Autumn Glory Festival in Oakland, Maryland

Every October, the town of Oakland in western Maryland (Garrett County) holds the Autumn Glory Festival, a four-day weekend full of fun events, such as the Oktoberfest block party, the Fireman's Parade, the Autumn Glory Parade, Battle of the Bands, craft exhibits, food and toy vendors, carriage rides and more! The whole downtown gets decorated: bright yellow mums are clustered in front of stores and other businesses, and cornstalks are lashed to the parking meters.

You can salute the local National Guard contingent in the Autumn Glory Parade, take in a folk dance performance on the old train depot stage, browse through the stores, watch the chainsaw artist carve sculptures at the Farmer's Market, tour the stained glass studio and craft fairs, or enjoy some sauerkraut, beer, and a good old-fashioned sing-along in the firehouse at Oktoberfest. Autumn Glory is a longstanding tradition in my family, many of whom live in the area, and we always have a good time, with plenty of food, fun and friends. If you are going to be in the Pennsylvania/West Virginia/Maryland area in early October, you should check out the Autumn Glory Festival in Oakland, Maryland!

Here's a link to the official site for dates and info for the 2016 festival: http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/49th-annual-autumn-glory-festival

For more reasons to celebrate October, visit: http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-october-birthday-october-holidays.html



Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/autumn-forest-woods-nature-fall-1072827/

Your October Birthday: October Holidays, Traditions and More

Yay, October is here! Sunny, crisp days and snuggly nights, bobbing for apples, hayrides and leaf-watching, and don't forget Halloween! What else is on tap for October? Read on...

Monthly Observances

October is commonly known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but it is also the national month for animal safety & protection, baking & decorating, caramel, chili, chiropractic, crime prevention, dental hygiene, depression education & awareness, disability employment awareness, domestic violence awareness, Down syndrome, ergonomics, family sexuality education, field trips, kitchens & baths, medical librarians, orthodontic health, physical therapy, popcorn poppin', pregnancy & infant loss awareness, reading groups, roller skating, RSV awareness, sarcasm awareness, seafood, spina bifida awareness, work & family and SIDS awareness, as well as the international month for strategic planning.

October is also Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and the official month for world blindness awareness, celiac sprue awareness, emotional intelligence, gay & lesbian history, global diversity, lupus awareness, clergy appreciation, Polish American heritage, positive attitudes, and workplace politics.
Finally, October is Raptor Month and, interestingly, Squirrel Awareness Month. Combining celebrations of these two without disastrous results may prove challenging, as raptors seem to be highly aware of squirrels, already.

Weirdest Holiday

October 12th is International Moment of Frustration Scream Day. You know what to do.

October Traditions

Flower: calendula (marigold) - sympathy
Birthstone: opal or pink tourmaline; Libra's gem: opal - reflects every mood

Zodiac sign: Libra (1-23) and Scorpio (24-31; see November for details). Libra is an air sign, indicating spontaneity and changeability. Libra is fittingly represented by the scales, because Libras are slightly obsessed by fairness and also are good at moderating disputes among others. Be careful that this doesn't lead to a need to control the situation, though! Best friends: Aquarius and Gemini. Best love matches: Leo, Sagittarius and Aries.

Famous Birthdays: Jimmy Carter (1st), Sting (2nd), Gwen Stefani (3rd), Charlton Heston (4th), Neil deGrasse Tyson (5th), Bruno Sammartino (6th), Yo-Yo Ma (7th), Jesse Jackson (8th), John Lennon (9th), Brett Favre (10th), Eleanor Roosevelt (11th), Luciano Pavarotti (12th), Margaret Thatcher (13th), Roger Moore (14th), Emeril Lagasse (15th), Oscar Wilde (16th), Ziggy Marley (17th), Chuck Berry (18th), John Lithgow (19th), Mickey Mantle (20th), Carrie Fisher (21st), Jeff Goldblum (22nd), Johnny Carson (23rd), BD Wong (24th), Pedro Martinez (25th), Hillary Clinton (26th), John Cleese (27th), Bill Gates (28th), Bela Lugosi (29th), Nia Long (30th), Dame Zaha Hadid (31st).

Catholic Feast Days

1- Feast of St Remi, Ste Therese of Lisieux
2 -Feast of the Guardian Angels, St Leger
3- Feast of St Gerard of Brogne, Sts Ewald the Dark and Ewald the Fair, St Thomas Cantalupe
4 -Feast of St Francis of Assisi, St Petronius
5 -Feast of St Placid, Ste Flora of Beaulieu
6 -Feast of St Bruno, Ste Faith of Agen
7 -Feast of Ste Justina, Sts Sergius & Bacchus, Ste Osyth
8 -Feast of St Demetrius, Ste Pelagia, Ste Reparata, Ste Thais, Ste Triduana
9- Feast of St Andronicus, St Denis, St Ghislain, St Louis Bertrand
10- Feast of St Francis Borgia, St Gereon, St Victor
11- Feast of St Alexander Sauli, St Gomer, St James Grissinger, the Maternity
12- Feast of St Edwin, St Wilfrid of York
13- Feast of St Colman, St Gerard of Aurillac
14- Feast of St Callistus, Ste Parasceva
15- Feast of St Andeol, Ste Teresa of Avila
16- Feast of St Gall, St Gerard Majella, Ste Hedwig, Ste Margaret Mary
17- Feast of St Richard Gwyn, St Ignatius of Antioch
18- Feast of St Luke, the 3 Stes Gwen of Wales
19- Feast of the Jesuit Martyrs, Ste Frideswide, St Philip Howard, St Rene Goupil
20- Feast of St Contardo Ferrini, St Wendelin
21- Feast of St Hilarion, St John of Bridlington, Ste Ursula
22- Feast of Stes Alodia & Nunilo, Ste Mary Salome, St Peter of Alca¡ntara
23- Feast of St John of Capistrano
24- Feast of St Anthony Claret
25- Feast of Sts Crispin & Crispinian, Ste Tabitha
26- Feast of St Bonaventure of Potenza, the Blessed Bonne d'Armagnac
27- Feast of St Frumentius
28- Feast of St Jude "Thaddeus", St Simon
29- Feast of St Baldius, St Narcissus
30- Feast of Ste Dorothy of Montau
31- Feast of St Quentin, St Wolfgang, St Alphonsus Rodriguez


Want to see more? Check out these other months: 

January - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-january-birthday-january-holidays.html
February - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/02/your-february-birthday-february.html

March - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-march-birthday-march-holidays.html

April - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-april-birthday-april-holidays.html

May - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/05/your-may-birthday-may-holidays.html

June - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-june-birthday-holidays-traditions.html
July - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-july-birthday-july-holidays.html
August - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/07/your-august-birthday-august-holidays.html
September - https://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2019/08/your-september-birthday-september.html
November - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-november-birthday-november.html
December - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/12/your-december-birthday-december.html

Image of calendula from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/calendula-flower-bloom-orange-933760/

Your August Birthday: August Holidays, Traditions and More

Poor ol' August doesn't have any national holidays or well-known religious holidays. It's too early to trick-or-treat and it's WAY too early to write to Santa. August doesn't even usually get a very interesting calendar picture! What's a summer baby to do for celebration around here? Well, there's more to August than meets the eye, and you will find most of it here!

Monthly Observances
August is National Win with Civility Month, as well as the National Month for immunization awareness, inventors, panini, and water quality, so after a long day slaving over your inventions, you can have a grilled sandwich and a glass of crystal-clear water and think about how nice it is to have all your immunizations. But don't gloat; be a good sport about it!

Weirdest Holiday: While I must admit some fascination for Southern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day (22^nd), I fear I may not be allowed to participate by dint of my not being located on the proper half of the Earth. We Northern Hemisphere people will have to be content with Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night (8^th), which should offer plenty of opportunity for hijinks to ensue...

August Traditions
Flower: gladiolus - sincerity, strength of character
Birthstone: peridot -marital happiness Leo's gem: amber
Zodiac sign: Leo (1-23) and Virgo (24-31; see September for details). Leo, represented by the powerful lion, is a fire sign and displays the spontaneity and unpredictability of that element. Leos are not always as forceful as you'd think, but have a very secure sense of self and like to associate with people and possessions that make them look good. Leos love to joke around and be the life of the party, so it can be difficult to get them to be serious about things, and making any kind of commitment can be an immense challenge for them! Best friends: Sagittarius and Aries. Best love matches: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.

Famous Birthdays: Francis Scott Key (1^st), Mary-Louise Parker (2nd), Tony Bennett (3^rd), Barack Obama (4th), Neil Armstrong (5^th), Andy Warhol (6^th), Charlize Theron (7th), Dustin Hoffman (8^th),  Whitney Houston (9th), Antonio Banderas (10th), Alex Haley (11^th), Mark Knopfler (12th), Alfred Hitchcock (13^th), Halle Berry (14th), Julia Child (15^th), Madonna (16th), Mae West (17^th), Robert Redford (18^th), John Stamos (19th), Amy Adams (20th), Count Basie (21^st), Ray Bradbury (22^nd), Kobe Bryant (23rd), Dave Chappelle (24th), Sean Connery (25^th), Mother Theresa (26th), Confucius (27^th), Goethe (28^th), Michael Jackson (29^th), Cameron Diaz (30th), Richard Gere (31^st).

Catholic Feast Days
1- St Peter's Chains, Lammas Day, St Alphonsus Mary de Ligouri, St Friard
2 -The Virgin of the Angels, Ste Sidwell
3- Ste Lydia
4 -St John Baptist Marie Vianney, St Sithney
5 -Sts Addai & Mari, Ste Afra, St Oswald
6 -The Transfiguration
7 -St Albert of Trapani, St Cajetan, St Dometius
8 -St Cyriacus the Slave, St Dominic, the Fourteen Holy Helpers, St Hormisdas, the Blessed Mary MacKillop, St Altman
9- Ste Edith Stein, St Emygdius
10- St Besse, St Lawrence
11- St Alexander "Carbonaris", Ste Clare, Ste Philomena
12- St Porcarius, St James Tam
13- St Cassian of Imola, Ste Concordia, St Hippolytus, Ste Radegund
14- St Maximilian Kolbe, St Werenfrid
15- The Assumption, St Arnulf of Soissons, St Tarsicius
16- St Armel, St Rock, St Stephen of Hungary
17- St Hyancith, St Mamas
18- St Agapitus, Ste Helena
19- Ste Joan DeLanoue, St Sebald
20- St Bernard of Clairvaux, St Amadour, St Philibert
21- St Bernard Tolomei, St Pius X
22- St Symphorian
23- Ste Rose of Lima
24- St Bartholomew, St Owen of Rouen
25- St Genesius, St Joseph Calasanctius, St Louis
26- Ste Teresa Jornet e Ibars, Ste Elizabeth aiz de Bichier des Anges, St Zephyrinus
27- Ste Margaret the Barefooted, Ste Monica, St Phanurius
28- St Augustine of Hippo, St Hermes, St Moses the Black
29- Ste Sabina, St Richard Herst
30- St John Roche
31- Aidan of Lindisfarne, St Raymond Nonnatus

Want to see more? Check out these other months:

January - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-january-birthday-january-holidays.html
February - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/02/your-february-birthday-february.html
March - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-march-birthday-march-holidays.html
April - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-april-birthday-april-holidays.html
May - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/05/your-may-birthday-may-holidays.html
June - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-june-birthday-holidays-traditions.html
July - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-july-birthday-july-holidays.html
September - https://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2019/08/your-september-birthday-september.html
October - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-october-birthday-october-holidays.html
November - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-november-birthday-november.html
December - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/12/your-december-birthday-december.html

Image of gladiolus from Pixabay  https://pixabay.com/en/gladiolus-flowers-white-yellow-965890/

Is it Okay to Pee in the Shower?

To pee or not to pee...in the shower? That is the question. Some people do and some people don't, but only very few admit it, and they are all men, with the exception of a soul-unburdening Liz Lemon, frightened of dying on a plane in the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. She's a fictional character, but was Tina Fey confessing, too? It had a ring of truth. But what is there to confess? What is wrong with peeing in the shower, exactly?

What harm does it do?
Is it unsanitary to pee in the shower? Well, urine is actually sterile; your skin will shed far more bacteria into the shower-simply from the stuff we contact casually every day-than your urine stream ever will. So no, it's not particularly unsanitary, even though it might not smell as delightful as your peony-scented body wash. It almost seems more sanitary, at least from the standpoint of cleansing oneself afterward. Why just wipe when you can lather up and scrub?
There is, however, the Squick Factor, a powerful deterrent. Whether or not you pee in your own shower, it seems undecorous to pee in your friend's shower. It is, after all, your friend's territory.

Okay, then, what good does it do?
Egyptian turkey vultures pee on their feet to wash off the bacteria. That's right; these birds, who feed on carcasses, are somewhat small (about wild-turkey-sized) and tend to walk around in their food, which is, after all, decomposing bodies. Their feet are feather-free so as to be more easily rinsed by the birds' urine. Some humans also swear by the anti-fungal properties of urine, as evidenced by the belief that to pee on one's feet helps ward off Athlete's Foot.

There is also the argument that one can save resources by peeing in the shower. Why flush that extra water down the toilet, and then climb into the shower? It is possible, however, that the minute or so it takes you to, uh, drain, you are too distracted to make much of the water cascading down upon you, thereby making the water savings negligible and saving only toilet paper. Which is something, I guess.

So, Pee or No Pee?
Your personal decision. The Squick Factor is purely psychological but hard to overcome. I would suggest whatever you decide, Don't Ask, Don't Tell may be the best policy. Happy Washing!

Image from Pixabay  https://pixabay.com/en/shower-shower-head-water-1502736/

The Statue of Liberty

I thought I would take this Independence Day to talk a little bit about the Statue of Liberty, who raises her torch over New York's harbor, welcoming tourists to come to Liberty Island. The 126-year-old statue weathered 2012's monster Hurricane Sandy successfully, but Liberty Island suffered serious damage from the storm and required some time to repair docks and pavement that were destroyed by the hurricane. But on July 4, 2013, after eight long months, the ferry started delivering visitors once more, just in time for our nation's birthday that year. The statue has been closed before, notably after 9/11 and also for renovations, so the public was happy to get another chance to come see Lady Liberty up close and even to venture inside.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the American people from the nation of France in celebration of our centennial, and after being assembled in France, shipped and installed on the island, it was presented to the public in an unveiling ceremony on October 28, 1886. The lady has been a symbol of welcome, as she stands in the harbor to which many foreign vessels traveled, and also because she overlooks Ellis Island, for many years the location at which immigrants from Europe entered the country. Emma Lazarus created the iconic poem that is displayed on a plaque at the base of the statue, containing the well-known lines "Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free", another message that the United States of America was willing to serve as a refuge for immigrants fleeing persecution or poverty in their countries of origin and hoping to start a new, better life in this land.


So a gift from France becomes a gift to all; to those who follow the promise of a better life for themselves and their families, and also for those who have achieved that better life, to visit the historical icon that symbolizes hope and freedom for all.

Image from Wikimedia Commons, public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty#/media/File:Statue-de-la-liberte-new-york.jpg

A Beginner's Guide to Sushi: How to Get Over Your Fear and Start Loving it Raw!

Even though sushi has been a staple of Japanese cuisine for centuries, it only really became familiar to Americans in the 1980s, when it became a trend of yuppies. Now, it is quite common in the States as well, although there are many people who have yet to try this traditional Japanese delicacy. Yes, it does indeed involve raw stuff, weird condiments, and seaweed, but you can actually learn to love it. Follow my steps below, and you sushi neophytes will find yourselves happily munching away in no time!

First, the basics: Sushi is different from sashimi. Sashimi is raw, sliced fish, normally served with rice as a side dish. With sushi, the rice is integrated, which certainly makes the raw fish easier to go down for the American palate, but also please note: Not all sushi is raw, and it is also not always even fish. Cucumber, scallion, avocado and even egg are all used quite commonly in sushi.

Sushi is typically served in four basic forms:

1) Nigiri , a thin slice of fish atop a palm-length oval of seasoned rice, sometimes held in place with a little "seat belt" made of nori, a dark-green seaweed with a very mild taste. Two slices of nigiri make a serving at a typical sushi bar.

2) Maki , or rolled sushi, consisting of fish or other ingredients rolled up inside a thin sheet of nori and seasoned rice. Maki can be rolled with the nori on the outside, or "inside-out", with the rice showing. Inside-out rolls are usually coated with sesame seeds or tiny roe, usually either red Tobiko (flying fish eggs) or orange Masago (smelt eggs). Maki rolls are several inches long, but are cut into six bite-sized pieces per serving.

3) Temaki is a hand-rolled sushi (as opposed to maki, which is made with a bamboo mat). Temaki sushi has a distinctive "ice cream cone" shape, with the nori filled with rice and other ingredients and rolled with one closed end and one open.

4) Chirashi sushi simply consists of a bowl of assorted slices of sushi served atop a bed of rice. This is a common way for restaurants to use up whatever they have too much of so that everything stays fresh, so you will really get some odds and ends if you order this, but it's a good way to get a variety of tastes at a cheaper price.

Sushi is traditionally served with three condiments: Soy sauce, with which I believe we are already familiar; the peach- or gold-colored slices of gari, or ginger (many people eat this directly, but the taste is extremely strong. I would recommend you stick a couple of pieces into your soy sauce and let its flavor infuse that way); and wasabi, that bright green dollop perched atop a plastic leaf on the edge of your plate. Wasabi is a type of horseradish, and it is fairly strong. As they say: A little dab'll do ya. You may also want to just stick a tad of this in your soy sauce to make a "dip". The Sushi Nazi will not approve of the dip (technically, you are supposed to keep the ginger out of it, too), but I have dined in Japan and also at the venerable Hatsuhana in New York, and I have yet to get bounced from a sushi restaurant for doing this. WARNING: Just because wasabi is served on the side, do not assume it is not already in your sushi (look for a little smear between the fish and rice).

How to eat sushi: with hashi (chopsticks), of course, but also it is okay to use your fingers, especially for temaki. There's no excuse for using a fork, which will just cause everything to fall apart anyway. Fortunately the Japanese use chopsticks that are fairly short and also not slick, so there's a good grip. Practice with your chopsticks a little before the food comes, and remember: only the top chopstick is supposed to move; the bottom one stays stable in your hand.

Technically, you are not supposed to dip your sushi into the soy sauce rice-first, but flipping your sushi to get only the fish into the soy sauce is a good way to send it flopping onto the table, so do what is comfortable. Frankly, I like soy sauce, and rice soaks up more of it, so I'm an incorrigible rice-dipper.

To get used to the various kinds of sushi, I suggest you follow the steps below, which will let you build up slowly from the things that you will find more familiar to the things that might initially freak you out:

1. Start with sushi that is not raw--Ebi (cooked shrimp), California roll (crab stick and avocado), Tamago (an egg cake--slightly sweet, like egg custard), and Anago (grilled eel w/ bbq sauce). This will get you used to the rice-and-seaweed concepts.

2. Move on to sushi that is raw but doesn't taste like it--Sake (smoked salmon); or is served in small amounts--Teppa maki (tuna roll), Una-Q (eel and cucumber roll); or is cooked, but weird (octopus).

3. Step up to sushi that is raw but of a firm texture. Maguro (tuna), Hamachi (yellowtail), and Shiromi (whitefish) have delicate flavors; if you are up to tackling texture and taste, try also Saba (mackerel).

4. Graduate to stuff that tastes good but has sticky, slimy or squishy textures: Ika (squid), Mirugai (clam), Amaebi (sweet shrimp), Uni (sea urchin), Ikura (salmon roe), or Uzura (quail eggs). You may choose not to bother with this step. I tried this stuff and decided the taste didn't beat the texture.

5. Go for the weird stuff! Some restaurants serve Sawagani, tiny soft-shelled river crabs that you just munch up whole, legs and all.

So, there it is, your guide to sushi and how to sneak up on it. If you still think raw fish isn't your bag, remember, there's always Spam sushi, if you live in Hawaii. Cheers!

Image Credit » http://pixabay.com/en/sushi-sashimi-eat-restaurant-599721/ by nile

Your May Birthday - May Holidays, Traditions and More

May starts with a holiday, May Day, that is actually two completely different holidays with the same name, one being a rather giddy affair involving begarlanded youths dancing around a flower-strewn pole, and the other, a Communist celebration of the worker that is more like Labor Day, except that it tends to feature rather militaristic parades instead of barbecues and family reunions. To each his own! Speaking of barbecues and military parades, May also has Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for service members who gave their lives in battle and which also serves as the unofficial beginning of summer. There's also the sweet celebration of Mother's Day. Could there be any more reasons to celebrate in May? Why, yes - read on!

Monthly Observances

May is National Allergy / Asthma Awareness Month, although I believe I became aware of my allergies a little earlier this year, thanks. It is also the National Month for Arthritis, Barbecue, Bikes, Eggs, Foster Care, Good Car-Keeping (so keep your National Egg Month celebrations far away, please), Hamburgers, Hepatitis Awareness, Meditation, Mental Health, Military Appreciation, Moving, Osteoporosis Prevention, Physical Fitness and Sports, Physiotherapy, Preservation, Salad, Salsa, Smiles, Stroke Awareness, Revising Your Work Schedule, and Vinegar (good timing, with the salad and all, I must say). It's also National Photo Month, so make sure you take pictures of those nicely-kept cars and your favorite hamburgers.

May is also International Audit Month (eek!), as well as the International Month for Business Image Improvement, Victorious Women (yay!) and Lyme Disease Awareness, so if you are being audited and you point out the weird, bullseye-shaped rash on your auditor's leg, she will be treated in time to become victorious over her Lyme Disease and will certainly give you a pass on the audit out of gratitude, thereby improving your business image. Snaps for Lyme Disease Awareness!

Weirdest Holiday: I couldn't decide between National Two Different Colored Shoes Day (3^rd) and Slugs Return from Capistrano Day (28^th), although I am at no loss to determine which one would be easier to observe.

May Traditions

Flower: lily of the valley - humility, sweetness
Birthstone: emerald - tranquility, luck in love
Taurus's gem: emerald

Zodiac sign: Taurus (1-21) and Gemini (22-31; see June for details). Taurus the Bull is an earth sign, as stable and immovable as the ground under your feet. Also immovable is the bull, who has a reputation for stubbornness. On the good side, that translates into stick-to-it-iveness, loyalty, and reliability, but Taureans may have a hard time adapting to change or seeing other points of view. Best friends: Virgo and Capricorn. Best love matches: Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer.

Famous Birthdays: Jamie Dornan (1st), Bing Crosby (2^nd), Christina Hendricks (3rd), Audrey Hepburn (4^th), Karl Marx (5^th), Willie Mays (6^th), Aidy Bryant (7th), Josie Maran (8th), Billy Joel (9^th), Bono (10th), Yogi Berra (11^th), Rami Malek (12th), Stevie Wonder (13^th), Cate Blanchett (14th), Chazz Palminteri (15th), Liberace (16^th), Craig Ferguson (17th), Pope John Paul II (18^th), Sam Smith (19th), Cher (20^th), Mr. T (21st), Maggie Q (22nd), Drew Carey (23rd), Bob Dylan (24^th), Miles Davis (25^th), Lenny Kravitz (26th), Vincent Price (27^th), Gladys Knight (28^th), John F. Kennedy (29^th), Wynonna Judd (30th), Clint Eastwood (31^st).

Catholic Feast Days
1- St Brieuc, St Marculf, St Peregrine Laziosi, St Sigismund of Burgundy
2 -St Athanasius of Alexandria, Sts Exsuperius & Zoe, Ste Mafalda, St Wiborada
3- Our Lady of Czestochowa, St James the Less, St Philip
4 -St Florian, Ste Pelegia of Tarsus
5 -St Aventine, Ste Judith, St Hilary of Arles
6 -Ste Ava, St John Before the Latin Gate
7 -St Domitian, St John of Beverly
8 -St Victor Maurus, St Wiro
9- St Tudy, St Pachomius
10- St Cathal, St Job, Ste Solangia
11- St Gengulf, St Claudian Mamertus
12- St Dominic of the Causeway, St Francis Patrizzi, St Pancras
13- Ste Imelda, St Servais, the Blessed Dame Juliana of Norwich, Ste Rolanda
14- St Boniface of Tarsus, St Matthias, the Blessed Giles of Portugal
15- Ste Dymphna, Ste Hallvard, St Isidore the Farmer
16- St Brendan, St Honoratus, St John Nepomucen, St Simon Stock, St Ubald
17- St Madern, St Paschal Baylon
18- St Eric, St Theodotus, St Venantius
19- St Celestine V, St Dunstan, Ste Pudentiana, St Yves
20- St Bernardino of Siena, St Ethelbert
21- St Constantine the Great, St Eugene de Mazenod, St Godric
22- Ste Juliana of Corsica, Ste Rita of Cascia
23- St Didier, St William of Rochester
24- Our Lady, Help of Christians; Ste Sara; Ste Joanna
25- St Bede, St Urban I St Gregory VII, St Zenobius
26- Ste Mariana de Paredes y Flores, Ste Mary Magdalen dei Pazzi, St Philip Neri
27- St Augustine of Canterbury, the Blessed Bartholomea Bagnesi
28- St Bernard of Montjoux, St Germanus
29- Ste Bona
30- St Ferdinand III, Ste Joan of Arc, St Walstan
31-Our Lady of High Grace, Ste Petronilla

The fun isn't confined to May! Check out these other months:

January - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-january-birthday-january-holidays.html
February - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/02/your-february-birthday-february.html 
March - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-march-birthday-march-holidays.html
April -  http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-april-birthday-april-holidays.html
June - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-june-birthday-holidays-traditions.html
July - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-july-birthday-july-holidays.html
August -  http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/07/your-august-birthday-august-holidays.html
September - https://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2019/08/your-september-birthday-september.html
October - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-october-birthday-october-holidays.html
November - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-november-birthday-november.html
December - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/12/your-december-birthday-december.html

Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/apple-blossom-blossom-bloom-1125908/