Holidays and observances
Holidays and observances on May 20
21 holidays and special days are celebrated on May 20 around the world.
- 21observances
- 64events
Holidays and observances
- Christian feast day: Abercius and HelenaAbercius and Helena are saints of the Catholic church. They are said to have been the children of Alphaeus the Apostle, although this has been challenged by some parties. Both of them are known to have been martyrs: Abercius by being exposed naked to bees, and
Christian feast day:
Alcuin of YorkAlcuin of York, also called Ealhwine, Alhwin, or Alchoin, was an Anglo-Saxon scholar, clergyman, poet, and teacher from York, Northumbria, who was active in the Carolingian Empire in the 8th century. He was born around 735 and became the student of Archbishop 
Christian feast day:
Aurea of OstiaAurea of Ostia is venerated as the patron saint of Ostia.
Christian feast day:
AustregisilusSaint Austregisilus was a Frankish bishop and bishop of Bourges from 612 until his death in 624. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, with his feast day is 20 May.
Christian feast day:
BaudilusSaint Baudilus is venerated as a martyr by the Catholic Church. His cult is closely associated with the city of Nîmes but also spread into Spain.
Christian feast day:
Bernardino of SienaBernardino of Siena, OFM, was an Italian Catholic priest and Franciscan missionary preacher in the Republic of Siena. He was a systematizer of scholastic economics.
Christian feast day:
Columba of RietiColumba of Rieti was an Italian religious sister of the Third Order of St. Dominic who was noted as a mystic. She was renowned for her spiritual counsel, devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and fantastic miracles were attributed to her. She was beatified by the
Christian feast day:
Lydia of ThyatiraLydia of Thyatira is a woman mentioned in the New Testament who is regarded as the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe. Several Christian denominations have designated her a saint.
Christian feast day:
Lucifer of CagliariSt. Lucifer of Cagliari was a bishop of Cagliari in Sardinia known for his passionate opposition to Arianism. He is venerated as a Saint in Sardinia.- Christian feast day: SanctanSanctain or Sanctan was a 6th-century bishop from Northern Britain, venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and the Church of England.
Christian feast day:
May 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)May 19 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - May 21
Day of Remembrance (Cambodia)The National Day of Remembrance, formerly called the Day of Tying Anger, which falls on 20 May, is an annual event in Cambodia. It commemorates the Cambodian genocide at the hands of the Khmer Rouge regime that ruled the country between 1975 and 1979. It becam- Emancipation Day (Florida)Emancipation Day is observed in many former European colonies in the West Indies and parts of the United States on various dates to commemorate the emancipation of slaves of African descent.
- European Maritime Day (European Council) European Maritime Day (EMD), celebrated on 20 May each year, seeks to raise European citizens' awareness of the seas and their importance. Several events take place during that day, including an annual stakeholder conference co-organised by the European Comm
Independence Restoration Day, celebrates the independence of East Timor from Indonesia in 2002.Timor-Leste's Independence Day or Day of Restoration of Independence is a national holiday in Timor-Leste on 20 May held to celebrate independence of the country from Indonesian occupation and United Nations administration in 2002.
Josephine Baker Day (NAACP)Freda Josephine Baker, also spelled Joséphine Baker, was an American-born French dancer, singer, and actress, and a spy for the French Resistance. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in France. She was the first Black woman to star in a major m- National Awakening Day (Indonesia), and its related observances: Indonesian Doctor Day (Indonesia) The following table indicates declared Indonesian government national holidays. Cultural variants also provide opportunity for holidays tied to local events. Beside official holidays, there are the so-called "libur bersama" or "cuti bersama", or joint leave
National Day (Cameroon)The National Day of Cameroon, also known as Unitary State Day, is celebrated annually on 20 May. In a national referendum on 20 May 1972, Cameroonians voted for a unitary state as opposed to the existing federal state. The United Nations Trust Territory known 
World Bee DayWorld Bee Day is celebrated on 20 May. On this day Anton Janša, the pioneer of beekeeping, was baptized in 1734.- World Metrology Day World Metrology Day is an event occurring on 20 May celebrating the International System of Units. The date is the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875. Metrology is the study of measurement.
Doug the Pug Day (Nashville, Tennessee)Doug the Pug is a celebrity pug living in Nashville, Tennessee, US who has gained a large internet and social media following.
Frequently asked questions
What is celebrated on May 20?
21 observances are celebrated on May 20 around the world: Christian feast day: Abercius and Helena, Christian feast day: Alcuin of York, Christian feast day: Aurea of Ostia, Christian feast day: Austregisilus, Christian feast day: Baudilus, Christian feast day: Bernardino of Siena. 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 20?
64 documented historical events happened on May 20, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: The First Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church, was formally opened by Constantine the Great. On the same day, in another year: The Picts defeated the Northumbrians at the Battle of Dun Nechtain, severely weakening the latter's power in northern Great Britain. 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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