Holidays and Observances:
1: International Labor Day (1 day off). On 1 May,1886, 800,000 workers from all trades and factories throughout the US went on strike in support of the eight-hour workday. In Chicago, many workers and police were killed in the confrontation during the strike. On 14 July 1889, with a proposal by an American delegate, the International Labour Congress in Paris officially adopted 1 May as a workers' holiday and since then May Day has served as a date for international working class solidarity.
2: Yanu’s Day. On the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, the Miao people of south and central China commemorate their hero, Yanu. Major activities include dancing to drum and lusheng (a type of mouth organ), climbing blade ladders and eating glutinous rice.
3: World Asthma Day; World Press Freedom Day, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1991 as a day "to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession." Press freedom is considered to be a cornerstone of human rights and a guarantee of other freedoms.
4: Chinese Youth Day. World Environment Day, declared by the UN General Assembly, aims to deepen public awareness of the need to preserve and enhance the environment. The date recalls the opening day of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972), which led to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
8: World Red Cross Day.
10: Mother’s Day, observed on the second Sunday in May.
12: International Nurses Day.
15: International Day for Families.
17: World Telecommunication Day.
18: International Museum Day. 18: National Day for Persons with Disabilities, observed on the third Sunday in May.
20: National Nutrition Day for Students. 20: Sheep and Horse Festival, celebrated by Miao people with grand gatherings on the days of sheep or horse around the 26th day of the 4th lunar month. Legend has it that during a war at the end of Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), the Miao people used sheep and horses to mislead the enemy and finally won victory. The festival is held to show their reverence for these animals.
23: International Milk Day
28: Dragon Boat Festival (5th day of the 5th lunar month). Celebrated in memory of poet and minister of the State of Chu Qu Yuan (340–278 BC). Celebrated by eating zongzi, pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves, and holding dragon boat races; 1 day off.
31: World No-Tobacco Day. The World Health Organization annually sponsors World No-Tobacco Day to call attention to the seriousness of the impact of tobacco and to promote a tobacco-free environment.
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