Diversity, Wellbeing & Environment Calendar

May 2024

Following on from Earth Day during April, our Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability learning coach, Kylie Thompson, has a few thoughts to share with us as we head into a month containing two Bank Holiday weekends. Follow the link to her thought provoking blog – Earth Day is Every Day – RHG (rhgconsult.co.uk)

There are other big subjects to be discussed this month too, such as Learning at Work Week (13-19 May), Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May) and National Numeracy Day (22nd). Three of our Learning Coaches will be writing blogs on these subjects, so follow our socials to be sure you don’t miss them.

Our Grow Academy has some valuable workshops scheduled to help support apprentices and commercial learners alike. With Mindfulness, Time Management Techniques and Brushing up on Writing Skills, on this months agenda, follow the booking link to reserve your free place. Virtual Workshops – RHG (rhgconsult.co.uk)

As discussed earlier, we have two Bank Holidays during May, the first is commonly called ‘May Day’.

May Day is a European festival of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer, usually celebrated on 1 May, around halfway between the Northern Hemisphere’s Spring equinox and June solstice. Festivities may also be held the night before, known as May Eve. Traditions often include gathering wildflowers and green branches, weaving floral garlands, crowning a May Queen (sometimes with a male companion), and setting up a Maypole, May Tree or May Bush, around which people dance. Bonfires are also part of the festival in some regions. Regional varieties and related traditions include Walpurgis Night in central and northern Europe, the Gaelic festival Beltane, the Welsh festival Calan Mai, and May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It has also been associated with the ancient Roman festival Floralia.
International Workers’ Day is also called “May Day” but the two are unrelated.

The second Bank Holiday, or Spring Bank Holiday, started as the Monday after Pentecost. This is known as Whitsun or Whit Monday in the United Kingdom. The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, moved this bank holiday to the last Monday in May, following a trial period of this arrangement from 1965 to 1970.

So now you know all of that, what will you do with your two long weekends?

Religious observances this month:

• Pagan/Wiccan: Beltane – May 1 Beltane was traditionally held to honour the midpoint between spring and summer. 
• May Day Bank Holiday – May 6
• Christian: Ascension Day – May 9 – also known as the Feast of the Ascension, celebrates when Jesus ascended to heaven.
• Bhuddist: Vesak – May 23 – the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world.
• Spring Bank Holiday – May 27

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