the 31st of May is on a Sunday, no other months in the year will start or end on a Friday or a Sunday!
The birthstone for May is the emerald. Emeralds typically range from a deep-sea green to a lighter colour. Emeralds are symbols of fertility and rebirth.
May actually has two birth flowers – the Lily-of-the-Valley and the Hawthorn. The Hawthorn flower is a symbol of hope, while the Lily-of-the-Valley represents the return of happiness and sweetness.
May also has two Zodiac signs, Taurus and Gemini. People born under the sign of Taurus are said to be ambitious and smart, yet trustworthy. Those born under the sign of Gemini are said to be passionate, adaptable, and smart. If you have a May birthday I wish you a happy one.The above facts and more can be seen here
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All the best Jan
Happy May Day! The flowers are lovely.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!
...time sure goes by quickly.
ReplyDeleteHello May!!
ReplyDeleteHimself's birthday is this month. He's a Taurus. I'll have to see if the clump of Lily of the Valley is starting to bloom.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting facts about May! Have a great month, Valerie
ReplyDeleteInteresting as always. For us though, May is usually the first month of summer (the last month being October!).
ReplyDeleteI'm on the cusp between Aries and Taurus, so I'm a bit mixed up (grin). I loved reading about the days in May starting and ending as they do. That was new information to me. I also found some lilies of the valley in my garden this week. Happy May to you, dear Jan.
ReplyDeleteHappy May! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of your first of the month posts and since May is a favorite month, all the more. My lilies of the valley are poking their stalks out of the ground but we won't see blooms for a few weeks. They are one of my favorites! Happy May!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous post! I had never heard of the meteor shower that occurs around this time of the year. How interesting. I wonder if we would be lucky enough to glimpse it from our part of the world?
ReplyDeleteLily of the Valley and Hawthorne are two of my favourites!😊😊
Happy May Day!!
Hugs xxx
I enjoyed the background on the month of May. And then I caught a glimpse of your last post, so I will check it out. Casserole, I think I saw, haddock?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it's May already and that a third of the year has gone by in the blink of an eye.
ReplyDeleteHooray for May!
ReplyDeleteHappy May Day!
ReplyDeleteHappy May Day!
ReplyDeleteI love May. So much to celebrate and enjoy. Blooms are everywhere and always make me smile. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
Happy May.
ReplyDeleteI love May.
ReplyDeleteThe beautiful flowers, the blossoms, the sun.
Have a nice weekend, greetings,
Hilly
A very, very happy May to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteHello May.
ReplyDeleteHappy May Day! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Quite informative.
ReplyDeleteFeliz mes de mayo para ti. Besos.
ReplyDeleteHappy May! It is my birthday month, but not till the end on the 30th.
ReplyDeleteadoro el mes de mayo. Me encanto todo lo que contaste sobre él. Te mando un beso
ReplyDeleteInteresting about May.
ReplyDeleteinteresting! Happy May to you too!
ReplyDeleteMay is my beloved month. Unfortunately, it started out cold and rainy. It has been raining for several days and I miss the sun a lot.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a beautiful, sunny and warm May:)
May has two faces: spring and summer;shivering and sunburn. 😀
ReplyDeleteInteresting facts about May.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful Sunday.
A great post, our Peony comes out in May and it always gets battered, so I know that rain and wind are on their way. Take care and have a wonderful May, Sue xx
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your new month info and facts. This month is no exception. Happy May!
ReplyDeleteI love how everything is just blooming wonderfully in April and May, and so sweet that we have had enough rain this year that everything has such a rich green color to them!
ReplyDeleteHappy May! Wishing you a wonderful month ahead.
ReplyDeleteMay feels to have arrived quickly this year. I just wish the temperatures would catch up. X
ReplyDeleteHappy May! Thank you for the interesting facts! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy these lovely monthly posts, always so intersting.xxx
ReplyDelete