My granddaughter called me the morning of May 1 and I asked her what she was up to. I got the usual, “Oh, nothing.” Then I told her it is May Day and when I was her age, we delivered small baskets of candy to our friends. “Really?” Of course, she had to ask grandma as she’s never quite sure when or if I’m telling the truth.

So what happened to May Day? Did it go by the wayside of “Stay off my lawn?” Or is it because we’re so transient and most of us barely know our neighbors? Did the world run out of candy and paper baskets?

I heard a radio report about the rise in loneliness. The group feeling most lonely – young adults. They have 2,000 Instagram followers, but not enough connected friends. Certainly it is an issue for many of us that move to new communities, commute or start new jobs, kids leave, health and age issues intervene. I just think we need to celebrate more!

As many of our celebrations, May Day is rooted in pagan festivals that became more tempered with time. May Day was typically a celebration of spring. Some communities held parades, there were May Pole events where colorful streamers were marched around a pole, and baskets of flowers and/or candy were left anonymously on doorsteps. What happened to May Day?

I don’t want you to be lonely or miss out on important celebrations, realizing a couple have already slipped by us. The lists for each month are posted on Wikipedia, but here are the remaining celebrations for May –

• World Laughter Day – 1st Sunday of May
• International Workers’ Day – May 1
• May Day – May 1
• World Press Freedom Day – May 3
• Firefighters Day – May 4
• Greenery Day – May 4
• Remembrance of the Dead – May 4
• Star Wars Day – May 4
• Cinco de Mayo – May 5
• International Midwives’ Day – May 5
• International No Diet Day – May 6
• Newsradio Day – May 7
• World Wide Day of Genital Autonomy – May 7
• Teacher’s Day – May 8
• Victory in Europe Day – May 8
• World Red Cross Day – May 8
• National Law Enforcement Day – May 9
• Coco Rael Day — May 9
• World Pizza Day – May 9
• Military Spouse Day – May 11
• International Nurses Day – May 12
• International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Awareness Day – May 12
• Mother’s Day – May 13
• International Day of Families – May 15
• Plant Conservation Day – May 18
• World Information Society Day – May 17
• International Day for Biological Diversity – May 22
• World Turtle Day – May 23
• World Brother Day – May 24
• World Orienteering Day – May 24^[3]
• World Thyroid Day – May 25
• African Liberation Day – May 25
• Geek Pride Day – May 25
• International Missing Children’s Day – May 25
• Towel Day – May 25
• World Multiple Sclerosis Day – May 25
• Menstrual Hygiene Day – May 28
• World No Tobacco Day – May 31
• Memorial Day – last Monday of May

I’ll host May 6 – No Diet Day and May 23 World Turtle Day. So who is in? Let’s end loneliness, one random celebration at a time!