Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Welcome May!

May 2012



Season:  Spring  (in the northern hemisphere)



Zodiac Signs:  Taurus & Gemini





Birthstone:  Emerald





Flowers of the Month:  Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn








A selection of May holidays, events, observances, etc.:


4/29-5/5  Golden Week in Japan
5/1  May Day / Labor Day (UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, USA, etc.)
5/1  Beltane (northern hemisphere, Ireland) / Samhain (southern hemisphere) {Neopagan}
5/1  Beatification of Pope John Paul II (2011) (Roman Catholic)
5/1  Feast of Saint Joseph the Workman (Roman Catholic)
5/1  World Asthma Day
5/1  International Workers' Day
5/1  Feast of Saints Philip the Apostle + James the Just (Anglican, Lutheran; Roman Catholic pre-1955)
5/3  Japan's Constitution Day
5/3  World Press Freedom Day
5/3  Feast of Saints Philip the Apostle + James the Just (Roman Catholic)
5/4  Star Wars Day, "May the Fourth Be With You"
5/4  Feast of Saint Monica (traditional - pre-1969)
5/4  Denmark's Liberation Day (1945)
5/4  International Firefighters Day
5/4-5/5  Remembrance / Liberation Days in the Netherlands
5/5  Cinco de Mayo  (Mexico + USA)
5/5  Children's Day in Japan + Korea
5/5  Kentucky Derby Horse Race  (USA)
5/5  Vesak / Vesakha / Vesak Bochea / Vixakha Bouxa / Wesak (Buddhism; Singapore, Laos, Myanmar/Burma, Sri Lanka & Cambodia, etc.)
5/6  Vesak / Vesakha / Buddha Purnima / Buddha Jayanti / Waisak (Buddhism; Indonesia, Nepal & India, etc.)
5/7  Early May Bank Holiday  (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, + Ireland)
5/8  V-E Day in Western Europe (1945)
5/8  World Red Cross + Crescent Day
5/9  Europe Day in the European Union
5/10  Feast of Saint/Father Damien [Jozef de Veuster] of Molokai  (Christianity: Roman Catholic)
5/10  Mother's Day in Mexico, Guatemala + El Salvador
5/11  Feast of Saints Philip the Apostle & James the Just  (Roman Catholic 1955-1969)
5/11  Military Spouse Day  (USA)
5/12  Feast of Blessed Imelda Lambertini  (Roman Catholic)
5/12  International Nurses Day
5/12  Day of the Finnish Language in Finland
5/12  International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological + Neurological Diseases
5/13  Mother's Day  (USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Anguilla, Aruba, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Croatia, Curacao, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Malta, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad + Tobago, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela & Zimbabwe)
5/13  Feast of Our Lady of Fatima  (Roman Catholic)
5/15  International Day of Families
5/15  Dia de Maestro / Teacher's Day  (Mexico)
5/17  Ascension Day / Feast of the Ascension of the Lord / Ascension Thursday / Holy Thursday  (Western Christianity: Anglican, Roman Catholic, some Oriental Orthodox; England, Austria, Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Vanuatu, etc.)
5/17  Norway's Constitution Day + National Day
5/17  International AIDS Vaccine Day
5/17  Father's Day in Germany
5/18  Birthday of Pope John Paul II  (Roman Catholic, 1920)
5/18  International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
5/18  International Museum Day
5/19  Armed Forces Day  (USA)
5/19  World Hepatitis Day
5/20  Solar Eclipse seen from China, Japan & the Western USA
5/20  Indianapolis 500 Car Race  (USA)
5/20  The Preakness horse race  (USA)
5/21  Victoria Day  (Canada)
5/21  Armed Forces Day observed (USA)
5/21  World Day for Cultural Diversity
5/22  Feast of Saint Rita of Cascia  (Roman Catholic)
5/22  World Day for Biological Diversity
5/23  World Turtle Day
5/23  Students' Day in Mexico
5/24  Ascension Day  (Eastern Christianity: Eastern Orthodox, some Oriental Orthodox)
5/24  Eritrea's Independence Day
5/25  Jordan's National Day
5/26  Shavuot begins @ sunset  (Judaism)
5/27  Shavuot  (Judaism)
5/27  Pentecost /Whitsun / Whitsunday (Western Christianity; UK, Italy, France)
5/27  Mother's Day (Algeria, Dominican Republic, France, Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Sweden, Tunisia)
5/27  Children's Day in Hungary
5/28  Shavuot ends @ sundown  (Judaism)
5/28  Memorial Day observed  (USA)
5/28  Pentecost Monday / Whitmonday  (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, Senegal, Togo, etc.)
5/30  Memorial Day  (USA)
5/31  Feast of the Queenship of Mary  (Roman Catholic, 1955-1969)
5/31  Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Saint Elizabeth  (Roman Catholic, 1969-present)
5/31  World No Tobacco Day




Month-long events & observances:

National Brain Tumor Awareness Month (USA); Eurovision Song Contest; Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month (May 15-June 15); World South-Asian Heritage Month; Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (USA); Jewish American Heritage Month (USA); Mental Health Awareness Month (USA); National Military Appreciation Month (USA); Skin Cancer Awareness Month; Music Month in New Zealand; Older Americans Month (USA); National Moving Month (USA); National Smile Month (UK); ALS Awareness Month (USA); & the month of May is dedicated to + honours the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Roman Catholic faith




ROYAL EVENTS IN MAY

May 2012  Bourbon-Parma/Netherlands:  Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parma, Duke of Parma & Princess Annemarie of Bourbon-Parma, Duchess of Parma's 1st baby [together] is due **************


May 1-2  UK:  Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visit South West England (Sherborne, Salisbury, Crewkerne, Yeovil & Exeter)

May 3-7  UK: Badminton Horse Trials, Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, with attendance [on various days] from The Prince Edward Earl of Wessex, Prince William of Wales Duke of Cambridge, & The Duchess of Cambridge (Catherine)

May 4  Tonga: Wedding of Crown Prince 'Ulukalala of Tonga & The Hon. Sinaitakala Tu'imatamoana Fakafanua @ the Centenary Church in Saione, Nuku'alofa, Tonga

May 4-5  Netherlands: Remembrance + Liberation Days with participation from Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, Princess Maxima, Princess Margriet, Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven & Prince Pieter-Christiaan of Orange-Nassau

May 4  Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustaf & Queen Silvia participate in the Official Visit of the Federal President of Germany, HE Mr. Joachim Gauck & Mrs. Daniela Schadt, to Stockholm, Sweden

May 5  Thailand:  Coronation Day  {1950}

May 7-11  Luxembourg: Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume leads a Trade Mission to Canada (May 7-8 in Montreal; May 9 in Toronto; May 10-11 in Vancouver)

May 7  UK: Prince Harry of Wales visits Washington DC, USA

May 7  Denmark: Crown Prince Frederik attends the A-World Championships in ice hockey, Sweden-Denmark, @ Globen Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden

May 8-11  Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustaf attends the Royal Technology Mission, in the Czech Republic

May 8-9  Sweden: Queen Silvia & Princess Madeleine attend the World Childhood Foundation gala dinner + symposium "Return on Concern - Investing in Children", in New York, USA

May 9-13  UK: Royal Windsor Horse Show, Windsor Castle

May 9  UK: State Opening of Parliament, opened by Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

May 9-11  Norway: King Harald V & Queen Sonja make a State Visit to Poland, visiting President Bronislaw Komorowski

May 10-15  Denmark: Crown Prince Frederik & Crown Princess Mary make an Official Visit to South Korea

May 13  UK: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, & Princess Alexandra of Kent attend the Diamond Jubilee Pageant in Windsor, Berkshire

May 14  Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustaf & Queen Silvia host a diplomatic reception @ the Royal Palace of Stockholm

May 15  Netherlands: Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander Prince of Orange & Princess Maxima attend the Apples of Orange 2012 ceremony for the Oranje Fonds @ Palace Noordeinde

May 15  UK: Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visit the South London boroughs of Bromley, Merton & Richmond

May 15 - June 16  UK: The Queen's Cup, Guards Polo Club, Windsor

May 16-17  UK: Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visit North West England (Burnley, Accrington, Warrington, Chester & Liverpool)

May 16-18  UK: Princess Anne, Princess Royal, carries out engagements in Greece

May 17  Norway: National Day / Constitution Day - with participation from the Norwegian Royal Family in national costume & with a balcony appearance

May 18  UK: Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, host a luncheon for Sovereign Monarchs to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee @ Windsor Castle with possible attendance from: Queen Sofia of Spain, The Prince Edward Earl of Wessex, The Countess of Wessex (Sophie), Prince Richard Duke of Gloucester, The Duchess of Gloucester (Birgitte), King Carl XVI Gustaf + Queen Silvia of Sweden, Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko of Japan, & King Hamad of Bahrain

May 18  UK: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, hosts Champagne Dinner @ Buckingham Palace to celebrate HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee with possible attendance from: King Hamad of Bahrain

May 18-19  Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustaf & Queen Silvia attend celebrations for HM Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, in London, UK

May 19  UK:  Armed Forces Parade + Muster through Windsor Castle in honour of the Diamond Jubilee with attendance from: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward Earl of Wessex, & The Countess of Wessex (Sophie)

May 20  Netherlands: Princess Maxima attends a concert by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Bernard Haitink, Honorary Conductor, @ the Barbican Hall, in London, UK

May 20  Denmark: Christening of Prince Joachim & Princess Marie's baby daughter (born Jan.24, 2012) @ Mogeltonder Church, with attendance from members of the Danish Royal Family & possible other royal family members (such as Greece, Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, etc.)

May 21-26  UK: Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Hospital, Chelsea (with attendance from Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne Princess Royal, The Duchess of Gloucester (Birgitte), Prince Edward Duke of Kent, & Princess Alexandra of Kent)

May 22  Sweden: Christening of Princess Estelle @ the Royal/Palace Chapel of the Royal Palace of Stockholm with attendance from King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip & Princess Madeleine

May 24  UK: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, attends a Medals Parade in Sennelager, Germany

May 24-27  Monaco: Formula One Grand Prix, Monte-Carlo

May 25  Jordan:  National Day / Independence Day

May 29  UK: Prince Richard Duke of Gloucester, The Duchess of Gloucester (Birgitte), & Princess Alexandra of Kent attend a Garden Party @ Buckingham Palace

May 30  UK: Princess Anne, Princess Royal, visits Sennelager, Germany

May 30-June 1  Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustaf & Queen Silvia make a State Visit to South Korea

May 31  Norway: Public 75th Birthday Celebrations for King Harald V & Queen Sonja, including a birthday party on the roof of the new opera house in Oslo & a church service in Oslo Cathedral

TBD May 2012  UK: Prince Charles Prince of Wales & The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla) make Official Visit to Canada








ROYAL ROUND BIRTHDAYS + ANNIVERSARIES

May 4:  18th Birthday of Pauline Ducruet  {1994} [daughter of Princess Stephanie of Monaco]

May 8:  25th Birthday of Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain  {1987} [son of King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain]

May 11: 70th Birthday of Princess Irene of Greece + Denmark  {1942} [sister of King Constantine II of Greece & of Queen Sofia of Spain]

May 12: 5th Wedding Anniversary of Hereditary Prince Boris of Montenegro & Hereditary Princess Veronique of Montenegro  {2007}

May 14: 50th Wedding Anniversary of King Juan Carlos I of Spain & Queen Sofia of Spain  {1962}

May 14: 10th Birthday of Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones  {2002} [daughter of David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley (nephew of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain + Northern Ireland]

May 14: 10th Birthday of Isabella van Vollenhoven  {2002} [daughter of Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau (nephew of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands)]

May 15: 55th Birthday of Prince Jean of Luxembourg  {1957, TWIN} [son of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg & brother of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg]

May 15: 55th Birthday of Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein, Princess of Luxembourg  {1957, TWIN} [daughter of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg; sister of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg; wife of Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein]

May 19: 40th Birthday of Prince Alexander of Liechtenstein  {1972} [son of Prince Philipp Erasmus of Liechtenstein (brother of Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein)]

May 20: 45th Birthday of Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece  {1967} [son of King Constantine II of Greece]

May 24: 10th Wedding Anniversary of Princess Martha Louise of Norway & Ari Behn  {2002}




** for more royal events, check-out the calendar to the left or any of the tabs at the top of this blog! **





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