The 19th of May is National May Ray Day, and today we celebrate all the rays of sunlight in our lives. At this time of year, the remnants of spring give way to the first hints of summer, and the sun is at its most inviting. Then why are you still waiting? Take a deep breath of the pleasant summer air.
The background of National May Ray Day
Richard Ankli, a comedian, established National May Ray Day in honour of his sibling Ray, who was born on that date. In 1977, the Broadway Fun Spot (nickname for a Broadway residence) in St. Joseph, Michigan, made the day an official holiday. Richard Ankli is also the originator of November’s Welcome Giving Day.
Even though National May Ray Day is now associated with a variety of things, the fundamental concept remains the same: to go outside and soak up the sun. It is the opportunity to capture the final breath of spring and the gentle rays preceding summer; a time when nature is at its best.
May has historically had numerous cultural connotations and significance. Since May is either the last month of spring or the last month of autumn, it signified the beginning of sowing or harvesting in agrarian societies, depending on which hemisphere they lived in.
The ancient Greeks celebrated Dionysus (also known as Bacchus in Roman mythology), the deity of the grape harvest, wine, fertility, rebirth, flora, revelry, and the theatre. Maia, one of the seven Pleiades (a constellation that twinkles in the clear night sky), is also the namesake for the month of May, which has its origins in Greek mythology.
You may have heard the idiom “March winds and April rains bring May flowers,” which could not be more accurate. We associate spring with fecundity, expansion, and general merriment. In general, the holiday demands to be one of pleasure.
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5 FACTS ABOUT MAY YOU MAY NOT KNOW
Mai is either derived from Maia, the deity of plant growth, or from the Latin word maiores, which means “elders.”
This year, the Flower Moon, May’s full moon, will be visible on May 26.
The emerald is symbolic of rebirth and fecundity.
The hawthorn and lily of the valley represent optimism and the return of joy.
According to a poem, May was once considered an inauspicious month for marriage: “If you marry in May, you’ll regret it.”
NATIONAL MAY RAY DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 19 | Friday |
| 2024 | May 19 | Sunday |
| 2025 | May 19 | Monday |
| 2026 | May 19 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | May 19 | Wednesday |
