May Calendar Of Events 2025

The following lists cultural, special, and community events that are taking place in May 2024. This should help you to plan and organise upcoming events and celebrations for May 2025.

01st May

• Mindful in May - Mindful in May brings the benefits of meditation together with an opportunity to help bring clean water to those living in the developing world. Your donation and fundraising will be used by Charity Water in its mission to solve the water crisis. When you register and donate, you'll receive a one-month meditation program.
• May Day - It is considered a spring holiday where celebrations include dancing and singing and dancing around a Maypole. 
• Global Love Day - Dedicated to the spreading of love and peace to all mankind, Global Love Day is observed annually on May 1. This day was created by The Love Foundation to encourage unity and celebrate humanity through unconditional love.
• Mother Goose Day - This day is dedicated to the magical and whimsical world of Mother Goose, an iconic figure from children’s literature. It is a celebration of the stories that have delighted generations of children with their imaginative characters and funny rhymes.

02nd May 

• International Harry Potter Day -This date marks the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts from the Harry Potter series and celebrates the magic and impact of J.K. Rowling’s world. 
• World Tuna Day -  Is devoted to bringing issues to light about the importance of tuna conservation.

04th May

• International Star Wars Day - Is called Star Wars Day because of the popularity of a common pun spoken on this day. Since the phrase "May the Force be with you" is a famous quote often spoken in Star Wars films, fans commonly say "May the fourth be with you" on this day. This Day celebrates Star Wars which is a media franchise created by George Lucas.
• International Firefighters Day -  A way to say thank you to the world’s firefighters for all that they do to keep our communities safe.
• World Laughter Day - World Laughter Day is an annual event on May 4th to promote laughter and wellness.

04th - 10th May 

• International Compost Awareness Week - Celebrated annually during the first full week of May and is a time to learn more about composting organic wastes (e.g., landscape wastes and food scraps) as part of fostering healthier soil and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

05th May

• World Portuguese Language Day - Brings together people with the Portuguese language as one of the foundations of their specific identity to celebrate the Portuguese language and Lusophone cultures. 
• Kodomo no Hi - Children's Day Japan - On this national holiday, children are respected and honored for their individual strengths, and happiness is wished upon them.
• African World Heritage Day - Every year on May 5th, African World Heritage Day offers an opportunity for people around the world to celebrate Africa.
• World Hand Hygiene Day - It’s a global campaign to remind people just how important it is to wash their hands properly. Clean hands are the best tools that we have to stop the spread of germs, viruses, and infections.

5th May - 11th May 

• National Family Day Care Week - The purpose of National Family Day Care Week is to recognise and promote the important role family day care educators and services play in the development and well-being of more than 115,000 children across Australia. Get involved today by checking out their website as well as participating in these great lessons.

7th May

• International Tell Your Crush Day - Was hatched out of a simple and honest desire to see more people be open and honest about the world around them.

8th May

• World Red Cross Day - Celebrated on the day the Red Cross founder, Henry Dunant (1828-1910), was born World Red Cross Day celebrates the important work done by the staff and volunteers of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movements.
• Outdoor Classroom Day -It is a global campaign advocating for more time outdoors for children, aiming to improve their health, well-being, and connection to the natural world.
• Iris Day - Belgium - This holiday, which is unique to the region of Brussels, celebrates the flowering time of the iris flower.

11th May 

• World Migratory Bird Day - Was initiated in 2006 and is a global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. On the second weekend of each May, people around the world take action and organise public events such as bird festivals, education programs, and birdwatching excursions to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and to help raise awareness around a specific theme.
• Mother's Day - is the annual celebration of mothers and the hard work they do.

11th - 18th May 

• National Road Safety Week - This week is a reminder of the importance of safety for all our road users because everyone has the right to get home safely.

12th May

• International Nurses Day - Every year International Nurses Day is celebrated on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. It is a day to celebrate the role nurses play in the care of their communities.
• 2587th Birth Anniversary of Gautama Buddha - Buddha's Birthday or Buddha Day (also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, and Buddha Pournami) is a primarily Buddhist festival that is celebrated in most of South, Southeast and East Asia, commemorating the birth of the prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. 

12th May - 18th May

• Food Allergy Awareness Week - Provides a unique opportunity to help raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis. Each of us works in our own way to raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis.
• National Families Week - A time to celebrate with your immediate family, make contact with your extended family and friends and share in the enjoyment of family activities within the wider community. It is a time to celebrate the meaning of family and to make the most of family time.
• UN Global Road Safety Week - Particularly targeted at young drivers, Road Safety Week aims to increase awareness of the dangers present on the roads.

15th May

• International Day of Families - The International Day of Families is an opportunity to raise awareness of issues relating to families in the international community.

16th May 

• National Walk Safely To School Day - Walk Safely to School Day is an annual, national event that encourages all primary school students to walk safely, and commute actively, to school. Now in its fourteenth year, this community event promotes better attitudes to road safety, health, public transport and the environment. Parents and carers are encouraged to walk their children to school on the day.

17th May 

• International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination - The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is observed on 17 May and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide. By 2016, the commemorations had taken place in over 130 countries.

18th May 

• International Museum Day: Museums, Education and Research - Highlight the pivotal role of museums in education and research. Museums across the world will organise events, exhibitions and education programmes under the theme “Museums for Education and Research”.
• World Baking Day - Since 2012, World Baking Day has been observed on the third Sunday in May. The original intent of the day was to make and give away a homemade cake. The day has since evolved into baking and giving away all kinds of baked goods. Our team is still researching who came up with this special food day.

20th May

• World Bee Day - World Bee Day's purpose is to spread awareness of the significance of bees and other pollinators for our survival. It is an excellent opportunity to put bees at the centre of the national conversation for a day and encourage actions that create more bee-friendly landscapes. Find more resources here.
• World Metrology Day - Celebrated on 20 May each year, World Metrology Day raises awareness around the science of measurement and why it matters. 

21st May 

• National Simultaneous Storytime - Is an annual event that aims to engage children of all ages to enjoy books by creating a sense of excitement around reading.
• World Day Of Cultural Diveristy -  Celebrates not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development. 

22nd May 

• Australia's Biggest Morning Tea - May is Australia's biggest Morning Tea month. Thursday 23rd May is the official day but you can host an event anytime throughout May or June. It's simple, fun and best of all for a great cause! All you need to do is set a date, brainstorm some morning tea ideas, invite your guests and raise money to help support the fight against cancer.
• 65 Roses Day - On 65 Roses Day we paint Western Australia with beautiful fresh roses to raise vital funds and awareness for people living with CF, but we need your help to do it! You can support this 65 Roses Day by selling roses in your workplace or school, joining our volunteer team or sending a digital rose to a loved one.

23rd May

• World Turtle Day - For more than 100 million years, marine turtles have covered vast distances across the world's oceans and have been an integral part of tropical coastal ecosystems. Over the past 200 years, human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of these ancient mariners.

26th May

• National Sorry Day - A continuing effort to achieve appropriate education, reconciliation, and recognition for the Aboriginal stolen generation.

27th May - 03rd June

• National Reconciliation Week - National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

31st  May 

• Tuen Ng/ Dragon Boat Festival (Chinese cultural festival)—Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated every year with dragon boat races and rice dumplings.

Please make sure to like/follow our Aussie Childcare Network Facebook page in order to receive events and celebration activity ideas, resources, and documentation templates for child portfolios.

Note: This is to be used as a general guideline only. These dates may be subject to change.