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, 2003
Day of Week 1st » 2003 invasion of Iraq: In what becomes known as the "Mission Accomplished speech Mission Accomplished" speech, on board the USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 6 (off the coast of California), U.S. President George W. Bush declares that "major combat operations in
Day of Week 12th » The Riyadh compound bombings, carried out by Al Qaeda, kill 26 people.
Day of Week 16th » In Casablanca, Morocco, 33 civilians are killed and more than 100 people are injured in the 2003 Casablanca bombings or Casablanca terrorist attacks.
Day of Week 21st » An earthquake hits northern Algeria, killing more than 2,000 people.
Day of Week 22nd » In Fort Worth, Texas, Annika Sörenstam becomes the first woman to play the PGA Tour in 58 years.
Day of Week 28th » Peter Hollingworth becomes the first Governor-General of Australia to resign his office as a result of criticism of his conduct.
Day of Week 30th » Depayin massacre: at least 70 people associated with the National League for Democracy are killed by government-sponsored mob in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi fled the scene, but is arrested soon afterwards.