The merry month of May is named after the goddess who is chief of the Greek Seven Sisters (the Pleiades) and the mother of Hermes, Maia Majestas, goddess of spring, and identified with the Roman goddess of fertility, Bona Dea. Her sacred plant, the hawthorn, or may tree, blossoms during this month, which is one of vigorous growth. The runes ruling this month are Lagu, which signifies vigorous, energetic growth, and Ing, representing fertility and procreation. May is the customary time for revels, the Maying ceremonies and traditional love games of May Day. As the first day of summer, May Day is one of the most important days of the year. In Irish, May Day is La Beltaine, as shown on the Pagan Wheel of the year.

The maypole tradition flourishes today in German-speaking countries, but because it was attacked ruthlessly by the authorities in Britain during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it survives today in a much truncated form. Traditionally May is a month of the appearance on Earth of the mother goddess. As the consort of Robin Hood, she is the Maid Marion of traditional May time revels.

The flower of May is Lilly of the Valley and emerald is the May gem.

Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May. Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day are also celebrated this month, and on a lighter note, in tribute to Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy," towel day is celebrated in May.