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May16
Beltane is one of the eight sabbats in the Pagan and Wiccan Wheel of the Year, marking the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Celebrated on May 1 in the Northern Hemisphere, Beltane honors the arrival of summer and the fullness of life returning to the earth. The festival celebrates fertility, growth, and the renewal of the natural world, and traditionally honors the sacred union of the god and goddess, which brings new life to the land.
The Twelfth Day of Ridván marks the final day Bahá’u’lláh spent in the Garden of Ridván (meaning “Paradise” in Arabic) in Baghdad in 1863, before departing for Constantinople. It was during this twelve-day period that Bahá’u’lláh declared His mission as a Messenger of God to His followers.
Lag B’Omer falls on the 33rd day of the Omer, the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot in the Jewish calendar. The day celebrates the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the great sage and mystic who authored the Zohar, the foundational text of Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah).
Feast of the Ascension of Jesus (May 14 [Catholic/Protestant] and May 21 [Eastern Orthodox]): The Feast of the Ascension, also known as Ascension Day, is a Christian holy day commemorating the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. According to Christian tradition, this event took place in the presence of His eleven apostles forty days after His resurrection.
Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks, is one of the three Pilgrimage Festivals in Judaism. Falling exactly seven weeks after Passover, Shavuot commemorates the revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai and also marks the wheat harvest in the Land of Israel.
![Beltane is one of the eight sabbats in the Pagan and Wiccan Wheel of the Year, marking the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Celebrated on May 1 in the Northern Hemisphere, Beltane honors the arrival of summer and the fullness of life returning to the earth. The festival celebrates fertility, growth, and the renewal of the natural world, and traditionally honors the sacred union of the god and goddess, which brings new life to the land.
The Twelfth Day of Ridván marks the final day Bahá’u’lláh spent in the Garden of Ridván (meaning “Paradise” in Arabic) in Baghdad in 1863, before departing for Constantinople. It was during this twelve-day period that Bahá’u’lláh declared His mission as a Messenger of God to His followers.
Lag B’Omer falls on the 33rd day of the Omer, the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot in the Jewish calendar. The day celebrates the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the great sage and mystic who authored the Zohar, the foundational text of Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah).
Feast of the Ascension of Jesus (May 14 [Catholic/Protestant] and May 21 [Eastern Orthodox]): The Feast of the Ascension, also known as Ascension Day, is a Christian holy day commemorating the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. According to Christian tradition, this event took place in the presence of His eleven apostles forty days after His resurrection.
Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks, is one of the three Pilgrimage Festivals in Judaism. Falling exactly seven weeks after Passover, Shavuot commemorates the revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai and also marks the wheat harvest in the Land of Israel.](https://diversity.uconn.edu/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican military’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. While often celebrated in the United States, the holiday is not widely observed in Mexico, and it is frequently confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo is too often reduced to a drinking holiday, which can lead to cultural appropriation and reinforce negative stereotypes about Mexicans and Mexican Americans. A more meaningful way to honor the day is reading the real story about the holiday and to support Mexican-owned businesses in your community.
Mother’s Day (May 10): In the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. The holiday was created in 1908 by Anna Jarvis to honor the sacrifices mothers make for their children, and it became a federal holiday in 1914 under President Woodrow Wilson.
At UConn, the Moms4Moms affinity group supports mothers who are employed or enrolled at the university while also welcoming those who identify with or support the experience of motherhood and caregiving.
For all mothers and mothers at heart, thank you for your care and kindness. For those who have lost a child, lost a mother, or are yearning to be a mother, we see you and honor you.
Memorial Day (May 25): Memorial Day originated as a day for families and friends to visit and decorate the graves of loved ones lost during the American Civil War. Congress designated the last Monday in May as an official federal holiday in 1971 to honor all who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States.
UConn honors members of the military and their families. Because Memorial Day falls after the spring semester has ended, the Office of Veterans Affairs and Military Programs (VAMP) will not be holding a UConn-specific event but encourages everyone to attend an event in their community to remember and mourn the U.S. military members who have died while serving our country.
Teacher Appreciation Week recognizes the educators who shape lives, inspire curiosity, and empower students every day. First established in 1984 by the National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), and in 1985, the National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly voted to make National Teacher Day the Tuesday of the first full week of May each year, establishing it as a permanent national observance. National Teacher Appreciation Day falls on May 5 this year, with National Black Teachers Day on May 7.
At UConn, the Neag School of Education prepares the next generation of educators through its nationally ranked teacher preparation programs, training teachers who promote equity and excellence in classrooms across Connecticut and beyond. UConn’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) supports faculty and instructors university-wide through consultations, professional development, and the annual University Teaching Awards.
May 5 is recognized as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S). The date honors Hanna Harris, a 21-year-old woman of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe who went missing and was later found murdered in 2013. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Indigenous women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average in some areas, and an estimated 4 out of 5 Native women experience some form of violence in their lifetime. May is also recognized more broadly as MMIWG2S Awareness Month.
In the United States, the week leading up to International Nurses Day is National Nurses Week. This week aims to celebrate the profession and promote understanding and appreciation of the invaluable contributions nurses make to our society. This year’s theme is “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” highlighting the vital role of the nursing workforce in improving health outcomes and delivering trusted, person-centered care that can transform health systems and address our world’s biggest health challenges.
