May 2023
►National Walking Month
Beltane | Pagan
May Day Bank Holiday
Deaf Awareness Week
| 1 - 7 May |
Eid al-Fitr | Islam
| Eid al-Fitr means 'break the fast', and is the last day of Ramadan, marking the end of a month of fasting. Muslims often pray, exchange gifts, feast, and celebrate with friends and family |
World Asthma Day
Vesak (‘Buddha Day’) | Buddhist
| The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha’s birthday and, for some Buddhists, also marks his enlightenment and death |
International Family Equality Day
| IFED Motto 2023: - Power Up Families |
Bank Holiday for King's Coronation
National Day for Staff Networks
| Aims to encourage collaboration, support-aligned activity and further inspire the voice of network members |
International Nurses Day
| Celebrated around the world on the birthday of Florence Nightingale |
ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day
|
The birthday of Florence Nightingale is also designated the International Awareness Day of ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Unknown to many, nurse Nightingale suffered from a debilitating illness resembling ME or fibromyalgia, and often struggled with fatigue. This is why we raise the awareness of these little-understood conditions on this day. Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is a serious long-term illness that affects many body systems. People suffering with ME/CFS have severe fatigue and sleep problems, and symptoms can get much worse even after minor physical, mental and emotional effort (a phenomenon known as post-exertional malaise). Fibromyalgia is a similar chronic condition that causes pain all over the body. On May 12th, take the time to learn more about these conditions and listen to the stories of people who suffer with them. Wear blue to raise awareness and show support for people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, their families and caregivers, and researchers studying these illnesses |
Mental Health Awareness Week
| 15 - 21 May - Anxiety is this year's theme |
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
Global Accessibility Awareness Day
| Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is a global event that shines a light on digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities, getting everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people in the world with disabilities / impairments. Every user deserves a first-rate digital experience on the web. Someone with a disability must be able to experience web-based services, content and other digital products with the same successful outcome as those without disabilities |
Ascension of the Lord | Christian
| The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is one of the great solemnities in the Christian liturgical calendar and commemorates the bodily ascension of Jesus into heaven |
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
Declaration of the Báb | Bahá’í
| 23 - 24 May |
Shavuot | Judaism
| 25 - 27 May - Shavuot is the second of three pilgrim festivals and follows the Passover by 50 days |
Whitsun
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh | Bahá’í
