May Observances
Vesak
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Older Americans Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 16: Malcolm X Day
May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 
May 25: African Liberation Day or African Freedom Day
May 26: Memorial Day
May 29: Solemnity of Ascension - Christianity

Vesak – Buddhism
Vesak is one of the most important Buddhist festivals. It is also known as Wesak or Buddha Day. In 2025, it will be celebrated on Monday, May 12th.  Vesak commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha and is a public holiday in many Southeast Asian countries. The holiday is celebrated annually on the first full moon of May. 

The origins of Vesak are not known, but according to Buddhist tradition, the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha all occurred on the full moon day of Vesakha month (the fourth month of the lunar calendar, which commonly falls in April, May, or June)—earliest records of the holiday date back to the 5th-6th centuries CE. In the 19th century, facing the threat of imposed Christian assimilation, Buddhism in Southeast Asia experienced a revival movement to instill a positive identity and pride among Buddhists. The revivalists transformed the holiday into the most prominent Buddhist celebration, with songs, cards, presents, parades, and lights. 

Each Buddhist culture has its daily traditions, but Vesak is an officially recognized international holiday. Many across Asia, including Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Singapore, still celebrate the revived version of Vesak, comparable to a “Buddhist Christmas.” An estimated 1% of adults in New York practice Buddhism, and Vesak is celebrated in the city with Buddhist services and other observances. In general, the holiday is commemorated by celebrants through various acts of goodwill, such as gifting food or alms to monks or releasing captive birds.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is celebrated annually throughout May in the United States. It highlights the history, heritage, and contributions of Asian Pacific American communities. The theme of 2025’s observance is “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience.” The month honors the crucial role that those of AANHPI descent have played in the country’s history, including contributions to equal rights, government & law, military history, cultural contributions; the month also brings light to the issues still affecting AANHPI people today. 

AANHPI Heritage Month was first designated in 1977, and celebrated initially during only the first 10 days in May. In 1990, Congress passed an amendment that expanded the recognition period to the entire month. In 1991, May 7th and May 10th were officially recognized as significant days of importance to the AANHPI community – on May 7th, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States; on May 10th, 1869, the first transcontinental railroad in the country was completed with significant contributions from Chinese pioneers. 

AANHPI Heritage Month is celebrated across the United States and within various institutions, including national parks, museums, the military, at sporting events, and within local communities. Food festivals, parades, art shows, markets, educational events, and other events occur throughout May. In New York City, celebrants can join the Japan Parade and Street Festival, enjoy shows at the Asian Comedy Festival, explore predominantly Asian neighborhoods like Chinatown and Flushing, attend programs hosted by the New York Public Library, and support the city’s host of AANHPI-owned businesses. 

Older Americans Month 
Older Americans Month, observed annually in May, is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of older adults to society, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to serving them.

When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty, and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing. A meeting in April 1963 between President John F. Kennedy and National Council of Senior Citizens members led to the designation of May as “Senior Citizens Month,” the prelude to “Older Americans Month.”

The 2025 theme, Flip the Script on Aging, focuses on transforming how society perceives, talks about, and approaches aging. It encourages individuals and communities to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions. Older Americans Month is celebrated nationwide through ceremonies, events, fairs, and other activities. One of the premier events is Older New Yorkers’ Day, scheduled for May 27, 2025, and hosted by the New York State Office for the Aging. This in-person event will occur at the Crowne Plaza Hotel–Desmond in Albany. The ceremony honors older adults nationwide for their exceptional volunteer service and dedication to community enrichment. Attendees can expect heartfelt stories, networking opportunities, and inspiration for future civic engagement.

Jewish American Heritage Month 
Every year, by Presidential Proclamation, May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) in recognition of the indelible contributions American Jews have made, and continue to make, to our nation’s history, culture, and society.

This national celebration shows how this history deserves our collective attention, pride, and recognition each year. JAHM was established in 2006 by President George W. Bush to honor Jewish Americans' contributions and achievements and educate all Americans.

Today, approximately 7.6 million Jewish Americans make up roughly 2.4% of the U.S. population, approximately a quarter of that number estimated to live in the New York City metropolitan area. New York City has the second-largest Jewish population of any city in the world, behind only Tel Aviv, Israel.

Events celebrating JAHM in New York City include film screenings, book discussions, lectures, and performances at institutions like The New York Public Library and The Jewish Community Relations Council.

May 5: Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862, victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day falls on Monday, May 5, 2025, and is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. The victory at Puebla was a significant morale boost for the Mexican army and people.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with substantial Mexican American populations. In 2005, Congress officially declared observance of Cinco de Mayo.

In Mexico, historical reenactments are held annually in the central city of Puebla to commemorate the victory. Participants dress as Mexican and French troops, and as Zacapoaxtlas — the Indigenous and farmer contingent that helped Mexican forces win. New York celebrates Cinco de Mayo with an annual parade, street fairs, food vendors, and live music. 

May 16: Malcolm X Day
Malcolm X Day is observed annually on either May 19th or the third Friday in May to commemorate Malcolm X’s birthday. Malcolm X was a Black American revolutionary, Muslim minister, and human rights activist who played a crucial role in America’s civil rights movement. X rose from a background of poverty, crime, and drug use to become one of the most recognizable leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. He championed unity, the enfranchisement and advancement of Black people in America, and a radical revitalization of Pan-Africanist culture. He was assassinated in 1965 at the age of 39.

Malcolm X Day was first celebrated in Washington, DC, in 1972, but had been celebrated in places like Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, at least as early as 1969. In the spirit of X’s teachings, early celebrations were rallies that focused on key issues affecting the African Diaspora, including employment, education, drug addiction, and housing. These community-based celebrations included music performances, art displays, markets, dancing, food, and outreach to those struggling with housing insecurity and addiction. Early gatherings ranged from 30,000 to 50,000 attendees. 

2025 marks 100 years since Malcolm X's birth. The day is celebrated widely across the United States with marches, parties, cookouts, cultural festivals, and speeches that channel Malcolm X’s commitment to Black American unity. In New York City, various events will be held across multiple neighborhoods and within different institutions, including a poetry showcase hosted by the Parks & Recreation Department, speeches by city council members, community discussions, and New School art installations.

May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is observed annually on May 17th. This international day highlights the hard-won progress towards equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community and brings attention to the long road ahead. IDAHOBIT was created in 2004 to draw attention to the discrimination experienced by those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

IDAHOBIT was first observed in 2004. May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s 1990 decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. The initiative is now collectively managed between regional and thematic communities working to advance the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. The collaboration brings together both regional and global networks. 

Today, IDAHOBIT is celebrated around the world, particularly in Europe and South America. In more than 130 countries, including 27 in which being LGBTQIA+ is criminalized, thousands of initiatives are reported. Everyday actions include marches, parades, and street festivals. Arts and culture-based celebrations are also common. This year’s observance theme is “The power of communities.” IDAHOBIT’s organizing body does not define the day as a centralized campaign; rather, it is “a shared moment for communities and allies driving change around the world to take action in ways that resonate with their specific context and reflect their realities and priorities.”

May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is a United Nations-sanctioned day of observance that aims to highlight the richness of the world’s cultures and the role of cultural exchange in promoting peace and development. Celebrated annually on May 21, the day allows us to deepen our understanding of cultural diversity's values and advance sustainability goals, cross-cultural understanding, and the mobility of artists and cultural professionals.

Established during the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Cultural Diversity Expressions, the day maintains four distinct goals: supporting sustainable systems for the governance of culture; achieving a balanced flow of cultural goods and services; integrating culture into the frameworks of sustainable development; and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms. 

In observance of the day, we can spread awareness of cultural diversity and celebrate it within our organizations. Celebrating and nurturing diversity in the workplace and our lives can help us lead more intellectually, spiritually, and morally fulfilling lives. On and around May 21st, cultural diversity events are held worldwide, including concerts, educational seminars, workshops, and art exhibitions. In New York City, a few weeks after the date, the 16th annual NYC Multicultural Festival will be held, with events like dancing, open mics, theatre, art exhibitions, markets, and food festivals across all five boroughs.

May 25: African Liberation Day or African Freedom Day 
African Liberation Day (ALD) was established on May 25th, 1963, by the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) to mark the founding of the OAU and commemorate the collective struggle for independence and liberation from colonial rule across the African continent. However, its roots stretch back to 1958, when African leaders and activists, including Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, held the first Conference of Independent African States, advocating for unity, sovereignty, and anti-imperialism.

In the United States, Pan-African organizations, Black liberation groups, and cultural institutions have observed ALD to promote awareness of African struggles, diaspora solidarity, and systemic injustice. In NYC, events typically include rallies, educational panels, film screenings, performances, and community festivals. The Harlem African Center often hosts celebrations that blend art, culture, music, and activism. Other grassroots organizations hold gatherings in public parks or community centers, emphasizing resistance, empowerment, and global unity themes. 

Though not a federally recognized holiday in the U.S., African Liberation Day holds symbolic importance in Black and African communities, especially in cities with significant diasporic populations. In New York, it serves as a platform for political dialogue, cultural pride, and collective remembrance of historical movements and ongoing struggles against neocolonialism, racism, and economic inequality. 

May 26: Memorial Day 
Memorial Day originated as “Decoration Day” in 1868 when General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic called for a National Day of Remembrance to honor soldiers who died during the Civil War. Over time, the holiday broadened to honor all American military personnel who have died in service. In 1971, Congress established Memorial Day as a federal holiday to be observed on the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend associated with the unofficial start of summer.

Throughout the U.S., the holiday is marked by solemn traditions such as placing American flags on soldiers’ graves, holding ceremonies, and pausing for a national moment of silence at 3 p.m. Eastern time.

Several events in New York are held to honor the fallen, including the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade in Bay Ridge – one of the oldest in the nation - a longstanding tradition featuring veterans, marching bands, and community groups. There are also wreath-laying ceremonies at war memorials like the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Riverside Park, and services aboard the USS Intrepid, a retired aircraft carrier turned museum docked on the Hudson River. A parade from Madison Square Park up Fifth Avenue culminates in a ceremony at the Eternal Light Monument in Central Park, honoring the fallen.

Backyard barbecues, parades, and patriotic displays also characterize Memorial Day weekend. While these celebrations may seem festive, their deeper purpose is to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. New Yorkers often blend leisure and tribute, attending public ceremonies before heading to parks, beaches, or hosting gatherings with friends and family. 

May 29: Solemnity of Ascension - Christianity
The Solemnity of the Ascension marks the day Christians believe Jesus Christ physically ascended into heaven, 40 days after Easter. It signifies the beginning of the Church's mission. While not a public holiday in the U.S., it remains a major feast day for Catholics and many mainline Protestant denominations. In the Archdiocese of New York, it is one of the few dioceses that retains the traditional Thursday celebration (instead of moving it to Sunday), maintaining its liturgical importance.

In New York, many Catholic churches host multiple Masses daily to accommodate working parishioners. St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown draws large crowds, including tourists, with special choral music and incense-filled liturgies. St. Ignatius Loyola on the Upper East Side and Church of the Blessed Sacrament on the Upper West Side also mark the day with reverent, musically rich services, often featuring organ preludes and gospel readings centered on Acts 1 and Luke 24. These services emphasize themes of hope, spiritual mission, and divine presence.

Beyond Catholic parishes, Episcopal and Lutheran churches in the city, such as Trinity Church Wall Street and St. Paul’s Chapel, may hold contemplative services or Evensong to commemorate the Ascension. While smaller Protestant congregations may focus more on Sunday observances, some still hold Thursday prayer meetings or Bible studies reflecting on the Ascension’s meaning. Though the celebration is more subdued and spiritual than public or festive, it offers a reflective pause in the city’s rhythm – a moment for believers to gather in a solemn community and mark the transition from Easter joy to Pentecost anticipation.