May is just moments away.
Fine–days away.
You are tired.
Your kids are tired.
You’re doubling up on some lessons and wrapping up others, but every day is a discipline in stick-to-it-ive-ness.
You need to lighten up and laugh, or at the least allow for a few interesting distractions.
I know I do.
I’m going to help you by telling you about 7 quirky holidays celebrated in the month of May.
Pick one, two, or all of them, and ask your kids how they want to incorporate them into the school day.
Or better yet, don’t ask them at all; just do it.
Who doesn’t love a surprise? Okay, some of these might not be “surprises” per se, but unexpected nonetheless.
#1. (May 2) Scurvy Awareness Day
If you’re looking to introduce a pirate unit in the month of May, you’re in luck.
Historically suffered by sailors, soldiers, and anyone who went for extended periods without access to fresh fruit and veggies, the cure for scurvy is (thankfully) more than 400 years old.
What’s the cure?
Take regular doses of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
You can prevent scurvy in obvious ways like eating oranges and lemons, or you can bust out the carrots, bell peppers, and broccoli.
If you’re especially brave (which I’m not), try liver and oysters.
Ways to celebrate: Wear pirate patches over your eye during school. Make a batch of homemade lemonade. Triple dog dare each other to eat weird combinations of Vitamin C, like liver wrapped oranges. Eeew!
Make sure to have a prize!
#2. (May 4) Star Wars Day
May the fourth be with you.
Sorry, I tried to resist the pun, but couldn’t.
Whether you grew up pretending to be Princess Leia, the fearless leader of the Rebel Alliance, or you just thought she had great buns, this is your holiday.
Ways to celebrate: Have your hair styled in Princess Leia buns when your kids come down for breakfast. For those of you with short hair, borrow a wig. Have a movie marathon. Log it in your lesson plan as “Cosmetology: Those Hairy Buns”, or “Hovercrafts: A 40-year Survey.” Be sure to say “May the fourth be with you” at least a dozen times.
#3. (May 9) National Lost Sock Memorial Day
If you are the rare individual who has never lost a sock in the washer or dryer, then you can skip this holiday.
All others must participate.
On May 9th, you need to face the fact you aren’t going to find the matches for the dozen or so odd socks in your dresser drawers and laundry room.
It’s not gonna happen.
Stop tossing them back into the hamper hoping the other one shows up.
Do something fun with them instead.
Ways to celebrate: Pull out all your extra buttons, DMC floss, hot glue sticks and the glue gun, googly eyes, yarn, pipe cleaners, paper doilies, markers, paint, and whatever else and make sock puppets. Then? Have your kids write a puppet show where the sock puppets honor their missing brethren.
#4. (May 10) Clean Up Your Room Day
The kids are going to hate me for this one, but hey, it can’t all be about them, right?
Mommas need a break here and there too.
Ways to “celebrate”: Turn up the music (to cover the whining) and then, march full force into their rooms behind them (to encourage them to get there). Have them make their bed, pick things off the floor, vacuum, fold, wipe, spray, and whatever else is needed. Have a surprise “Clean Up Your Room Day” treat scheduled for when everything is spic and span. It might not be their favorite day of the year, but you’ll love it.
#5. (May 14) National Dance Like a Chicken Day
I cannot count the number of times I’ve done the Chicken Dance. At some point in every wedding reception, prom, or anywhere where line dancing is allowed, the Chicken Dance gets some play.
You can thank Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas for the melody of this familiar tune that rivals the Hokey Pokey and Macarena.
Ways to celebrate: I think this one is obvious, but add in a video and you’ll have a lifetime of family memories to go along with all the accompanying wing wagging and tail shaking.
#6. (May 17) National Pack Rat Day
Have you ever watched an episode of Hoarders?
It’s terrifying.
Clutter is contagious.
National Pack Rat Day is the perfect way to stomp it out while simultaneously getting rid of all those back issues of Real Simple.
Ouch! That’s personal.
Ways to celebrate: Talk about materialism; define it. Distinguish the difference between things we need and things we want. Be silly and overexaggerate to make a point. Take items others can use like clothes, shoes, toys, board games, etc., to the local shelter.
#7. (May 30) Hug Your Cat Day
In case you need a reason to hug your cat, now you can officially place it on the calendar.
Personally, if you have to schedule hugs, you shouldn’t own a cat.
I’m just saying.
Obviously, this is an important holiday because it’s celebrated two days a year. June 4th is another Hug Your Cat Day, but I imagine that’s because people with multiple cats need to spread the love.
Don’t have a cat? Hug your neighbor’s cat, your friend’s cat, your Aunt Louise’s cat, or visit a shelter for a day and hug any cat that comes near you.
Better yet? Adopt one!
If you don’t like any of these, you and your kids can come up with a few holidays of your own to celebrate.
For instance…
National Pierce Your Own Nose Day
National Collect Lawn Clippings Day
National Eat Ice Cream While Riding On a Giraffe Day
National Paint the Guy’s Toenails Next to You on the Subway Day
The sky is the limit; really
Heather Sanders is a freelance writer who prefers to stay home and work while homeschooling her three kids. If you’d like to learn how to pursue your passions and earn an income while working from home, subscribe today.