Important Days in May 2021: List of National and International Special Days

Important Days are the national and international observance days to help promote an occasion, event or a cause. All the countries in the world observe and celebrate certain important days in the month of May. Many of these special days do not fall on specific dates but are observed on certain days of the week. And not just countries, but international organizations like United Nations also observe many special days in the month of May. Following is the comprehensive list of these days.

Important Days in May 2021

1 May: International Workers’ Day

The first day of May is celebrated every year as International Workers’ Day. It is also known as Labor Day or May Day and it celebrates the contribution and achievement of workers in promoting the international labor movement. The International Workers’ Day is celebrated as Labor Day in most countries of the world barring few exceptions.

2 May: World Tuna Day

World Tuna Day is observed every year on 02 May all across the world since 2017. United Nations established this day to raise awareness about the significance of tuna and tuna-like species. The world harvests nearly 7 million tonnes of tuna every year. Tuna’s economic contribution in many developing and developed nations is not just important but critical.

2 May: World Laughter Day (first Sunday of May)

First Sunday of May is celebrated as the World Laughter Day every year all across the globe. Celebration of World Laughter Day initially started in Mumbai, India. It was the brainchild of Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the Laughter Yoga Movement.

The very first celebration of this occasion started in the year 1998. Since then, May’s first Sunday has become brighter for the world. Obviously, it’s not hard for anyone to resist the contagious nature of a good laugh. Thus, the entire world embraced World Laughter Day and it turned into an international event.

3 May: World Press Freedom Day

On 03 May, every year, the world celebrates World Press Freedom Day. This day has been formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly. The objective of celebrating this day is to promote freedom of the press, reiterate the importance of press and the role of media. The celebration also acts like a reminder to the nations and their governments of their commitments to ensure the basic right of freedom of speech & expression incorporated under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Journalists and media professionals all across the globe take the World Press Freedom Day as an opportunity to highlight and discuss the issues and aspects related to freedom of press.

5 May: World Asthma Day

World Asthma Day is an international day observed on 05 May every year. World Asthma Day is observed in order to increase awareness about the disease among its patients as well the common people. It also aims to encourage different organizations to join hands in improving the lives of people living with asthma.

7 May: World Athletics Day

World Athletics Day is and international day observed on 07 May every year. The exact date is fixed each year by the World Athletics. The World Athletics is the international governing body dealing with athletics and it was formerly known as International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF). It initiated the observance of World Athletics Day as a part of its social responsibility project ‘Athletics for a Better World’ . The day was observed for the very first time in 1996. The main purpose behind the day is to promote the sport of athletics among the young generation and nurture fresh talents.

8 May: World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day

The World Red Cross day celebrates and reiterates seven fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This Movement was started for humanitarian causes. It currently has around 1 billion supporters in the form of staff, members and volunteers all across the world. This makes the Red Cross the world’s largest humanitarian network. It provides protection and assistance to people affected by disasters and conflicts.

8 May: World Thalassemia Day

The World Thalassemia Day is observed on 08 May every year to commemorate the victims of thalassemia and encourage the ones who are living with this condition. The overall objective behind observance of this day is to raise awareness among people about thalassemia, its treatment, and management.

9 May: Mother’s Day (second Sunday of May)

Mothers are a gift of god to every human being. Their care and dedication for the child remain lifelong. The Jewish proverb mentioned above truly justifies the kind of bond mothers share with their children. To celebrate and honor the most deeply bonded human relation between a mother and child, Mother’s Day is celebrated all across the world. Interestingly, there is no specific global day for the same but more than 40 countries celebrate it on the second Sunday of May.

10 May: World Lupus Day

May 10 is observed as World Lupus Day every year to raise awareness about the impact of lupus disease. Lupus is an incurable chronic disease which affects the immune system of a person. The World Lupus Day is sponsored by the World Lupus Federation (WLF). It was observed for the first time in the year 2004. Since then, the day has become an annual observance. Organizations worldwide join hands together to organize various events and activities to educate people about the lesser understood disease of lupus. “Help us solve the cruel mystery” is a common phrase associated with this disease.

11 May: National Technology Day

May 11 is celebrated as National Technology Day in India every year. It marks the anniversary of the successful testing of nuclear bombs by India in the year 1998 at Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. The entire operation is referred to as Operation Shakti or Pokhran II and it was led by Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam, who later became the President of India. Operation Shakti of 1998 was the second time when India conducted a nuclear test. The first instance was Operation Smiling Buddha in 1974.

12 May: International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day is celebrated every year on May 12. It marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. International Council of Nurses (ICN), a federation of over 130 national nurses organizations worldwide, commemorates this day by producing as well as distributing resources related to the field of nursing. The objective behind observance of this day is to raise awareness about the contributions of nurses in influencing global healthcare.

13 May: International Hummus Day

May 13 is celebrated worldwide as International Hummus Day every year. Hummus has millions of fans worldwide. It is a Levantine and Egyptian dip or spread with a peculiar flavor of its own. Blend mashed chickpeas with lemon juice, garlic, and tahini (a condiment made from toasted ground hulled sesame)…..And there it is, your hummus is prepared!

15 May: International Day of Families

May 15 is celebrated as International Day of Families all across the globe. The objective behind the celebration of this day is to promote the awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic processes affecting families.

17 May: World Hypertension Day

World Hypertension Day is observed every year on May 17. The day was designated by the World Hypertension League to promote the prevention and control of hypertension (also known as high blood pressure). Hypertension is one of the major causes of death and disability globally. It is the leading contributor to the global epidemic of non-communicable diseases. As per estimates, nearly 1.58 billion would be affected by hypertension by 2025. Despite the grim scenario, nearly half of the world’s population suffering from hypertension is not even aware of their own condition.

17 May: World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

May 17 is observed as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day every year. It marks the anniversary of the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as well as the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in the year 1865.

18 May: World AIDS Vaccine Day

May 18 is observed as World AIDS Vaccine Day or HIV Vaccine Awareness Day all across the world. Full form of AIDS is Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome. It is the last stage of condition caused due to the infection by HIV. Full form of HIV is Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus poses one of the most prevalent global health issues today. Over 32 million lives have been claimed by this virus since its discovery.

18 May: International Museum Day

International Museum Day is observed every year on May 18. Museums all across the world participate in the celebration of this day. The observance is coordinated worldwide by the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

21 May: National Anti-Terrorism Day

21 May: National Endangered Species Day (third Friday in May)

22 May: International Day for Biological Diversity

The United Nations officially observes 22 May as International Day for Biological Diversity every year. The main objective behind the observance of this day is to spread awareness around the world about the importance of biological diversity and the issues associated with it.

31 May: Anti-Tobacco Day

Every year 8-million people around the world lose their life due to tobacco, tells the WHO reports. Tobacco is the largest preventable cause of death and disease in the US and many other countries. And unfortunately, the prime target of tobacco manufacturing industries is the Youths. 31st May is observed as World No Tobacco Day around the globe to make people aware of the deadly impacts of tobacco.

List of Important Days in May