May 19th is National May Ray Day, a celebration dedicated to enjoying the warmth and light of the May sunshine. It’s the perfect excuse to step outside, soak up some Vitamin D, and revel in the blooming beauty of spring as we inch closer to summer.

National May Ray Day is all about celebrating the brighter, warmer days. It’s a chance to shake off the winter blues, put on your favorite summer outfit, and bask in the sun’s glow. Whether it’s planning a picnic, taking a leisurely walk, or simply enjoying the fresh air, this day is your invitation to embrace the great outdoors.

The origins of National May Ray Day are quite unique. The day has ties to a historical event in 1780, when an unexplained darkness covered New England, causing widespread confusion and fear. This phenomenon, often remembered on May 19th, serves as a reminder to appreciate the light and warmth that the sun provides.

But the day also has a more personal origin story. In 1977, a comedian named Richard Ankli decided to honor his brother Ray by celebrating his birthday with a nod to the sunshine. Held in St. Joseph, Michigan, at the Broadway Fun Spot, this personal tribute evolved into a day for everyone to celebrate the sunshine and warmth of May.

So, National May Ray Day is about more than just honoring someone named Ray; it’s about celebrating the joy and energy that sunshine brings into our lives. It’s a reminder to appreciate the natural world and the simple pleasure of feeling the sun on our skin.

National May Ray Day is all about stepping outside and enjoying the sun. Here are some fun and creative ways to celebrate:

• Stage a Sunrise Greeting Party: Start the day with a sunrise party! Find a perfect spot to watch the sunrise, bring a cozy blanket and a cup of coffee, and celebrate the first rays of the day.
• Embark on a Solar Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of sunny spots around your town that make you smile—parks, murals, or quirky sculptures. Take a selfie with each find and share your sunlit adventure with friends.
• Picnic with a Twist: Pack a picnic but choose an unconventional spot. Whether it’s a rooftop, an art-covered alley, or your own front yard, enjoy your meal in a new sun-drenched location. Include sun-themed foods like sun-dried tomatoes or sunny-side-up eggs for extra fun!
• Dance in a Daylight Disco: Create a playlist filled with songs about the sun and light, and host a daytime dance party in your living room or backyard. Let the sunshine be your disco ball!
• Craft Sun Catchers: Get creative by making sun catchers to hang in your windows. Use colorful beads, glass, or even recycled materials to capture and scatter light around your home.
• Host an Outdoor Game Marathon: Gather friends and family for sun-friendly games like frisbee, beach volleyball, or a classic water balloon fight. It’s all about laughter and fun under the sun.
• Sunset Serenade: End May Ray Day by watching the sunset. Find a cozy spot with a good view of the horizon, bring some snacks, and enjoy the changing colors of the sky. You can even play some acoustic music or simply reflect on the day’s light.

Why Celebrate May Ray Day?

National May Ray Day is more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a celebration of the warmth, energy, and joy that sunshine brings into our lives. It reminds us to step away from our routines, appreciate nature, and savor the small pleasures of life. Whether you’re gardening, reading a book outdoors, or sharing a meal with loved ones, this day is about embracing the beauty of the world around us and the happiness that comes with sunny days.

So, on May 19th, break out your shorts or summer dresses, head outside, and let the sunshine fill you with warmth and positivity. Happy National May Ray Day! ?

Here are 20 fun facts about sunshine:

1. Travel Time: Sunlight takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to travel from the Sun to Earth, covering a distance of approximately 93 million miles.
2. Spectrum of Light: Sunlight is made up of all the colors of the rainbow. When it passes through a prism, it separates into different colors, creating a spectrum.
3. Vitamin D: Sunshine is a natural source of Vitamin D, essential for bone health and immune function. Just 10-15 minutes of sun exposure a few times a week can help the body produce enough Vitamin D.
4. Mood Booster: Sunlight increases the production of serotonin in the brain, which can help improve mood and promote feelings of happiness and well-being.
5. Sunrise and Sunset: The colors of sunrise and sunset are due to a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering. When the sun is low on the horizon, its light passes through more of the Earth’s atmosphere, scattering shorter blue wavelengths and leaving the longer red and orange wavelengths.
6. Sundials: Ancient civilizations used sundials to tell time by tracking the position of the sun’s shadow throughout the day. This was one of the earliest forms of timekeeping.
7. UV Rays: The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can be harmful in large amounts. There are three types of UV rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVC rays are absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere, but UVA and UVB can reach the surface and affect the skin.
8. Solar Power: Sunshine is harnessed as a renewable energy source. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, providing a clean and sustainable power solution.
9. Speed of Light: Sunlight travels at the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (186,282 miles per second).
10. Circadian Rhythm: Exposure to natural sunlight helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal clock that dictates sleep-wake cycles and other bodily functions.
11. Sunburns: You can get sunburned even on cloudy days because up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate through clouds.
12. Plants and Photosynthesis: Sunshine is crucial for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy, producing oxygen and supporting life on Earth.
13. Longest Day: The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and occurs around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day, the Sun is at its highest point in the sky.
14. Sun Dogs: Sun dogs, or parhelia, are bright spots that appear on either side of the Sun. They are caused by the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere.
15. Eternal Daylight: During summer in the polar regions, areas within the Arctic and Antarctic Circles experience midnight sun, where the sun is visible for 24 hours a day.
16. Speed of Rotation: The Sun rotates on its axis, but unlike Earth, different parts of the Sun rotate at different speeds. The equator rotates approximately every 25 days, while the poles take about 35 days.
17. Sun’s Age: The Sun is about 4.6 billion years old and is considered to be in its middle age, with an expected lifespan of about 10 billion years.
18. Solar Flares: The Sun occasionally emits powerful bursts of radiation called solar flares. These flares can cause disruptions in satellite communications and power grids on Earth.
19. Sunlight and Weight Loss: Studies suggest that exposure to morning sunlight can help regulate metabolism and may aid in weight loss by syncing the body’s internal clock.
20. Sun Gazing Cultures: Some ancient cultures practiced sun gazing, a ritual of looking directly at the Sun during sunrise or sunset to absorb its energy. However, this practice is not recommended due to the risk of eye damage.

These facts highlight the fascinating and essential role sunshine plays in our lives, from supporting life on Earth to influencing our health and well-being.