Holidays and Observances:

1: International Labor Day (1 day off). On May 1, 1886, 800,000 workers from all trades and factories throughout the U.S. went on strike in support of the eight-hour workday. In Chicago, many workers and police were killed in the confrontation during the strike. On July 14, 1889, with a proposal by an American delegate, the International Labour Congress in Paris officially adopted May 1 as a workers' holiday and since then May Day has served as a date for international working class solidarity.

3: World Press Freedom Day, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1991 as a day "to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession." Press freedom is considered to be a cornerstone of human rights and a guarantee of other freedoms.

4: Chinese Youth Day, established in December 1949 by the Government Administration Council of China to commemorate the 1919 student demonstration against foreign aggression.

6: World Asthma Day, an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in collaboration with health care groups and asthma educators to raise awareness about asthma and improve asthma care throughout the world. It takes place each year on the first Tuesday in May.

6: Yanu Festival. On the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, the Miao people of south and central China commemorate their hero, Yanu. Major activities include dancing to drum and lusheng (a type of mouth organ), climbing blade ladders and eating glutinous rice.

8: World Red Cross Day.

11: Mother's Day, observed on the second Sunday in May.

12: International Nurses Day, celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth.

15: International Day for Families. This day highlights the importance of families. It aims at fostering equality, bringing about a fuller sharing of domestic responsibilities and employment opportunities. The programs undertaken to commemorate the day, work towards supporting families in the discharge of their functions. They tend to promote the inherent strengths of families, including their great capacity of self-reliance, and stimulate self-sustaining activities.

17: World Telecommunication Day.

18: International Museum Day. It has been celebrated all over the world since 1977, in the spirit of the motto: "Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, co-operation and peace among peoples." The event provides the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public and alert them to the challenges that museums face if they are to be "an institution in the service of society and of its development".

18: National Day for Persons with Disabilities, observed on the third Sunday in May.

20: National Nutrition Day for Students.

22: International Day for Biological Diversity, proclaimed by the United Nations, aims to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

24: Sheep and Horse Festival, celebrated by Miao people with grand gatherings on the days of sheep or horse around the 26th day of the 4th lunar month. Legend has it that during a war at the end of Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), the Miao people used sheep and horses to mislead the enemy and finally won victory. The festival is held to show their reverence for these animals.

31: World No-Tobacco Day. The World Health Organization annually sponsors World No-Tobacco Day to call attention to the seriousness of the impact of tobacco and to promote a tobacco-free environment.