May 9 National Days

May 9 is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, leaving 236 days until the end of the year. The 14 national and international celebrations today range from honoring childcare providers and European unity to appreciating Moscato wine, magnetic letters, and missing socks.

National Days on May 9th — May 9th National Days

Some observances, like National Military Spouse Appreciation Day and National Public Gardens Day, are celebrated on the Friday before Mother’s Day and fall on different dates each year. The rest are fixed on May 9 annually.

Here’s a full overview of the national and international days observed on May 9.

National and International Days on May 9

Europe Day: Honors peace and unity in Europe and commemorates the 1950 Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundation for the European Coal and Steel Community. This initiative eventually evolved into the European Union, now comprising 27 countries. Europe Day has been officially observed by EU institutions since 1985 and is a public holiday in some member states.

Fintastic Friday* (Second Friday in May): Created by ocean education group WhaleTimes in 2011, Fintastic Friday shines a positive light on sharks, skates, and rays—marine animals often misunderstood or feared. Founded by Ruth Musgrave, the day invites children and adults alike to explore ocean life and advocate for marine conservation through education and creativity.

Hurray for Buttons Day: This lighthearted celebration highlights buttons—not only as fasteners on clothes but also as collectibles and decorative items. The earliest buttons date back to 5000 B.C. in the Indus Valley, although they weren’t used as fasteners until the 13th century.

⊛ A related celebration, National Button Day, falls on November 16 and focuses more on button collecting as a hobby.

National Alphabet Magnet Day: This day was established in 2022 by The Type Set Co. to promote playful learning, literacy, and design using alphabet magnets. It’s a nod to childhood memories, clever phrases on fridges, and the joy of rearranging letters into messages.

National Butterscotch Brownie Day: This delicious holiday honors blondies—brownies made without cocoa that predate their chocolate cousins. Butterscotch brownies gained popularity in the 19th century and are made with brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and sometimes nuts or chips.

🍫 A related day, National Brownie Day, is observed on December 8 and focuses on the chocolate variety.

National Home Front Heroes Day: First proposed in 2019 by World War II veteran John “Lucky” Luckadoo, this day honors the civilians who support military personnel by managing households, businesses, and communities while their loved ones serve. In 2022, a formal effort to designate May 9 as National Home Front Heroes Day gained traction in Congress, with bipartisan backing.

🪖 It complements National Military Spouse Appreciation Day, also observed on this day.

National Knock Out Rose Day* (Friday before Mother’s Day): Recognizes the Knock Out® Rose. Created by rose breeder Will Radler and introduced by Star® Roses and Plants in the 1990s, this low-maintenance, repeat-blooming rose revolutionized home gardening with its hardiness and vibrant blooms.

National Lost Sock Memorial Day: Honor the many socks that mysteriously vanish, leaving their partners behind. National Lost Sock Memorial Day is a humorous tribute to this common laundry mystery, inviting people to let go of unmatched socks and perhaps repurpose them creatively.

National Military Spouse Appreciation Day* (Friday before Mother’s Day): Declared by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and later standardized by Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, this day honors the dedication and sacrifices of military spouses.

National Moscato Day: Founded in 2012 by the Gallo Family Vineyards, National Moscato Day celebrates one of the world’s oldest and most fragrant wine grape varieties. The Muscat grape family includes over 200 types and can produce wines that are sweet, dry, sparkling, or still. This day invites wine enthusiasts to explore its floral aromas and flavors.

🍷 For more wine-related holidays, see also our complete list of wine days.

National Public Gardens Day* (Friday before Mother’s Day): Founded in 2009 by the American Public Gardens Association and sponsored by Rain Bird, this day encourages people to visit and appreciate public gardens, arboreta, and botanical centers. With a focus on plant conservation, green spaces, and environmental education, the celebration also honors the role of gardens in enhancing community well-being. Paul James, host of HGTV’s Gardening by the Yard, served as its first national spokesperson.

National Provider Appreciation Day / National Child Care Provider Day* (Friday before Mother’s Day): This annual celebration recognizes the dedication and tireless efforts of child care providers, teachers, and educators of young children. Started in 1996 by a group of volunteers in New Jersey, the day now receives support from government and community organizations across the U.S. Proclamations are signed each year by state governors to express gratitude for these essential caregivers.

National Sleepover Day: Created by bareMinerals and Cosmopolitan magazine, National Sleepover Day celebrates the memories, bonding, and conversations that happen during a classic sleepover. The day was designed to promote a makeup line with the tagline “Makeup So Pure You Can Sleep In It™,” and it encourages self-expression and meaningful connection using the hashtag #Sleepinthebare.

Tear the Tags Off the Mattress Day: This tongue-in-cheek holiday pokes fun at the long-held myth that removing mattress tags is illegal. While the warning is meant for manufacturers to ensure transparency in materials, consumers often feel rebellious removing them. The day playfully invites people to embrace that moment of harmless rule-breaking—and maybe rip the tags off their pillows, too.