May 2025 Events Celebrations & Special Days
Image Credit: Ilona
Events, celebrations, awareness events, saint's days, annual campaigns, major sporting events - UK and global festivities happening in Britain and around the world in May 2025.
Spring is in full swing, and in May we celebrate May Day, schools break up for half term and we can tuck into a tasty treat for World Biscuit Day!
Here are all of the key dates and events happening this May in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as around the world.
May Day
1st May 2025
May Day is an ancient pagan spring festival, traditionally celebrated across Europe with maypole dancing and the crowning with a floral crown of a May Queen.
– May Day Printable Wordsearch
International Gilbert & Sullivan Day
3rd May 2025
Celebrating the comic operas of Gilbert & Sullivan, on the birthday of the man who brought them together, Richard D'Oyly Carte.
– Gilbert & Sullivan Printable Wordsearch
World Laughter Day
3rd May 2025
The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive manifestation for World Peace and it builds up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter.
Star Wars Day
4th May 2025
A pun on the date 4th May inspired the phrase May The Fourth Be With You. So this day is now known as Star Wars Day, so fans have the perfect excuse to watch their favourite film or spin-off TV series today.
– Star Wars Day Colouring Pictures
Cinco De Mayo
5th May 2025
Celebration of Mexican culture to commemorate the Mexican Army's unlikely victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla. It has now become a more general celebration of Mexican culture.
What Is Cinco De Mayo All About?
– Cinco de Mayo Colouring Picture
May Day Bank Holiday
5th May 2025
Held on the Monday closest to May Day, this day is a Bank Holiday in the UK and Ireland.
Screen-Free Week
5th May to 11th May 2025
Annual event to encourage us to unplug from digital entertainment and spend all that free time playing, reading, daydreaming, creating, exploring, and connecting with family and friends.
How To Take Part In Screen Free Week
National Sun Awareness Week
5th May to 11th May 2025
Organised by the British Association of Dermatologists, the aim of this day is raising awareness of the dangers of excessive sun exposure and how to avoid sunburn and skin cancers.
Tips for Staying Safe in The Sun
– Children's Sun Protection Clothing
– Stay Safe in the Sun Colouring Poster
VE Day 80
8th May 2025
VE Day 80 is the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of VE Day which marked the end of the war in Europe and WWII as a whole on 8th May 1945.
– VE Day 80th Anniversary Colouring Picture
Europe Day
9th May 2025
A day celebrating peace and unity in Europe. It is celebrated by displaying the Flag of Europe and commemorates the founding of the Council of Europe.
National Doughnut Week
10th May to 18th May 2025
National Doughnut Week is a fundraising event in aid of The Children's Trust organised by the baking industry. The Children's Trust is the UK's leading charity for children with brain injury.
Mother's Day (US)
11th May 2025
This is the day when you let your Mom know how much you love her on her special day. Established by Anna Jarvis in 1908, it recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds.
International Nurses Day
12th May 2025
Held on the birthday of Florence Nightingale to mark the contributions that nurses make to society. It is a day to recognise the important role of nurses around the world.
Eurovision Song Contest
13th May to 17th May 2025
Eurovision is an annual internationl celebration of music. The 69th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Basel, Switzerland. It is the 3rd time that Sweden has hosted the contest.
International Day of Families
15th May 2025
A UN designated day to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.
National Children's Day UK
18th May 2025
National Children's Day UK is all about the importance of a healthy childhood and protecting the rights and freedoms of children so that they can grow into happy, healthy adults.
International Museum Day
18th May 2025
A day to raise awareness on the fact that museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.
World Bee Day
20th May 2025
The purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development.
National Numeracy Day
21st May 2025
An annual celebration of the importance of numbers in everyday life and will bring together individuals, employers, educators and influencers to improve numeracy.
International Tea Day
21st May 2025
A UN designated day to take action to promote the sustainable production and consumption of tea and raise awareness of its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.
International Day for Biological Diversity
22nd May 2025
United Nations sponsored international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues, covering a broad spectrum of issues including climate change, sustainability, food security, transport and vulnerable groups including indiginous peoples.
World Turtle Day
23rd May 2025
The aim of World Turtle Day is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.
Africa Day
25th May 2025
The annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963. The day is marked with both speeches by political and social leaders, and concerts featuring cultural entertainment, poetry and speakers.
Towel Day
25th May 2025
In memory of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy author Douglas Adams. To celebrate the writer's life and work fans will openly carry around a towel all day, because a froody person who was really together always knew where their towel was.
Geek Pride Day
25th May 2025
Geek Pride Day is a fun worldwide celebration of geekiness and nerdom. So if you are wildly enthusiastic about something today is the day to tell all your friends about it!
May Half Term
26th May to 30th May 2025
Schools in the UK break up for a week, but do check with your school for individual date variations.
– Things To Do In May Half Term
Late Spring Bank Holiday
26th May 2025
The late spring Bank Holiday, held on the last Monday in May, was originally know as Whit Monday. The Whitsun weekend was traditionally a time for fairs, morris dancing and parades with brass bands.
National Biscuit Day
29th May 2025
A celebration of this tasty treat, whether you regard it as a sweet snack to go with a cup of tea, or a savory addition to a meal.
– Free Printable Biscuit Wordsearch
Oakapple Day
29th May 2025
Also known as Restoration Day, it is a traditional English celebration of the restoration of the monachy in 1660, following the death of Oliver Cromwell.
Here are some more important events that are coming soon.