A Complete Calendar of May Global Holidays 2022

This is a list of all the global holidays in May, 2022. All the global holidays are listed followed by their respective dates. It is a widely held belief that there is a global holiday for every day of the year. This is not true, but there are many global holidays for many days of the year.

A global holiday is a public holiday that is recognized and celebrated in the entire world. These global holidays are either religious or political in nature and are celebrated based on the traditions of the people who observe them. These global holidays are marked with a red background in this list.

The following list shows all the global holidays in May, 2022. These dates will change from year to year, so it is important to check the dates before making any travel plans.

International May Global Holidays List 2022

1. Eid Al Fitr

The Eid al-Fitr holiday celebrates the end of the month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. 

This religious holiday is celebrated by Muslims worldwide, and marks the end of a month of fasting. The private sector, public sector, and government departments typically close to mark Eid, although some essential services may remain open.

• Place of Celebration – UAE, Around the world by muslim community.
• The Reason For Celebration – Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday in Muslim countries that celebrates the end of Ramadan.

2. Hari Raya Puasa

Ramadan is a month of fasting for Muslims. At the end of the month, they celebrate Hari Raya Puasa. This is a joyous occasion where Muslims pray and celebrate with their families. 

The Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Puasa by praying in the mosque, thanking God, and asking for forgiveness from their elders. Hari Raya Puasa is the celebration of the end of the month of Ramadan.

• Place of Celebration – Malaysia, Singapore
• The Reason For Celebration –Hari Raya Puasa is a holiday celebrated by Muslims all over the world. It marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayer.

3. Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a legal holiday observed in the United States on the second Sunday in May. It is celebrated in more than 50 countries, though not all countries celebrate it on the same day. 

Mother's Day is a popular U.S. holiday that is celebrated annually. This year, consumers are expected to spend $21.2 billion on Mother's Day, an increase of 5 percent from last year. Mother's Day is celebrated by exchanging cards and spending time with one's mother.

• Place of Celebration – Around the world
• The Reason For Celebration – Mother's Day is celebrated on different days in different countries. It is celebrated in more than 50 countries, but not all countries celebrate it on the same day.

4. V-E Day

Victory in Europe Day is a national holiday in France and is also celebrated as a holiday in several other countries in Europe. In Ukraine, from 2015, May 8th was designated as a day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, but it is not a public holiday.

• Place of Celebration – Czech Republic, France, French Guiana, Ukraine, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Martin
• The Reason For Celebration – Victory in Europe Day marks the day when the Allies accepted an unconditional surrender from the armed forces of Germany. This day marks the end of World War II in Europe.

5. Europe Day

This day celebrates the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, when the first step was made towards the creation of the European Union. The declaration called for the pooling of coal and steel resources between European nations, in order to prevent future conflict.

• Place of Celebration – Kosovo, Luxembourg
• The Reason For Celebration – This day commemorates the Schuman Declaration in 1950, which was the first step towards the creation of the European Union.

6. Victory Day

On May 9th, Russia and a few other countries celebrate Victory Day, which marks the day after Nazi Germany surrendered to the Soviets. This holiday marks the end of World War II in Europe. Countries in Western Europe may mark the victory on May 8th.

• Place of Celebration – Russia
• The Reason For Celebration – This sculpture commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany and the end of the Second World War. The sculpture is made of metal and is located in Moscow, Russia.

7. General Prayer Day

Store Bededag is a special Danish festival celebrated on the fourth Friday after Easter Sunday. It is a collection of minor Christian holy days consolidated into one day.

• Place of Celebration – Denmark, Faroe Islands, Greenland
• The Reason For Celebration – Great Prayer Day is a day where Christians commemorate a number of minor Christian holy days.

8. Wesak Day

Wesak Day is a holiday celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. It commemorates the birth of the Buddha, and falls on the Sunday nearest to the full moon in May.

• Place of Celebration – Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia
• The Reason For Celebration – The Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and achieved Nirvana.

9. Orthodox St Cyril and Methodius Day

This day is celebrated in Bulgaria to commemorate Bulgarian Education and Culture, and Slavonic Literature Day. It is also a public holiday in Macedonia.

• Place of Celebration – Bulgaria, North Macedonia
• The Reason For Celebration – Cyril and Methodius were missionaries from the Slavic region who came to Great Moravia in the 860s. They converted the locals to Christianity, and developed an alphabet and system of writing for the Slavic language.

10. African Unity Day

Africa Day is a day to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on May 25th, 1963. It is a public holiday in several countries in Africa and provides an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of the peoples and governments of Africa.

• Place of Celebration – Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Mauritania, Mali, Ghana
• The Reason For Celebration – The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was founded on May 25th, 1963 to promote solidarity and cooperation among African countries. The OAU was dissolved in 2002 and replaced by the African Union (AU).

11. Ascension Day

People in some countries celebrate Ascension Day by taking the Friday after it as a holiday. This four-day weekend is created by the date of Ascension Day, which always falls on a Thursday, and the date of Easter, which changes every year. The earliest possible date for Ascension Friday is May 1st and the latest possible date is June 4th. 

Some people in England believe that if it is sunny on Ascension Day, it will be a warm summer; but if it rains, it will be a poor harvest. In Sweden people go into the woods very early in the morning to hear the birds sing. It is said to be good luck if a cuckoo is heard from the east or west.

• Place of Celebration – Belgium, Denmark, Sweden
• The Reason For Celebration – Friday after Ascension is often given as a holiday to form a long weekend.

12. Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a holiday in the United States that is observed on the last Monday of May. This Federal holiday closures schools, libraries, and most federal and state offices. It is seen as the unofficial start of summer, and is often celebrated with outdoor events and picnics.

• Place of Celebration – American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, USA
• The Reason For Celebration – Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have died while serving in the military.