May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars a month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. It is named after the Greek goddess Maia or Roman goddess of fertility, Bona Dea. Old English – Maius, Latin name – Maius mensis – Month of Maia, Old French – Mai, Romanian – mai.
Maia was one of the Pleiades, the mother of the god Hermes, who was also known by the more mundane name of Mercury. Her parents were titan Atlas, famous for carrying the heavens on his shoulder forever as a punishment for being on the wrong side during a rebellion. Her mother was nymph Pleione the Oceanid. Maia is the oldest of the seven Pleiades. Because they were daughters of Atlas, they were also called the Atlantides.
For the Romans, Maia embodied the concept of growth – her name was thought to be related to the comparative adjective maius, maior, “larger, greater, more”.
Convallaria majalis, the Lily of the Valley, is named after her, and it is the flower of May in Europe.
The Romans dedicated the month of May to Maia, celebrating her influence over the blossoming earth – as in the northern hemisphere this is the most obvious event occurring this month. The association with growth and fertility made Maia an ideal namesake for a month that embodies the height of spring.
From Latin to English
The adoption of May in English can be traced back to the Old English period. The Old English name for the month was “Maius,” which was borrowed directly from Latin. Over time, the language evolved, but the essence of the name remained intact, ultimately becoming “May” in modern English.
Cultural Celebrations
May has long been a month of festivities and celebrations across various cultures, many linked to its historical and mythological roots. For instance, May Day, celebrated on May 1st, is an ancient festival marking the arrival of spring. In many European cultures, it involves dancing around the maypole, crowning a May Queen, and other rituals that celebrate fertility, growth, and the renewal of life.
In the Roman calendar, the Kalends of May (the first day of May) was a significant day marked by various religious observances. The month was also a time for numerous festivals and agricultural rites to ensure a bountiful harvest.
The goddess Maia is the equivalent of the Māori star Waitī, who looks after fresh water.
Today, May is often associated with Mother’s Day, celebrated in many countries around the world.
What about New Zealand?
As May is the equivalent of November here in the southern hemisphere, nature slows down. The days are longer, and we can see more stars. The centre of the galaxy is almost halfway through the sky, and on the other horizon, Orion sets just after sunset.
Maia is not visible in the sky in May
As Maia is one of the stars of the Pleiades, it is not visible in May, as it is behind the Sun.
In astronomy, Maia is the star known as 20 Tauri in the Taurus constellation. It is a blue giant of spectral type B8 III, a chemically peculiar star, and the prototype of the Maia variable class of variable stars.
