May holidays mean celebrations in honor of everything from workers to Mom. And, although one of them tends to overshadow the other, there are also two different holidays in May dedicated to those who gave their lives to protecting American workers, mothers and, indeed, the very idea of the country itself.

May Day: May 1
Around the world the first day of May is celebrated in different ways. For many countries it is known as International Workers Day, a holiday to observe the importance of the daily laborer. In the former Soviet Union and other communist countries, as well as in many non-communist countries, May Day was the equivalent of Labor Day in the United States. In recent years, May Day has become a rallying point for opponents of economic globalization.

Elsewhere, May Day is a vestige of a pagan New Year's festival combined with Roman feasting celebrations. In America, the celebration used to be highlighted mainly by activities performed by children, culminating in the Maypole activity that was related to ancient pagan fertility rituals. For this reason, it was discouraged by the Puritans who settled America, and May Day activities that were so popular elsewhere were virtually unknown in the early settlements of America. While often a huge holiday in other countries, May Day is still overlooked in America.

Cinco de Mayo: May 5
The most common misconception about Cinco de Mayo is that it is one of those holiday celebrations of national independence like Bastille Day or the Fourth of July. Actually, Cinco de Mayo commemorates a specific victory by the Mexican army at the battle of Puebla; a victory not over America, but the French. Cinco de Mayo is mainly a regional holiday in Mexico, and it is not even a nationally recognized legal holiday. In fact, this May holiday is celebrated to a greater extent outside Mexico than inside; mariachi bands, parades, dancing and festivals are far more present on May 5 north of the border than south of it.

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