Bluebirds were popular with early American colonists and associated with the coming of spring. Many Native American tribes associated bluebirds with the return of spring after winter, prosperity and even fertility. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

WARSAW — Today marks the first day of a new month. Read on for May-related trivia as well as information about local events taking place this month. 

The birthstone for May is the emerald. May birth flowers are Lily-of-the-Valley and Hawthorn. Zodiac signs in May are Taurus (April 20-May 20) and Gemini (May 21-June 20). 

SPECIAL DAYS:

• May Day — May 1
• Cinco de Mayo — May 5
• Mother’s Day — May 14
• Memorial Day — May 29

TRIVIA:

• The 2023 Kentucky Derby will be held May 6 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
• The 2023 Indy 500 will take place May 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
• May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is estimated that about one in five Americans lives with a mental health condition, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
• Blue jeans were officially invented in 1873 after Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis obtained a patent for the pants on May 20th.
• May 5, 1893 — The Wall Street Crash of 1893 began as stock prices fell dramatically. By the end of the year, 600 banks closed and several big railroads were in receivership. Another 15,000 businesses went bankrupt amid 20 percent unemployment. It was the worst economic crisis in U.S. history up to that time.
• May 14, 1796 — Smallpox vaccine was developed by Dr. Edward Jenner, a physician in rural England. He coined the term ‘vaccination’ for the new procedure of injecting a milder form of the disease into healthy persons, resulting in immunity. Within 18 months, 12,000 persons in England had been vaccinated and the number of smallpox deaths dropped by two-thirds.
• May 4, 1494 — During his second journey of exploration in the New World, Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica.

THIS MONTH IN MUSIC:

• May 31, 2014 — Michael Jackson becomes the first artist with Top 10 hits in five consecutive decades on the Hot 100 as “Love Never Felt So Good” reaches #9.
• May 24, 2012 — Billboard announces that Lionel Richie’s “Tuskegee” is the second-best-selling album of the year so far in 2012, right behind Adele’s “21.” It’s notable that the soul/R&B singer and Motown alumnus began his career in 1967, and is still connecting with modern audiences a full five decades later.
• May 24, 2008 — Forty-two years after releasing his first album, Neil Diamond scores his first #1 when “Home Before Dark” tops the albums chart.
• May 31, 1980 — The disco group Lipps, Inc. goes to #1 in America with “Funkytown,” a tribute to New York City.

THIS MONTH IN SPORTS:

• May 2, 1970 — Diane Crump becomes the first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Her horse, Fathom, finishes 15th in a field of 17. Dust Commander, with Mike Manganello aboard, wins the race.
• May 1, 1951 — Future Baseball Hall of Fame slugger Mickey Mantle hits first career home run in 8-3 win vs. White Sox in Chicago.
• May 2, 1939 — Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees does not play against the Detroit Tigers at Briggs Stadium, ending his streak of 2,130 consecutive games played.
• May 12, 1875 — First recorded shutout in pro baseball, Chicago 1, St. Louis 0.

EVENTS:

• May 13 — Touch-A-Truck, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Syracuse Parks & Recreation, Syracuse.
• May 14 — Silver Lake Fire Dinner & Auction, 4 p.m., Silver Lake Fire Department, Silver Lake. 
• May 19 – May 20 — Ninth Annual Rockin’ BBQ, 5 p.m., Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, 1400 E. Smith St., Warsaw. 
• May 19-21 — Fat & Skinny Tire Fest, Winona Lake.
• May 27 — NWCC VeteRUN and Walk Memorial Day 5K w/ Youth Fun Run, 8 a.m., North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St., North Webster.