May Observances
This first leg of the Triple Crown takes place on the first Saturday in May
The Kentucky Derby
Baby cow
What is a calf? A calf weighs 60–100 pounds at birth
Perhaps one of the most iconic sixties sayings is this single word, meaning “outstanding,” “nice,” or “cool.” The Troggs sang about this word in “Wild Thing,” saying “Wild thing, you make my heart sing/You make everything _______.”
What is groovy? By the 1980s, this word was mostly out of fashion.
This three-word fashion staple for women is closely associated with designer Coco Chanel and the iconic style of actress Audrey Hepburn. Hint: LBD
What is the little black dress? This closet essential became popular in the 1920s and has remained a favorite due to its versatility and classic silhouette. It was famously worn by Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s
This sweet food is made by bees.
What is honey? Honey never goes bad because it is inhospitable to bacteria.
On May 15, we celebrate this natural phenomenon, something Judy Garland made famous in a tune that ends with “Why, oh why can’t I?”
What is rainbow? The day is Over the Rainbow Day, and the tune is “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Baby horse
What is a foal? A foal’s legs are 80–90% the size of its adult legs at birth, and they can walk within an hour or two of birth
This term for a geometric shape referred to a person who wasn’t considered cool or hip. As the saying goes, “Be there or be _____.
What is square? Though the word was used in the 16th century to mean an honest person, in the 1960s the term was used to refer to people who were out of touch with trends, particularly in music.
Though John, Paul, George, and Ringo didn’t really live in this colorful undersea vessel, the song featuring it has remained popular ever since its release in 1966.
What is “Yellow Submarine”? This song is featured on the album Revolver alongside other classics, such as “Eleanor Rigby.” It was written as a children’s song but is popular with all ages.
It is the hardest gem in the world.
What is diamond? The stone is made entirely of carbon. Russia has the largest reserve of diamonds—650 million carats out of an estimated 1.2 billion carats in the ground
On May 14, the world honors the migratory species of these animals.
What are birds? It’s World Migratory Bird Day, an international day of commemoration promoting bird migration and conservation.
Farm animals with curly tails
What are pigs (or hogs or swine)? Pigs are smarter than dogs, and you can train them.
Though this three-letter word can also refer to a popular condiment for toast, 1960s musicians used it to mean “play musical instruments together.”
What is jam? Though the phrase originated in the 1920s, it gained popularity during the 1960s music scene, where “jamming” together in a free-flowing and expressive way encouraged musicians to make their free-spirited music
This “Boss” is a New Jersey-born musician who famously sang about cruising down the street in a “Pink Cadillac.
Who is Bruce Springsteen? The singer-songwriter is nicknamed “The Boss.” He is still making music today, including recent collaborations with singer John Mellencamp and the modern band the Killers.
Found in the northern hemisphere, this is the world’s biggest island
What is Greenland? Eighty percent of the island is covered in ice. Of its 56,000 inhabitants, 17,000 live in the capital city of Nuuk
For the entire month of May, we raise awareness of this type of health.
What is mental? It’s National Mental Health Month.
Small farm animal that is one of the closest living relatives to the T-rex
What is chicken? Some chickens lay green and blue eggs.
This rhyming two-word phrase referred to a person with the popular 1960s Beatles-style bowl haircut. It was sometimes called a mushroom cut
What is mop top? This longer hairstyle was popular among young men in the 1960s who wished to emulate the Fab Four.
This popular design company is closely associated with the color robin’s egg blue
What is Tiffany and Co.? Its flagship store has been seen in the films Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and Sweet Home Alabama (2002). The brand has been known for its trademark cheery blue shade ever since the 1840s
This country owns almost all the pandas of the world.
What is China? They loan their 1,600 pandas to other countries but retain ownership of them. They call it panda diplomacy.
We begin and end with observances—May 1 is this observance, and the last Monday in May is this observance.
What are May Day and Memorial Day? Memorial Day honors all military members who died while serving, not just those who died while serving in wars. May Day was traditionally a day to herald the changing of the seasons but later became a commemoration of workers’ rights.
The pickiest eater of the farm animals
What is goat? They don’t eat contaminated food or food that is found on the ground or floor. They also prefer more nutritious foods. Contrary to popular belief, they do not eat tin cans.
This “distant” two-word expression could be used to describe something awesome
What is far out? The phrase originates from jazz talk and originally described music that was highly creative, though hippie culture later used the phrase more generally to describe anything great
This muddy green color, also the name of a creamy fruit, was once the “it” color for kitchens of the 1960s. Many walls, refrigerators, and cabinets sported the hue.
What is avocado green? Design in the 1960s was often characterized by a return to natural tones, including this murky green shade. The color is coming back into popularity in 2022, with many designers returning to this retro shade as a soothing and natural tone.
Baby owls are mostly called this.
What are owlets? A female owl is called an owl hen, and a male owl is called an owl coco. Owlets remain with their parents from four to 10 weeks, depending on the species.