May 2026 almanac
May 1–31, 2026 runs from Month 3, day 15 to Month 4, day 15 of the Chinese year Bing-Wu. Solar terms this month: Start of Summer, Grain Full. Select a date to open it in the calendar with the full almanac, lucky hours and moon phase.
- Lunar dates
- Month 3, day 15 – Month 4, day 15
- Month pillar
- Ren-Chen / Gui-Si
- Solar terms
- Start of Summer, Grain Full
- Auspicious days
- 15 days
May: Start of Summer, Grain Buds and the plum rains
Start of Summer arrives around 5 or 6 May, and Grain Buds around 20 or 21 May, when the kernels of wheat and other summer crops are filling out but not yet ripe. Northern China heats up quickly, sometimes with hot, dry winds. Southern China and Hong Kong enter the rainy season, with more thunderstorms and downpours. Taiwan usually enters its plum rain season around mid-May, when stationary fronts bring days of rain that are important for refilling reservoirs.
Labour Day on 1 May is usually stretched into a break of about five days in mainland China, is a public holiday in Hong Kong, and is a day off for workers in Taiwan. The Buddha's Birthday on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month normally falls between late April and late May; it is a public holiday in Hong Kong. Cheung Chau's Bun Festival, with its floating children parade and bun-snatching race, takes place around the same day. Mother's Day is the second Sunday of May, and in a few years the Dragon Boat Festival comes as early as the end of the month.
Rice paddies in the south need plenty of water now, and a farming saying warns that fields not filled by Grain Buds will be hard to plant by Grain in Ear. The plum rains make clothes and bedding prone to mould, so airing and dehumidifying matter. Soups with Job's tears or winter melon are traditionally cooked for their light, refreshing qualities.
Solar terms and moon phases
| Event | Date | Time | Lunar date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full moon | Sat, May 2 | 01:23 | L3/16 |
| Start of Summer | Tue, May 5 | 19:48 | L3/19 |
| Last quarter | Sun, May 10 | 05:10 | L3/24 |
| New moon | Sun, May 17 | 04:01 | L4/1 |
| Grain Full | Thu, May 21 | 08:36 | L4/5 |
| First quarter | Sat, May 23 | 19:10 | L4/7 |
| Full moon | Sun, May 31 | 16:45 | L4/15 |
Times are in UTC+8.
Festivals, deity birthdays and holidays
| Date | Name | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, May 1 | Birthday of Baosheng Dadi | Deity birthday |
| Fri, May 1 | Labor Day | Holiday · Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia |
| Sat, May 2 | Labor Day | Holiday · China |
| Mon, May 4 | Labor Day (observed) | Holiday · China |
| Tue, May 5 | Birthday of the Sun God | Deity birthday |
| Tue, May 5 | Adjusted day off | Holiday · China |
| Wed, May 6 | Birthday of Zhusheng Niangniang | Deity birthday |
| Sat, May 9 | Birthday of Mazu | Deity birthday |
| Sat, May 9 | Working day | Working day · China |
| Sun, May 24 | Buddha's Birthday (Bathing the Buddha) | Deity birthday |
| Sun, May 24 | Buddha's Birthday | Holiday · Macao |
| Mon, May 25 | The day following the Birthday of the Buddha | Holiday · Hong Kong |
| Mon, May 25 | Buddha's Birthday (observed) | Holiday · Macao |
| Wed, May 27 | Hari Raya Haji | Holiday · Singapore, Malaysia |
| Sat, May 30 | Birthday of Lü Dongbin | Deity birthday |
| Sun, May 31 | Vesak Day | Holiday · Singapore, Malaysia |
Key day spirits this month
| Spirit | Type | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Heavenly Virtue | Auspicious | 7, 17, 27 |
| Monthly Virtue | Auspicious | 6, 16, 26 |
| Heavenly Pardon | Auspicious | 4, 20 |
| Heavenly Wish | Auspicious | 22 |
| Year Breaker | Inauspicious | 2, 14, 26 |
| Month Breaker | Inauspicious | 13, 25 |
| Four Endings | Inauspicious | 4 |
| Shousi (Receiving Death) | Inauspicious | 1, 7, 19, 31 |
| Going Without Return | Inauspicious | 13, 25 |
| Yang Gong Taboo | Inauspicious | 23 |
Click a date for that day’s full list of spirits. Day spirits ›
Good days at a glance
| Activity | Good days (4 stars and up) |
|---|---|
| Wedding | 12 (Tue), 24 (Sun) |
| Engagement agreement | 12 (Tue), 15 (Fri), 24 (Sun), 27 (Wed) |
| Moving in | — |
| Moving house | — |
| Opening a business | 15 (Fri), 27 (Wed) |
| Breaking ground | 15 (Fri), 27 (Wed) |
| Travel | 20 (Wed) |
| Burial | 6 (Wed), 18 (Mon) |
Rated with this site’s simplified almanac rules; only days rated four stars or more are listed. To exclude days that clash with your zodiac sign, use the Pick a date tool on the home page.
Daily almanac
| Date | Lunar date | Day pillar | Officer · god | Clash | Good for | Avoid | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Fri | L3/15 | Yi-Hai | Danger · Jade Hall (auspicious) | Snake, west | Installing a bed, Offerings, Praying for blessings | Wedding, Engagement agreement, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Hanging a signboard, Travel | Birthday of Baosheng Dadi |
| 2 Sat | L3/16 | Bing-Zi | Success · Heavenly Prison (inauspicious) | Horse, south | — | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Demolition, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Starting school, Medical treatment, Planting, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Exhumation | |
| 3 Sun | L3/17 | Ding-Chou | Receive · Dark Warrior (inauspicious) | Goat, east | Wedding, Offerings, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Starting school, Planting, Animal husbandry, Bathing, House cleaning, Catching pests | Taking office, Travel, Medical treatment, Haircut, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave | |
| 4 Mon | L3/18 | Wu-Yin | Open · Life Director (auspicious) | Monkey, north | Medical treatment | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Demolition, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Starting school, Planting, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Exhumation | |
| 5 Tue | L3/19 | Ji-Mao | Open · Dark Warrior (inauspicious) | Rooster, west | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Visiting relatives & friends, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Taoist rites, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Starting school, Medical treatment, Tailoring | Demolition, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Exhumation | Start of Summer, Birthday of the Sun God |
| 6 Wed | L3/20 | Geng-Chen | Close · Life Director (auspicious) | Dog, south | Offerings, Praying for blessings, Building work, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Encoffining, Exhumation | Wedding, Engagement agreement, Visiting relatives & friends, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Medical treatment | Birthday of Zhusheng Niangniang |
| 7 Thu | L3/21 | Xin-Si | Establish · Hooked Array (inauspicious) | Pig, east | Visiting relatives & friends, Offerings, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Receiving wealth, Taking office, Travel, Starting school | Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Demolition, Opening storehouses, Planting, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Encoffining, Exhumation | |
| 8 Fri | L3/22 | Ren-Wu | Remove · Green Dragon (auspicious) | Rat, north | Offerings, Taoist rites, Building work, Demolition, Travel, Medical treatment, Haircut, Bathing, House cleaning, Breaking ground for a grave, Encoffining, Ending mourning, Putting on mourning clothes, Exhumation | Wedding, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Taking office | |
| 9 Sat | L3/23 | Gui-Wei | Full · Bright Hall (auspicious) | Ox, west | Visiting relatives & friends, Offerings, Praying for blessings, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Tailoring, Haircut | Wedding, Betrothal, Breaking ground, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Medical treatment, Planting, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave | Birthday of Mazu |
| 10 Sun | L3/24 | Jia-Shen | Balance · Heavenly Punishment (inauspicious) | Tiger, south | Offerings, Building work, Bathing, House cleaning, Encoffining | Wedding, Engagement agreement, Praying for blessings, Digging a well, Opening a business, Moving house, Moving in, Planting | |
| 11 Mon | L3/25 | Yi-You | Settle · Vermilion Bird (inauspicious) | Rabbit, east | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Visiting relatives & friends, Offerings, Praying for blessings, Consecrating statues, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Trade & contracts, Hanging a signboard, Starting school, Planting, Animal husbandry, Tailoring | Travel, Medical treatment, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave | |
| 12 Tue | L3/26 | Bing-Xu | Initiate · Golden Casket (auspicious) | Dragon, north | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Offerings, Building work, Catching pests | Opening a business, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Travel, Moving house, Moving in | |
| 13 Wed | L3/27 | Ding-Hai | Destruction · Heavenly Virtue (auspicious) | Snake, west | Demolition | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Visiting relatives & friends, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Taoist rites, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Starting school, Medical treatment, Planting, Animal husbandry, Tailoring, Haircut, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Encoffining, Ending mourning, Putting on mourning clothes, Exhumation | |
| 14 Thu | L3/28 | Wu-Zi | Danger · White Tiger (inauspicious) | Horse, south | Offerings | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Starting school, Planting, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Exhumation | |
| 15 Fri | L3/29 | Ji-Chou | Success · Jade Hall (auspicious) | Goat, east | Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Visiting relatives & friends, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Taoist rites, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Starting school, Planting, Animal husbandry, Tailoring, Haircut, Putting on mourning clothes | Wedding, Betrothal, Demolition, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Medical treatment | |
| 16 Sat | L3/30 | Geng-Yin | Receive · Heavenly Prison (inauspicious) | Monkey, north | Wedding, Offerings, Praying for blessings, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Starting school, Planting, Animal husbandry, Bathing, House cleaning, Catching pests | Taking office, Travel, Medical treatment, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave | |
| 17 Sun | L4/1 | Xin-Mao | Open · Dark Warrior (inauspicious) | Rooster, west | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Visiting relatives & friends, Offerings, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Taoist rites, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Starting school, Medical treatment, Tailoring | Demolition, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Exhumation | |
| 18 Mon | L4/2 | Ren-Chen | Close · Life Director (auspicious) | Dog, south | Offerings, Building work, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Encoffining, Exhumation | Wedding, Engagement agreement, Visiting relatives & friends, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Medical treatment | |
| 19 Tue | L4/3 | Gui-Si | Establish · Hooked Array (inauspicious) | Pig, east | Visiting relatives & friends, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Receiving wealth, Taking office, Travel, Starting school | Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Demolition, Opening storehouses, Planting, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Encoffining, Exhumation | |
| 20 Wed | L4/4 | Jia-Wu | Remove · Green Dragon (auspicious) | Rat, north | Offerings, Praying for blessings, Taoist rites, Building work, Demolition, Travel, Medical treatment, Haircut, Bathing, House cleaning, Breaking ground for a grave, Encoffining, Ending mourning, Putting on mourning clothes, Exhumation | Wedding, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Taking office | |
| 21 Thu | L4/5 | Yi-Wei | Full · Bright Hall (auspicious) | Ox, west | Visiting relatives & friends, Offerings, Praying for blessings, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Tailoring, Haircut | Wedding, Betrothal, Breaking ground, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Medical treatment, Planting, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave | Grain Full |
| 22 Fri | L4/6 | Bing-Shen | Balance · Heavenly Punishment (inauspicious) | Tiger, south | Offerings, Building work, Bathing, House cleaning, Encoffining | Wedding, Engagement agreement, Praying for blessings, Digging a well, Opening a business, Moving house, Moving in, Planting | |
| 23 Sat | L4/7 | Ding-You | Settle · Vermilion Bird (inauspicious) | Rabbit, east | Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Visiting relatives & friends, Offerings, Praying for blessings, Consecrating statues, Installing doors, Trade & contracts, Hanging a signboard, Starting school, Planting, Animal husbandry, Tailoring | Wedding, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Opening a business, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Medical treatment, Haircut, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave | |
| 24 Sun | L4/8 | Wu-Xu | Initiate · Golden Casket (auspicious) | Dragon, north | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Offerings, Building work, Catching pests | Opening a business, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Travel, Moving house, Moving in | Buddha's Birthday (Bathing the Buddha) |
| 25 Mon | L4/9 | Ji-Hai | Destruction · Heavenly Virtue (auspicious) | Snake, west | Demolition | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Visiting relatives & friends, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Taoist rites, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Starting school, Medical treatment, Planting, Animal husbandry, Tailoring, Haircut, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Encoffining, Ending mourning, Putting on mourning clothes, Exhumation | |
| 26 Tue | L4/10 | Geng-Zi | Danger · White Tiger (inauspicious) | Horse, south | Offerings | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Starting school, Planting, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Exhumation | |
| 27 Wed | L4/11 | Xin-Chou | Success · Jade Hall (auspicious) | Goat, east | Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Visiting relatives & friends, Offerings, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Taoist rites, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Starting school, Planting, Animal husbandry, Tailoring, Haircut, Putting on mourning clothes | Wedding, Betrothal, Demolition, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Medical treatment | |
| 28 Thu | L4/12 | Ren-Yin | Receive · Heavenly Prison (inauspicious) | Monkey, north | Wedding, Offerings, Trade & contracts, Receiving wealth, Starting school, Planting, Animal husbandry, Bathing, House cleaning, Catching pests | Taking office, Travel, Medical treatment, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave | |
| 29 Fri | L4/13 | Gui-Mao | Open · Dark Warrior (inauspicious) | Rooster, west | Wedding, Betrothal, Engagement agreement, Installing a bed, Visiting relatives & friends, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Taoist rites, Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Trade & contracts, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Starting school, Medical treatment, Tailoring | Demolition, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Exhumation | |
| 30 Sat | L4/14 | Jia-Chen | Close · Life Director (auspicious) | Dog, south | Offerings, Building work, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Encoffining, Exhumation | Wedding, Engagement agreement, Visiting relatives & friends, Praying for children, Consecrating statues, Raising the ridgebeam, Installing doors, Digging a well, Opening a business, Opening storehouses, Hanging a signboard, Taking office, Travel, Moving house, Moving in, Medical treatment | Birthday of Lü Dongbin |
| 31 Sun | L4/15 | Yi-Si | Establish · Hooked Array (inauspicious) | Pig, east | Visiting relatives & friends, Praying for blessings, Praying for children, Receiving wealth, Taking office, Travel, Starting school | Breaking ground, Building work, Raising the ridgebeam, Demolition, Opening storehouses, Planting, Burial, Breaking ground for a grave, Encoffining, Exhumation |
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