Pagans celebrate Beltane on May 1st with maypole dances symbolizing the sacred marriage of Goddess and God. Several other religious events are commemorated in May including Guru Arjan Dev's birthday in Sikhism on May 2nd, Jerusalem Day for Jews on May 12th, Ascension Day for Christians on May 13th marking Jesus' ascension to heaven, and the first day of Shavuot for Jews on May 19th marking the first harvest. Buddhist, Bahai, Christian, and Orthodox Christian holy days are also observed at the end of May including Buddha Day, the Ascension of Baha'u'llah, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, and All Saints' Day.

1. Religious Events May 2010
Pagans celebrate Beltane with maypole dances,
symbolizing the mystery of the Sacred Marriage of
Goddess and God.
Saturday 1 May
Pagan – Beltane

2. Religious Events May 2010
Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606) was the
fifth of the Sikh Gurus
Sunday 2 May
Sikh – Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev
Jewish – Lag B’Omer
A minor holiday on the 33rd day of the Omer
commemorating a break in the plague during the
lifetime of Rabbi Akiva.

3. Religious Events May 2010
Jerusalem Day
Wednesday 12 May
Jewish – Yom Yerushalayim

4. Religious Events May 2010
Ascension Day marks the last earthly
appearance of Christ after his
resurrection. Christians believe Christ
ascended into heaven. It is celebrated 40
days after Easter.
Thursday 13 May
Christian – Ascension Day

5. Religious Events May 2010
Shavuot is a two-day festival that marks
the time when the first harvest was taken
to the Temple. Also known as the Festival
of Weeks. Work is not permitted for the
duration of the festival.
Wednesday 19 May
Jewish – Shavuot (1st
day)

6. Religious Events May 2010
The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the
descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the
birth of the Christian Church.
Sunday 23 May
Christian – Pentecost - Whitsun
Bahai – Declaration of the Bab
The Bab was the Forerunner of Baha'u'llah, founder of
the Baha'i faith. His mission was to prepare the world
for the coming of Baha'u'llah and he declared it in the
evening of May 22 1844.

7. Religious Events May 2010
The most important of the Buddhist
festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's
birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also
marks his enlightenment and death.
Thursday 27 May
Buddhist – Buddha Day

8. Religious Events May 2010
Anniversary of Baha'u'llah's death in in
1892 near Akka, Israel.
Saturday 29 May
Bahai – Ascension of Baha’U’llah

9. Religious Events May 2010
The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians
meditate on the nature of God as "Three in one".
Sunday 30 May
Christian – Trinity Sunday
Christian – All Saints’ Day (Orthodox)
This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of
the Christian church. Western churches celebrate All
Saints Day on November 1.

10. Religious Events May 2010
The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians
meditate on the nature of God as "Three in one".
Sunday 30 May
Christian – Trinity Sunday
Christian – All Saints’ Day (Orthodox)
This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of
the Christian church. Western churches celebrate All
Saints Day on November 1.