Holidays and observances
Holidays and observances on May 15
23 holidays and special days are celebrated on May 15 around the world.
- 23observances
- 56events
Holidays and observances
Aoi Matsuri (Kyoto)The Aoi Matsuri (葵祭), or "Hollyhock Festival", is one of the three main annual festivals held in Kyoto, Japan, the other two being the Festival of the Ages and the Gion Festival. It is a festival of the two Kamo shrines in the north of the city, Shimogamo Shri- Army Day (Slovenia) There are two kinds of public holidays in Slovenia – state holidays and work-free days. State holidays are those celebrated by the state. These include official functions and flying the national flag. The latter are actually Christian religious holidays, whi
Christian feast day:
Achillius of LarissaSaint Achillius of Larissa, also known as Saint Achilles, Saint Ailus, Saintc Ahillas, or Saint Achilius, was a 4th century bishop of Larissa and one of the 318 persons present at the First Council of Nicaea. His feast day is on 15 May.
Christian feast day:
Athanasius of Alexandria (Coptic Church)Athanasius I of Alexandria, also called Athanasius the Great, Athanasius the Confessor, or, among Coptic Christians, Athanasius the Apostolic, was a Christian theologian and the 20th Patriarch of Alexandria. His intermittent episcopacy spanned 45 years.
Christian feast day:
Hallvard Vebjørnsson (Roman Catholic Church)Hallvard Vebjørnsson, commonly referred to as Saint Hallvard, is the patron saint of Oslo. He is considered a martyr because of his defence of an innocent thrall woman. His religious feast day is 15 May.
Christian feast day:
Hilary of GaleataHilary of Galeata is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church. His feast day is 15 May.
Christian feast day:
Isidore the Laborer, celebrated with festivals in various countries, the beginning of bullfighting season in Madrid.Isidore the Laborer, born Isidro de Merlo y Quintana, also known as Isidore the Farmer, was a Mozarab farmworker who lived in medieval Madrid. Known for his piety toward the poor and animals, he is venerated as a Catholic patron saint of farmers, and of Madrid
Christian feast day:
Jean-Baptiste de La Salle (Roman Catholic Church)Jean-Baptiste de La Salle was a French priest, educational reformer, and founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He is a saint of the Catholic Church and the patron saint for teachers of youth.
Christian feast day:
Kaleb of AxumKaleb, also known as Elesbaan, Ella Asbeha, or Hellestheaios, was King of Aksum, which was situated in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea.- Christian feast day: Peter, Andrew, Paul, and Denise (Roman Catholic Church)Saints Peter, Andrew, Paul and Denise are venerated as martyrs by the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches. They were killed in the 3rd century at Lampsacus, Mysia on the Hellespont.
- Christian feast day: Reticius (Roman Catholic Church)Saint Reticius was a bishop of Autun, the first one known to history, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia. He was a Gallo-Roman, and an ecclesiastical writer, and served as bishop of this see from around 310 to 334 AD.
Christian feast day: Sophia of Rome (Roman Catholic church)Saint Sophia of Rome was an early Christian martyr venerated by many churches. She is identified in hagiographical tradition with the figure of Sophia of Milan, the mother of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity, whose veneration is attested for the sixth century.
Christian feast day:
May 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar)May 14 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - May 16- Constituent Assembly Day (Lithuania)All official holidays in Lithuania are established by acts of Seimas.
- Independence Day (Paraguay), celebrates the independence of Paraguay from Spain in 1811. Celebrations for the anniversary of the independence begin on Flag Day, May 14.The following are national holidays in Paraguay
- International Conscientious Objectors DayA conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of conscience or of religion. The term has also been extended to objecting to working for the military–industrial complex due
- International Day of Families (International)The International Day of Families is observed on 15 May every year. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 with resolution A/RES/47/237 and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families. The International Day provi
La Corsa dei Ceri begins on the eve of the feast day of Saint Ubaldo. (Gubbio)Saint Ubaldo Day or Festa dei Ceri is an event celebrated on 15 May in the Italian town of Gubbio. It honors the life of Bishop Ubaldo Baldassini who was canonized as protector of Gubbio. It is also celebrated in the American town of Jessup, Pennsylvania.
Mother's Day (Paraguay)Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March or May. It comp
Nakba Day (Palestinian communities)Nakba Day is the day of commemoration for the Nakba, also known as the Palestinian Catastrophe, when the Palestinian homeland and society were destroyed in 1948 and most Palestinians were permanently displaced. It is generally commemorated on 15 May, the day a
Peace Officers Memorial Day (United States)Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and federal peace officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty. It is celebrated May 15 of each year. The event i- Republic Day (Lithuania)All official holidays in Lithuania are established by acts of Seimas.
Teachers' Day (Colombia, Mexico, and South Korea)
Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers. It may include celebrations to honor them for their special contributions in a particular field area, or the community tone in education. This is one of the most celebrated days and the primary
Frequently asked questions
What is celebrated on May 15?
23 observances are celebrated on May 15 around the world: Aoi Matsuri (Kyoto), Army Day (Slovenia), Christian feast day: Achillius of Larissa, Christian feast day: Athanasius of Alexandria (Coptic Church), Christian feast day: Hallvard Vebjørnsson (Roman Catholic Church), Christian feast day: Hilary of Galeata. The list gathers national holidays, international days and religious or civil observances falling on this date in different countries, as recorded on Wikipedia. Some are fixed and recur on the same day every year; others depend on the local calendar. Each links to the article explaining its origin and meaning.
What happened on May 15?
56 documented historical events happened on May 15, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: Roman emperor Valentinian II (pictured) was found hanged in his residence in Vienne, in present-day France. On the same day, in another year: Pope Innocent IV issued the papal bull Ad extirpanda, authorizing the use of torture on heretics during the Medieval Inquisition. On Almanaccolo every event is listed in chronological order, grouped by century, and links to the Wikipedia article it comes from, so you can always read further or check the source. Alongside the events you find who was born and who died on this date, and which observances are celebrated around the world.
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