31 Days to Celebrate in May

May Day celebrations or major outdoor parties are thrown to celebrate the coming of the spring season in the Northern hemisphere. Some traditions included partygoers dancing around the maypole, indulging in treats, and showering their loved ones with gifts. 

In the 19th century, May Day took on a new meaning. Born out of the movement for better working conditions (and an eight-hour workday) in the United States, International Workers' Day was created to raise awareness of the appalling conditions men, women, and children worked under. On May 1, 1886, the American Federation of Labor officially mandated an eight-hour workday. 

Traditionally, truffles are made with a chocolate ganache center and are coated in chocolate, icing, and cocoa powder. Nontraditionally (but still deliciously), they can be filled with marshmallow, liqueur, fruit, or caramel. Feel a little extra fancy today and enjoy some chocolatey truffles. 

The press informs the public and World Press Freedom Day was started to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and freedom of expression. No matter your political leanings or news outlet of choice, a free press is vital to people, and their knowledge of world happenings, everywhere. 

Birds are pretty amazing: Some species of birds can develop a pretty robust vocabulary. They migrate south (and home) each winter and they're descendants of dinosaurs!

If you're a bird owner, celebrate Bird Day with some tasty (but healthy!) treats for your feathered friend. If you're not, learn some fun facts about baby birds.

Cinco de Mayo has some significant historical origins. It's observed to commemorate the Mexican victory of the French Empire during the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Over time, it has evolved into a day of honoring and celebrating Mexican culture. 

If you want a more authentic way to celebrate Mexico on Cinco de Mayo, skip the margarita and sip on a paloma (a cocktail made with tequila, grapefruit, lime, and soda water), trade your burrito (which, arguably, isn't a Mexican food!) for corn tamales with tomatillo salsa, and fry or bake yucca root for a crunchy, salty side dish. 

Another day of indulging may seem unnecessary after noshing on corn tamales and fried yucca, but go for it! Swap your sad desk salad for a gooey grilled cheese with fries, a burger piled high with your favorite fixings or even a packed ice cream sundae.

The true origin of cosmopolitans is a subject of debate; many believe it originated in Miami sometime during the 1980s but it was made famous by Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO show "Sex and the City." Traditionally made with vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice, and cranberry juice, cosmopolitans can be a little too sweet for many tastes. Check out a recipe for a cosmopolitan, grab your Manolos (or, if you're like most of us, a regular old pair of heels) and channel your inner-Carrie Bradshaw for a trip back to 1990s New York City.

After two months of wind and rain, it's finally time to celebrate spring blooms. Although irises begin to bloom in late winter to early spring, they can add some major color to your spring floral arrangements, flower boxes, or hanging flower baskets.

As adults, there are so few times to be truly rebellious, but today is that day. Be bold and tear the tags off your mattress!

Just before Mother's Day, it's important to celebrate anyone who helps raise your children. Use this day as a reminder to say thank you for the hard and important work they do.

Free parks and gardens are an incredible gift to the public. Today, pack a picnic lunch, take an afternoon snooze, kick back and admire your surroundings and enjoy all of the beauty of your town's public parks or gardens.

From giving emotional, mental and physical support, to teaching important life skills, there are millions of reasons why moms are the best. Treat your mom (or a maternal figure in your life) to a homemade brunch, floral arrangement, or gift to show her how much you appreciate everything she does. 

Briefly, fair trade is an arrangement designed to help producers (usually in developing countries) achieve better trading conditions. This usually includes higher prices paid to producers and improved environmental and social standards. Today is a day to examine what you buy and think about fair trade practices. Many fair trade items have special branding labels. Being aware is the first step to making a difference.

Whether it's covered in butter, stuffed with bacon and eggs, or filled with ice cream, there's no wrong way to eat a buttermilk biscuit. Plus, they're super easy to make at home!

Enjoy this day by indulging in chocolate chips. Whether eaten by the handful, mixed into granola, or baked into cookies, chocolate chips make everything better.

Even though it's only celebrated once a year, you should love trees every single day because they enable us to breathe. Now, hug a tree and express your gratitude. 

Hummus is so simple: just a blend of chickpeas, garlic, tahini, and lemon juice. It tastes delicious on veggie sticks, chips and pretzels, sandwiches, burgers and more. Plus, it's a great source of plant-based protein! Jazz up your regular hummus recipe by adding pickled jalapenos, chopped olives, roasted garlic, or even everything bagel seasoning to your blend for some extra flavor. 

Use today to thank a service member, past or present, for their service to our country.

Like the craft beer movement, whiskey is getting more and more popular with craft drinkers. Tons of distilleries around the country are crafting flavorful, complex whiskeys, and developing some pretty inventive cocktails, too. 

Whether you like your whiskey neat or on the rocks, straight or paired with a mixer, treat yourself to two (or three) fingers in celebration of America's favorite brown liquor. 

Enjoy this eggy delight for a savory brunch, paired with a bright salad for dinner, or sliced for a tasty lunch.

Skip the boring work memo and leave a friend or family a fun note today! Put a note in your kids' lunches, leave a short and sweet love note for your partner, or send one to your best bud. 

Whether you prefer it straight out of the bowl (or plastic cup), in the center of a cake or paired with fruit, vanilla pudding is a sweet, easy-to-make and affordable addition to many desserts. 

With proper care, the average turtle can live between 30 and 40 years. Today, learn more about nature's oldest, and slowest, reptilian creatures. 

Asparagus is one of the first veggies to appear at the springtime farmer's markets. Try it roasted with garlic and your favorite seasonings, blended into a creamy soup, or scalloped with creamy cheddar sauce. 

Many of us don't need a national holiday to drink a glass of wine. But if you do, National Wine Day is a pretty good reason. If you celebrate a little too hard, don't forget the hangover remedies.

Blueberry cheesecake is a decadent treat that should definitely be enjoyed on this day. You can get fancy and try it as a fudge flavor!

It's time for dining al fresco, vacations, and slathering on the SPF. Considering skin cancer is the most common form of cancer among Americans, don't forget to protect your skin.

Nothing tastes like a juicy burger piled high with all the fixings. Whether you prefer classic beef patties with American cheese, creative Italian-style burgers, or delicious meatless burgers, it's the season for kicking back on the deck and enjoying.

Composting, or letting food and yard waste break down over time, can create super fertile soil to use in your backyard, garden, or potted plants. Get those worms working today!

Keep your May flowers looking fresh by giving them a little extra TLC today! Don't get overzealous and give them too much H2O as it could be their downfall.

If you're confused by the differences between macaroons and macarons, you're not alone. There are some easy ways to distinguish between the two tasty desserts. Macaroons are coconut-based and limited in variety. Macarons are meringue-based and can be made in a wide range of colors and flavors.