– by Valerie Green –
Since ancient times, May 1st has been observed as a holiday and spring festival. In many socialist countries it is also a workers’ holiday known as Labour Day.
Here is just a sampling of world events that have occurred in May through the years. On May 4 1970 four students at Kent State University were killed by National Guardsmen while protesting President Nixon’s decision to invade Cambodia. This event set off campus demonstrations across the US and the temporary closing down of over 450 colleges and universities.
On May 6, 1937 the German airship the Hindenburg burst into flames in New Jersey following a trans-Atlantic flight. On May 7 1915 the British passenger ship Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland.
On May 12 1937 George VI was crowned in Westminster Abbey following the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. On May 13 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot twice while riding in an open car in St. Peter’s Square, Rome. The Pope recovered and eventually held a private meeting with the would-be assassin who he forgave.
On May 20, 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Five years later, she disappeared while flying her twin-engine plane around the equator. Back in 1660 on May 29 the English monarchy was restored with Charles II on the throne after several years as a Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. Nearer to home, who remembers that day in May 1980 (the 18th) when Mount St. Helens erupted and spewed ash and steam over 11 miles into the sky?
On May 5 every year since 1862 Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Mexico as a national holiday to remember the Battle of Puebla.
In Canadian history, much has also happened in the month of May. For example, the Hudson’s Bay Company was founded by King Charles II on May 2, 1670. On May 23 1873 the Northwest Mounted Police was founded, precursor to the RCMP. On May 24 1918 women were granted the right to vote in Federal elections.
Victoria Day is a Canadian public holiday every year celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday, May 24th. Here in Victoria on May 26, 1896, this holiday weekend was marred by the tragic collapse of the Point Ellice Bridge sending 55 people to their deaths in the waters of the Gorge.
Many famous people have also been born in May – Golda Meir, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Johannes Brahms, Harry Truman, Irving Berlin, Florence Nightingale, Thomas Gainsborough, Malcolm X, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Laurence Oliver, Al Jolson and John F. Kennedy, to name but a few. Oh, and I also have a May birthday!
Quite a collection of events for this merry month of May.
Valerie Green is an author/historian and can be reached at valgee@shaw.ca
