where is the word "may day" come from?
341788
The answer depends on whether you mean may day, the 1st. day of May, or Mayday- the distress call.\n\nThe distress call is derived from the French "M'aidez" meaning help me.
833115
Here's a website on word origins that has a few suggestions:\n\nhttp://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/5/messages/97.html
608820
El Cinco de Mayo("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national celebration in Mexico. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French expeditionary forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
859481
It comes from I think the movie "American pie" if I remember correctly. 'Stiffler' uses it. It means Mother I'd like to f*ck.
581178
For what I know, May used to be the third month of the year. January and February seem to have been added in Ancient Rome. This is the reason why September, October, November and December don't match their ethimologic begginings anymore (sept means seven, octo means eight, nove means nine, dece means ten). I hope this is what you were looking for!
498050
I grew up in a small town that still did (and still does) May Day celebrations including electing a May Queen and May Pole dances. I really wish more communities would do this since it is loads of fun. I still go back every year to see the parade and go to the carnival. I haven't been to watch the May Pole dance in years.
651724
Mother's Day was originally conceived by social activist Julia Ward Howe during the American Civil War with a call to unite women against war. She wrote the Mother's Day Proclamation. The day now simply celebrates motherhood and thanking mothers. Mothers often receive gifts on this day.\n\nFor more see following site.
720983
May Day was originally a Celtic thing it celebrates spring the season of fertility
904493
The origin of this custom has been much disputed. Many theories have been suggested.\n\nWhat seems certain is that it is in some way or other a relic of those once universal festivities held at the vernal equinox, which, beginning on old New Years day, the 25th of March, ended on the 1st of April.\n\nIt has been suggested that Europe derived its April-fooling from the French. France was one of the first nations to make January 1 officially New Year's Day (which was already celebrated by many), by decree of Charles IX. This was in 1564, even before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar (See Julian start of the year). Thus the New Year's gifts and visits of felicitation which had been the feature of the 1st of April became associated with the first day of January, and those who disliked or did not hear about the change were fair game for those wits who amused themselves by sending mock presents and paying calls of pretended ceremony on the 1st of April. French and Dutch references from 1508 and 1539 respectively describe April Fools' Day jokes and the custom of making them on the first of April.
286925
it means fat tuesday, it originated in france.  acyually, it was a pagan celebration, kindof like todays in Louisiana.  It was the day before ash wednesday, which is today.  it was origannally earlier in the month, but when the christians came they moved it, it is now used to party before the 40 days of lent
31029
Read the definition below.  It is a Latin phrase - not "coined" or "invented" by any particular individual.\n\nLiterally, the phrase is Latin for "seize the day," from carpere (to pluck, harvest, or grab) and the accusative form of die (day). The term refers to a common moral or theme in classical literature that the reader should make the most out of life and should enjoy it before it ends. Poetry or literature that illustrates this moral is often called poetry or literature of the "carpe diem" tradition.
476982
Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for "May 5," commemorates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.\n\nLed by General Ignacia Zaragoza Sequin, a poorly-armed Mexican army of 4,500 stopped and defeated 6,500 well-armed French soldiers.\n\nThe battle halted the invasion of the country and is the cause for the date's celebration each year.\n\n"It was especially important because it was the first Mexican victory against the French, who hadn't lost a battle in 50 years," said Andrea Gaeth, a sophomore in Spanish and president of Ohio State's Spanish club. "The Americans came to their aid after this battle to remove the French for good and thus began an alliance between the United States and Mexico."\n\nThis holiday is not, as many Americans think, Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually celebrated Sept. 16.\n\n"It's one of two independence days," said Derek Petrey, a senior lecturer in Spanish. "There's a traditional day celebrated in September and this day, which celebrates a famous victory over the French army."\n\nCinco de Mayo is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico since Mexicans hold Sept. 16 as their true independence day.\n\n"It's more of an informal holiday," Petrey said. "It's not as important in Mexico. It's actually bigger with the Latino population here."\n\nMagdalena Mejia, a Spanish teaching assistant from Puebla, Mexico, said Cinco de Mayo is more of a Chicano holiday.\n\nChicanos are people who were born in the United States but whose parents are from Mexico.\n\n"They have a very strong culture in this country," Mejia said, "and they wanted to have their own holiday. Cinco de Mayo is their party
615992
for the duration of the month of may
8079
Hehe, if you want to be really technical, carpe diem means "seize the day".  Seize the moment would be carpe occasionem.  (If I remember my latin correctly)
438589
it is from the Middle English word lenten, or lente, meaning spring (reference to the time of year that it happens).
751087
sunday is day if the sun obviously, in Norse....Monday is day of the moon, also in norse....Teusday...I don't remember if the god was roman or germanic or norse but his name was Tiw.......wednesday originally came from the germanic or Norse god Odin but the germanic peoples changed it to Woden, so "Woden's day".......thursday is "Thor's day", Thor being the european god of thunder.......friday is the onlyone associated w/ a goddess and means "day of Frigga", a goddess of the harvest.......Saturday came from the Roman God, whom I'm not positive but may have been the god of agriculture, Saturnus, so "day of saturnus".....this was more than likely also how the roman festival of saturnalia began. Hope this helps!
368350
the first of may,definetely