Fact 1: Discovering Children's Day
May 5 is marked in several countries as Children's Day. In Japan, the day, known as ‘Kodomo no Hi,’ is a public holiday specifically aimed to celebrate the children’s happiness. It is day when beautiful carp streamers flutter in the air and samurai doll displays adorn the houses.
Fact 2: A Day for Comics
Marvel Comics has declared the first Saturday of May as Free Comic Book Day. On this day, participating stores give away specially printed comic books for free to anyone who comes into their shops.
Fact 3: Cinco de Mayo
May 5, known as Cinco de Mayo, is a holiday that celebrates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. This day is often confused with Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually celebrated on September 16th.
Fact 4: Notable Births
Notable figures like American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Karl Menninger and British philosopher, logician and mathematician Bertrand Russell were born on May 5.
Fact 5: Taste of Liberation
May 5 is also known as Liberation Day in the Netherlands. On this day in 1945, Canadian General Charles Foulkes and the German Commander-in-Chief Johannes Blaskowitz reached an agreement on the capitulation of German forces in the Netherlands.
Fact 6: World Hand Hygiene Day
May 5 is known as World Hand Hygiene Day. The World Health Organization celebrates this day to promote the importance of hand hygiene in health care and to bring people together in support of hand hygiene improvement worldwide.
Fact 7: A Day for Oysters
May 5 is also celebrated as National Oyster Day. Oyster aficionados can celebrate this day by eating their favorite oyster dishes.
Fact 8: A Day for Midwives
May 5 is also recognized as International Day of the Midwife by the International Confederation of Midwives.
Fact 9: Voice of the Voiceless
In South Korea, May 5 is celebrated as Children's Day and in their honor, adults often give gifts to children and take them to amusement parks or restaurants.
Fact 10: A Leap Year Distinction
In any leap year, May 5 holds the distinction of being the 126th day of the year, and there are 240 days remaining until the end of the year.
Fact 11: Heroic Achievements
On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard Jr, an American astronaut embarked on a 15-minute suborbital journey on Freedom 7, becoming the first American in space.
Fact 12: Holiday for Cheese Lovers
May 5 also marks the National Hoagie Day. The day is celebrated by appreciating the variety of hoagies, which often include delightful types of cheese.
Fact 13: First American Woman in Space
NASA astronaut and astrophysicist, Sally Ride, on May 5, 1983, became the first American woman to go into space on the STS-7 mission.
Fact 14: The Power of the Press
May 5 in some parts of the world is observed as "World Press Freedom Day". This day marks the importance of free and independent journalism.
Fact 15: The Birth of the 007 Agent
Famous actor Roger Moore, known for his leading role as James Bond in seven Bond films, was born on May 5, 1927.
Fact 16: The Death of a Monarch
England's King George II died 275 years ago on May 5, 1760. The effects of his death are still felt today, as he was the last British Monarch to be born outside Great Britain.
Fact 17: The Story of Solar Cells
The world's first practical solar cell was publicly demonstrated by Bell Laboratories on May 5, 1953. This marked a significant milestone in the generation of solar power from the sun.
Fact 18: Sport Landmark - Formation of the English Football Association
On May 5, 1863, the Football Association was established. Soon after, it became the governing body of football in England and it played a key role in defining and standardizing the modern laws of the game.
Fact 19: The Billboard Charts - Number One at the Top
On May 5, 1956, Elvis Presley reached the top of the Billboard pop singles chart for the first time with "Heartbreak Hotel."
Fact 20: The Fall of an Empire
On May 5, 1821, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, a dominant figure who shaped European politics, died in exile on the island of Saint Helena, marking the end of the Napoleonic era.