St. Joseph the Worker, May 1
Pope Pius XII created this memorial in 1955, placing the carpenter of Nazareth at the head of May Day, the international day of workers. It presents work as a share in God’s creation and a path to holiness. Joseph’s main solemnity remains March 19.
On the General Roman Calendar, May 1 is an optional memorial: Saint Joseph the Worker.
Other saints on May 1
- St. Jeremiah, prophet
- St. Brioc, Welsh monk in Brittany (6th century)
Name days on May 1
In countries that keep name days, May 1 is the day for people named Jeremiah and Jeremy. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Jeremiah | May 1 |
| Jeremy | May 1 |
May 1 on the calendar
May 1 is the 121st day of the year (the 122nd in a leap year), with 244 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | Saturday |
| 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | Wednesday |
Keeping May 1
May 1 falls in May, the month of Mary. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Jeremiah and Jeremy, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around May 1
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| April 28 | St. Peter Chanel |
| April 29 | St. Catherine of Siena |
| April 30 | St. Pius V |
| May 2 | St. Athanasius |
| May 3 | Sts. Philip and James |
| May 4 | St. Florian |
The day before, April 30, is the day of St. Pius V. The day after, May 2, belongs to St. Athanasius. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.