If you've ever wished you didn't have to go to sleep when the sun goes down, head to North Cape in Norway. Between May 14 and July 30 each year, the sun never sets below the horizon, and it is genuinely 24 hours of sunshine. North Cape is the northernmost town in Europe and is well inside the Arctic Circle.

Africa

May

Scripps National Spelling Bee: May 28-30

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The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the largest and oldest educational promotion in the United States. Not-for-profit, it was created by the E.W. Scripps Company and sponsored by people and organizations in the United States, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Europe, the Bahamas, Canada, Japan, and others.

The Spelling Bee aims to raise students' spelling abilities, vocabulary, and learning. This event first ran in 1925.

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May

Bucket's Got a Hole Day: May 30

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The Bucket’s Got a Hole Day, or the National Hole in a Bucket Day, is a day that honors the children’s song “There’s a Hole in my Bucket.” The song originated in 18th century Germany and told the story of Henry and Liza conversing back and forth about Henry’s leaking bucket, which he needs to fix if he can carry water. It’s a circular argument and a popular children’s rhyme today.

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May

Corpus Christi (C): May 30

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Christians celebrate Corpus Christi, or "Feast of the Body of Christ," annually on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday. It is a holy day solemnly commemorating the receiving of the Holy Eucharist (communion). The feast was first practiced in 1306 in Cologne and was introduced in England from Belgium between 1320 and 1325. The feast is also known in the Orthodox churches of the Syrians, Armenians, Copts, Melchites, and Ruthenians of Galicia, Calabria, and Sicily.

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May

Loomis Day: May 30

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WIRELESS WONDER DR LOOMIS

Dr. Mahlon Loomis (July 21, 1826 – October 13, 1886) was an American inventor and dentist who tapped into wireless technology with his inventions. Based on the first known wireless aerial communication in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1866, Loomis received Letters Patent No. 129,971 on July 30, 1872. His invention improved telegraphing by allowing for wireless message transmission. This was three decades prior to Marconi's experiments and years before his 1874 birth.

EARLY YEARS

Born in Fulton County, NY, in 1826 to an intellectually prominent family, Loomis was a dentist and inventor. His experimentation in Virginia's mountains involved two kites equipped with a vertical antenna and a spark gap transmitter, establishing communication over a distance of 14 to 18 miles. This early success in using radio waves predated and arguably outdid Marconi's initial efforts, who in 1895 managed a wireless signal over just 1.5 miles.

STRUGGLE WITH CAPITAL

Despite his pioneering work, Loomis's contributions to radio are lesser known, primarily due to his financial hardships. Unlike Marconi, who benefitted from robust financial backing in Britain, Loomis struggled economically. His attempts to secure U.S. government funding were thwarted by slow legislative processes and the financial crises of the 1870s, including the Panic of 1873 that triggered a severe depression. This highlights the crucial role of financial support in the advancement and recognition of technological innovation.

Loomis's life, dotted with other inventive efforts—from patented porcelain false teeth to electrical thermostat improvements—reflects a spirited pursuit of innovation, albeit without lasting commercial success. His ideas around telegraphy, while not fully realized in his lifetime, laid the necessary groundwork for wireless communication.

LYNCHBURG'S PRIDE

Contrasting these figures, Lynchburg, where Loomis conducted his experiments, emerged as a hub of innovation in various industries. Post-Loomis, the city was notable for pioneering efforts such as the Bonsack machine for cigarette manufacturing in 1881, innovations in funeral service logistics, and the creation of Chapstick by Dr. Charles Browne Fleet, a local pharmacist. These historical footnotes underscore Lynchburg's role in fostering inventiveness beyond Loomis's work.

While Marconi is celebrated with a Nobel Prize for his contributions to wireless telegraphy, remembering Loomis is essential for a complete understanding of the field's early days. His experiments predated and anticipated the technological strides that would later revolutionize communication worldwide. Loomis's story is a poignant reminder of how financial backing can shape the trajectory of technological advancement and public recognition in the annals of history.

This event was created by Robert L Birch, who passed away in 2005.

Africa

May

Multiple Sclerosis Day, World: May 30

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World MS Day is a global awareness campaign designed to unite the MS community, raise awareness of the effects of multiple sclerosis and support the families and loved ones of those afflicted. This event first ran in 2009.

Africa

May

Saint Joan of Arc Feast Day (1431): May 30

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Joan of Arc was a teenage girl who led a French army against the English, who were invading. She is said to have visions from God and thus inspired an entire army of men to follow, not just a woman, but a young girl into battle. She was captured, tried for heresy, and burned alive in 1431. In 1456, she was proclaimed innocent, and in 1920, she was canonized as a saint. Her feast day falls on the anniversary of her death, May 30, 1431. She was only nineteen. WHY SO MANY FEAST DAYS? Have you ever noticed that there seem to be feast days for just about everything in the Catholic and Orthodox Christian faiths? There is a reason for that. The church granted feast days to allow all subjects of the Crown to take a day off. As most worked six days a week, feast days provided a break that landowners and nobility couldn't deny. If they tried, they were going against the church, and that you did not do. In medieval times, there were approximately 60 feast days a year. Add this to 52 Sundays, Christmas, and Easter, and workers received a minimum of 114 days off a year. Contrast that to today. The average American gets 104 weekend days and seven national holidays off work. That's three days less than the commoners of the Dark Ages, just in case you're feeling a little overworked.

Africa

May

Water a Flower Day: May 30

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Water a Flower Day is one of many miscellaneous events that popped up online at some time. It is as the title suggests. Check your plants and make sure they have water. That is all you need to do to celebrate this day.

Africa

May

65 Roses Month (AU): May

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Each May, Australia observes 65 Roses Month, focusing on Cystic Fibrosis (CF) in Australia to highlight the growing need for awareness about cystic fibrosis (CF). The last Friday is 65 Roses Day. Children with cystic fibrosis call the disease 65 Roses because it is easier to pronounce (like when a child says ‘butter footed’ instead of ‘barefooted.’The name stuck and is now the official terminology for Cystic Fibrosis. Throughout May in Australia, volunteers and people with CF and their families unite to help shine a spotlight on what CF is and the progress made toward a cure. The United States also observes Cystic Fibrosis Month in May. Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that: Cystic Fibrosis clogs the lungs, leads to life-threatening lung infections, obstructs the pancreas, and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. In the 1950s, few children with Cystic Fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s, and beyond. The symbol of Cystic Fibrosis is 65 roses.

Africa

May

ALS Awareness Month: May

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ALS Awareness Month in the United States occurs each year in May. Its purpose is to bring awareness to the disease and help raise funds to find a cure. ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is neurodegenerative. This fatal disease affects the nerve cells (motor neurons) that control a person’s muscles. As neurons deteriorate, the brain loses the ability to start and control voluntary muscle movement. It is why people with ALS often lose the ability to speak: the disease slowly paralyzes its victims, eventually taking away the ability to breathe. ALS was first discovered in 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot. It would be another 70 years before most people heard of the disease. In 1939 Lou Gehrig ended his career due to it. Lou Gehrig was a professional baseball player from 1923-1939. He died of ALS in 1941, just 17 days shy of his 39th birthday. Today, there is still no cure for the cruel disease that took his name — and life.

Africa

May

Arthritis Awareness Month, Ntl.: May

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The Arthritis Foundation sponsors National Arthritis Awareness Month each May. Though most people associate arthritis with aging, it affects all ages. Two-thirds of people with arthritis are under 65, and some of the most severe forms of arthritis occur in teenagers or people in their 20s and 30s. Arthritis Awareness Month is a multi-year campaign geared at debunking the myths of arthritis. It includes The Faces of Arthritis campaign featuring public service ads focusing on the harsh realities of arthritis and dispelling the common stereotypes often associated with the disease. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States and affects 50 million people, 20 percent of the population or one in five adults. “Arthritis is common, costly and painful, and people think that there is nothing you can do about it. Misconceptions around the disease contribute to millions living with arthritis pain and the persistent attitude of complacency toward the disease and its impact,” says Arthritis Foundation Vice President of Public Health Policy and Advocacy, Dr. Patience White. The United Kingdom has an arthritis care awareness week in mid-May, and Canada has set aside September as its arthritis awareness month. The US Arthritis Foundation also sponsors Juvenal Arthritis Month in July.

Africa

May

Asian & Pacific Islander American Heritage Month: May

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On October 14, 2009, President Obama signed an executive order that restored the White House Initiative and President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to address issues concerning the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was first declared by President Roosevelt in 1942 following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The following is an excerpt from his speech: "… America's AAPI communities, we're talking about the industry and entrepreneurship of people who've helped build this nation for centuries: from the early days, as laborers on our railroads and farmers tilling our land, to today, as leaders in every sector of American life, from business to science to academia, law and more. We're talking about the creative energies of musicians like the singers Penn Masala -- we appreciate them -- who performed today. And we're talking about the competitive spirit of athletes like Wat Misaka, who played for the New York Knicks in 1947—the first non-white player in the NBA -- and who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Mr. Misaka is here as well today and—where's Mr. Misaka? There he is. Thank you so much. (Applause.) We're talking about the public service of leaders like Secretaries Gary Locke, Steven Chu, Eric Shinseki, and the folks on stage with me today. And we're talking about the courage, patriotism, and sacrifice of heroes like the 442nd Regimental Combat Team members who served in World War II, including Terry Shima. Please give him a big round of applause. (Applause.) Mr. Shima is the Executive Director of the Japanese American Veterans Association, and we are grateful that he took the time to be here today. Some of their families had been interned, and some interned themselves. But they still insisted on fighting for America and went on to become the most highly decorated unit of their size in history. And one regiment member, Private Jake Kirihara, whose parents were held in a camp here in America while he fought overseas, later said: '… even though this wrong was done to us, there was never any question whether America was my country. If America needed me to help, I'll do it.' So this proud tradition of service continues today in Iraq and Afghanistan and worldwide, carried on by folks like Tammy Duckworth, my dear friend who's here today. (Applause.) Tammy is a decorated member of our National Guard, a passionate advocate for our wounded warriors, and is now serving as our Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Veterans Affairs Department. I'm proud to have her on board and pleased she could join us today. And on a personal note, when I talk about America's AAPI communities, I'm talking about my own family: my sister, Maya; my brother-in-law, Konrad; my beautiful nieces, Suhaila and Savita; and the folks I grew up with in Indonesia, and in Honolulu, as part of the Hawaiian Ohana, or family. Our AAPI communities have roots that span the globe, but they embody a rich diversity and a story of striving and success that are uniquely American. But focusing on all of these achievements doesn't tell the whole story, and that's part of why we're here. It's tempting, given the strengths of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, for us to buy into the myth of the 'model minority' and to overlook the very real challenges that certain Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are facing: from health disparities like higher rates of diabetes and Hepatitis B; to educational disparities that still exist in some communities—high dropout rates, low college enrollment rates; to economic disparities—higher rates of poverty in some communities, and barriers to employment and workplace advancement in others. Some Asian American and Pacific Islanders, particularly new Americans and refugees, still face language barriers. Others have been victims of unthinkable hate crimes, particularly in the months after September 11 -- crimes driven by ignorance and prejudice that affronts everything this nation stands for. And then there are the disparities we don't even know about because our data collection methods still aren't up to par. Too often, Asian American and Pacific Islanders are all lumped into one category, so we don't have accurate numbers reflecting the challenges of each community. Smaller communities, in particular, can get lost, their needs and concerns buried in a spreadsheet. And that's why I'm signing this executive order today, reestablishing the advisory commission and White House initiative created by President Clinton 10 years ago. Because when any of our citizens—(applause)—when any of our citizens are unable to fulfill their potential due to factors that have nothing to do with their talent, character, or work ethic, then I believe there's a role for our government to play. Not to guarantee anybody's success or to solve everybody's problems, but to ensure that we're living up to our nation's ideals, to ensure that we can each pursue our version of happiness and that we continue to be a nation where all things are still possible for all people. That's the impact that our government can have…." President Barak Obama, October 14, 2009

Africa

May

Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month: May

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May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, as the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) proclaimed. May is the peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers. The month is devoted to limiting exposure to allergens and helping people who have them manage them.

Africa

May

Barbecue Month, Ntl.: May

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Every May, to kick off the summer, Americans celebrate National Barbecue Month. Whether you’re a sucker for tri-tip or a master at grilling veggies, this is the month to take the kitchen outside and discover the delicious flavors of flame-cooked food. Barbecue parties are a worldwide tradition, bringing together families and friends. Every culture barbecues and loves to bbq, and this is the month to celebrate it.

Africa

May

Bike & Bicycle Safety Month: May

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National Bike and Bike Safety Month occurs each May seeking to share the joys and benefits of bicycling in communities nationwide. Find out what’s going on in your community. Search our national database for events in your area and contact your local advocacy organization, favorite bike shop, or bike collective to get plugged into the happenings in your community.

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