May is the fifth month of the year.
Latin (Roman) name: Maius
The Roman month of Maius is named for Maia. Maia was a daughter of Atlas. May was sacred to Maia, Roman Goddess of spring.
The earliest Roman months were lunar. According to Roman mythology, the ten month solar calendar aligned to the vernal equinox was introduced by Romulus, the founder of Rome, around 753 BCE. In Romulus’ calendar, May (the third month) had 31 days. Numa Pompilius, the second of the seven traditional kings of Rome, added two more months, for a 12 month year. In Numa’s calendar, May had 31 days. Gaius Julius Caesar, as Pontifex Maximus (supreme bridge-builder, a religious title), reorganized the calendar on the first day of 45 BCE. In Caesar’s calendar (the Julian Calendar), May had 31 days. Caesar’s calendar was calculated by Sosigenes, an Egyptian astrologer/astronomer. In 8 BCE, Augustus Caesar fixed errors by pontiffs after Julius’ death and made other minor modifications, resulting in the modern Western calendar. The modern Gregorian Calendar, named for Roman Catholic Pope Gregory the Thirteenth, was a realignment in 1582.
Meaning of name: “From Maria, or Maia, Roman Goddess of Spring. Christian church month of Mary/Yemaya.” — SOURCE: Anniversaries and Holidays by Ruth Gregory
Flowers: hawthorne and lily — SOURCE: Anniversaries and Holidays by Ruth Gregory
Birthstone: emerald — SOURCE: Anniversaries and Holidays by Ruth Gregory
Goddesses: Maia, Flora, Tanith, Bel, Medb, Mu Lan, Mary, Hera, Aida Wedo — SOURCE: “Juno Covella, Perpetual Calendar of the Fellowship of Isis” by Lawrence Durdin-Robertson, Cesara Publications, Chicago, ©1982; with additional Goddesses from The Goddess Book of Days by Diane Stein
May 2009
May 2008
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| May 1 | May 2 | May 3 | ||||
| May 4 | May 5 | May 6 | May 7 | May 8 | May 9 | May 10 |
| May 11 | May 12 | May 13 | May 14 | May 15 | May 16 | May 17 |
| May 18 | May 19 | May 20 | May 21 | May 22 | May 23 | May 24 |
| May 25 | May 26 | May 27 | May 28 | May 29 | May 30 | May 31 |
Books
If you want your book reviewed, please send a copy to: Milo, POB 1361, Tustin, CA 92781, USA.
Anniversaries and Holidays; by Ruth W. Gregory; American Library Association, Chicago; 1983; out of print, but can still be special ordered
The Goddess Book of Days: A Perpetual 366 Day Engagement Calendar; by Diane Stein; The Crossing Press, Freedom, CA; 1992; ISBN 89594-551-7; paperback; out of print, but can still be special ordered
If you want your book reviewed, please send a copy to: Milo, POB 1361, Tustin, CA 92781, USA.
Months of the year
See also: months of the year.
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