May, named for the Greek goddess Maia who oversaw the growth of plants, is the fifth month in the Gregorian calendar. The final month of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere brings warmer temps, blooming flowers, and the fresh beginnings of summer.

But this picturesque depiction of May can be deceiving, for it was once associated with many protests, which has changed its meaning over time. May begins with May Day—the international workers’ solidarity day on the 1st,. The day commemorates the struggles and gains of laborers worldwide, except for the US and Canada. Then comes Cinco de Mayo, not initially meant for a day to indulge in nachos, tacos, and margaritas but to commemorate Mexico’s unexpected victory over France in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The early celebrations were about fighting for democracy and freedom against white supremacists and other oppressors. Over time, that message of cultural pride and civil rights was capitalized on by brewing companies.

Mother’s Day, May 14th, a time now considered to send beautiful May flowers to Mom, has also changed from its original intent. It was initially Julia Ward Howe’s antiwar Mothers’ protest. Julia Ward Howe, a famous poet (best known for the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”) and activist, called for a “Mother’s Day for Peace” dedicated to celebrating peace and eradicating war in her “Mother’s Day Proclamation” in 1870. Howe felt that mothers should gather to prevent the cruelty of war and the waste of life. Howe’s Mother’s Day festivities were held in Boston and other locations for about 30 years but ended in the years preceding World War I. Her daughter, Ann Reeves Jarvis, In May of 1907, memorialized her mother’s lifelong activism with a memorial service held at the Methodist Church in West Virginia, where her mother had taught. The following year, on May 10, a Mother’s Day service was again held at that church to acknowledge all mothers. Thus, the idea for the second Sunday in May, to be set aside to honor every mother, whether living or deceased, was born. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill designating the second Sunday in May as a legal holiday to be called “Mother’s Day.

Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, and falls on May 29th this year, is a day that commemorates all men and women who have died while serving in the military for the United States of America.

Awareness events included in this month are Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Neurodiversity Celebration Week, National Nurses Week, Teacher Appreciation Week, and No Mow May.

May 16th is Primary Day! Protest! Make your voice heard! VOTE!

NVWN Meeting: May 9th (2nd Tuesday of the month)

Speaker: Hilary Hauck (www.hilaryhauck.com, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilaryhauckwrites Instagram: hilary_hauck)

Topic: “Finding Stories Everywhere”

 An Italian-speaking Brit living in the US, Hilary Hauck is a bestselling, award-nominated author. Too curious about the world to confine her writing to a single genre, Hilary is the author of a historical novel, From Ashes to Song, dubbed “inherently entertaining” and “an extraordinary novel” by The Midwest Book Review, and a middle-grade Christmas story, ‘The Wrong Kind of Magic’, described “the magic of Christmas in a book” by one reviewer.

Hilary moved to Italy from her native UK as a young adult, where she mastered the language, learned how to cook food she can no longer eat, and won a national karate championship. After meeting her husband, Hilary came to the US and drew inspiration from Pennsylvania’s coal history for her debut novel. She lives on a small patch of woods with her husband and a cat with a passion for laundry.

Where: Schlow Library, Community Room,
Time: from 6:30 -7:30

Upcoming NVWN events:

June, picnic, and open read.

What Local Book Clubs are Reading:

¡ADELANTE! Book Club
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb.
When: Every other month, 4th Thursday of the month, June 22nd, @ 2:30 pm
Where: Virtual
To participate with the group, contact info@aauwstatecollege.org. New members welcome.

Inspirational Book Club
All My Knotted Up Life: by Beth Moore, over coffee at Barnes& Noble weekly,
Where: Mondays @ 10:00-11:00 am
New members welcome!

Well-Read Book Club
The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
When: 4th Wednesday of the month, May 24th, @7-8 pm.
Where: Virtual
Register at Schlow Library

For more information on any of these Book clubs, or if you want your book club listed, contact crevey@msn.com.

The Nittany Valley Writers’ Network is a sharing, supportive community linking local writers of all genres and levels of experience. For more information, contact Dave at dmarvin14@msn.com.