May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. May is a month of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and spring in the Northern Hemisphere (Summer in Europe). Therefore May in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa.
May symbols: The birthstone of May is the emerald which is emblematic of love and success. The May birth flower is the Lily of the Valley and the Crataegus monogyna. The mayflower Epigaea repens is a North American harbinger of May, and the floral emblem of both Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. Its native range extends from Newfoundland south to Florida, west to Kentucky in the southern range, and to Northwest Territories in the north. The zodiac signs for the month of May are Taurus (until May 20) and Gemini (May 21 onwards).
Historical Events for May, 1948
Day of Week 3rd » The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Shelley v. Kraemer that covenants prohibiting the sale of real estate to blacks and other minorities are legally unenforceable.
Day of Week 7th » The Council of Europe is founded during the Hague Congress (1948) known as Hague Congress.
Day of Week 10th » The Republic of China (1912–49) Republic of China implements "Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of Communist Rebellion temporary provisions" granting President of the Republic of China President Chiang Kai-shek extended powers to deal with
Day of Week 12th » Wilhelmina of the Netherlands named Wilhelmina, Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands cedes throne.
Day of Week 13th » 1948 Arab-Israeli War: the Kfar Etzion massacre is committed by Arab irregulars, the day before Israeli Declaration of Independence e.g the declaration of independence of the state of Israel on May 14.
Day of Week 14th » Israel is declared to be an independent state and a provisional government is established. Immediately after the declaration, Israel is attacked by the neighboring Arab states, triggering the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Day of Week 15th » Following the demise of Mandatory Palestine, the Kingdom of Egypt, Jordan called Transjordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia invade Israel thus starting the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
Day of Week 18th » The First Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (1912–49) known as Republic of China officially convenes in Nanking.
Day of Week 20th » Chiang Kai-shek is elected as the first President of the Republic of China.
Day of Week 23rd » Thomas C. Wasson, the US Consul-General, is assassinated in Jerusalem, Israel.
Day of Week 24th » 1948 Arab–Israeli War named Arab–Israeli War: Egypt Battle of Yad Mordechai or captures the Israeli kibbutz of Yad Mordechai, but the five-day effort gives Israeli forces time to prepare enough to stop the Egyptian advance a week later.
Day of Week 26th » The U.S. Congress passes Public Law 80-557, which permanently establishes the Civil Air Patrol as an auxiliary of the United States Air Force.
Day of Week 29th » Creation of the United Nations peacekeeping force the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization.
Day of Week 30th » A dike along the flooding Columbia River breaks, obliterating Vanport, Oregon, within minutes. Fifteen people die and tens of thousands are left homeless.