May is the 5th month of the year and has 31 days. The name most likely honors Maia, a Roman goddess tied to growth and the fertile earth — appropriate for a month when the Northern Hemisphere is in full bloom. It’s one of the few month names not derived from a number or a Caesar.
How many days does May have?
Thirty-one, and it never varies. May is one of seven 31-day months; see the months of the year list for the pattern.
What season is May?
In the Northern Hemisphere, May is late spring tipping toward summer — warm days, long light, gardens and farms at their most active. In the Southern Hemisphere it’s late autumn, with the first real cold of the year arriving.
What quarter is May in?
May is the middle month of the second quarter (Q2), April through June.
May holidays and observances
- International Workers’ Day / May Day on May 1 in many countries
- Cinco de Mayo on May 5
- Mother’s Day in the US and many other countries, on the second Sunday
- Memorial Day in the United States, on the last Monday
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month runs the full month in the US
May at a glance
The birthstone is emerald, the traditional flowers are the lily of the valley and hawthorn, and the zodiac moves from Taurus into Gemini around May 21. The month sits between April and June. For the current month, see what month is it.
May by the numbers
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Days in the month | 31 |
| Day of the year on May 1 | 121 (122 in a leap year) |
| Day of the year on May 31 | 151 (152 in a leap year) |
| Share of the year finished by the end of May | about 41.4% |
| Days left in the year after May 31 | 214 |
| May 1, 2026 falls on | Friday |
| May 1, 2027 falls on | Saturday |
Because February 29 comes earlier in the year, every day in May has a day number one higher in a leap year. To find the day number of any date by hand, add up the days in the months before it and then add the date: May 15 is 120 + 15 = 135 in a common year. The day of the year tool works it out for any date.
May 2026 calendar
May 2026 starts on a Friday and ends on a Sunday. Federal holidays (as observed) are in bold.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |
Key dates in May 2026 and 2027
| Date | Day | Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2026 | Sunday | Mother’s Day | |
| May 25, 2026 | Monday | Memorial Day | federal holiday |
| May 9, 2027 | Sunday | Mother’s Day | |
| May 31, 2027 | Monday | Memorial Day | federal holiday |
Business days in May
| Month | Weekdays | Federal holidays on weekdays | Business days |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | 21 | 1 | 20 |
| May 2027 | 21 | 1 | 20 |
Business days here are Monday to Friday minus observed US federal holidays. State holidays and company closures can lower the count further.