84 special events to make your May newsletters sparkle

There’s plenty of great content inspiration in May, from Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you) to Get Caught Reading Month (Shakespeare, anyone?). Use these special events in May to inspire your newsletters, ramp up your open rates and delight your subscribers.

National Teacher Day (US) is the best time to celebrate the contributions and support our teachers gave us, which will no doubt carry into the rest of our lives. Teachers, we salute you!

• Newsletter idea: Offer a special discount or email coupon for teachers to treat themselves on this special occasion

This email newsletter from Paperchase offers a special product selection for students to ‘Treat your Teacher’.

May the fourth be with you. Sorry, I couldn't resist! 😅 If you’re a George Lucas fan, then this is the ultimate day to celebrate all things Star Wars. 

• Newsletter idea: Add a short Star Wars trivia email quiz to your campaign to test your subscribers’ knowledge

Just in time for May 4, MeUndies released their very own Star Wars-themed line of underwear and PJs.

Celebrated in Mexico every year, Cinco de Mayo highlights their victory against the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

• Newsletter idea: Decorate your newsletter design with some Mexico-themed graphics to commemorate the occasion

In this company newsletter, Linen Chest celebrates this special event with some fun wordplay and a special discount for its subscribers.

Mother's Day (U.S.) is a golden opportunity to celebrate the mother figures in our lives, and treat them to something special to thank them for everything they do.

• Newsletter idea: Send a countdown email reminding people to buy their Mother’s Day gifts in plenty of time

Remember—this can be a sensitive occasion for some, so it may be a good idea to use segmentation to separate those who do not wish to receive Mother’s Day marketing campaigns. You could send an email several weeks before, allowing them to click and opt out (you can then segment them by link click).

This email newsletter from Papier reminds people to get their Mother’s Day cards before it’s too late.

This is a US federal holiday to remember those who lost their lives serving in the armed forces. People attend ceremonies, decorate with flags, thank veterans and buy poppies.

• Newsletter idea: Offer a special Memorial Day promotion for veterans to thank them for their service

In the Memorial Day newsletter below, Tuft & Needle offers a 15% discount to veterans and first responders to celebrate.

1. Mental Health Awareness Month 

Mental Health Awareness Month began in 1949 and was started by Mental Health America to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention.

• Newsletter idea: Help raise awareness by promoting Mental Health Awareness Month, and sharing a link to the MHA website where people can learn more.

2. Better Hearing And Speech Month

Better Hearing And Speech Month (BHSM) is all about raising awareness of how hearing loss or speech problems can impact communication.

• Newsletter idea: Remind people to check their hearing and speech regularly and link to the BHSM resource page for more information

3. National Bike Month (US)

This month is all about ditching the car and jumping on a bike—it’s fun, it’s healthy, and it’s much better for the planet!

• Newsletter idea: Create a 3-day challenge where your subscribers can only use their bicycles to get around (although this may work better for some regions rather than others 😂)

4. Get Caught Reading Month

Books and words really do make the world go round, so this is the perfect month to lose yourself in some pages.

• Newsletter idea: Share an important book related to your niche/industry, and explain what it taught you

5. National Photography Month (US)

If you’re a photographer, an artist or a creative, this month is the time to celebrate photos in all their forms.

• Newsletter idea: Add an accordion block to your email newsletter, showing different photos of your product/workspace/community or something else linked to your niche

1. Be Kind To Animals Week (May 5—11)

Hosted by the American Humane Association in the US, this week celebrates all the steps made towards improving animal safety everywhere.

• Newsletter idea: Post a selfie with your pet doing something they love, like being out on a walk or eating their favorite snack

2. National Small Business Week (April 28—May 4, 2024)

It’s important to honor the efforts of entrepreneurs and small business owners for their creativity and contribution to the economy.

• Newsletter idea: List your favorite small businesses in your area (or highlight your own), share local industry news, and encourage your subscribers to check out their products

3. National Nurse’s Week (May 6—12)

We owe a lot to nurses, and this week is dedicated to celebrating their life-saving work and contributions.

• Newsletter idea: If you have a close friend or relative who works as a nurse, post a photo of them (with their permission) in your newsletter and give them a shoutout for everything they do

May 1, 2024

• May Day: Have a May Day promotion or discount in your newsletters

• Global Love Day: Tell your subscribers how much you appreciate them, and gift them with a discount or free delivery

May 2, 2024

• Baby Day: Share about your “baby” (e.g. the business you’ve built, the novel you’re writing, or the sport you’re obsessed with)

May 3, 2024

• Garden Meditation Day: Encourage your subscribers to spend some time outdoors, and share a link to a guided meditation that you enjoy

May 4, 2024

• Star Wars Day: See key events

• International Firefighters’ Day: Give a shoutout to your local firefighters for the vital work they do

• Renewal Day: If you’ve been waiting to introduce a new brand style then plaster it over your newsletter in celebration of Renewal Day

• Join Hands Day: Share some advice you received from an older person that impacted you

• World Naked Gardening Day: Actually, please don’t include this in your newsletters 😂

May 5, 2024

• Cinco de Mayo (Mexico): See key events

• Revenge Of The Fifth: Turn to the Dark Side and continue the Star Wars Day celebrations with a Sith-themed email quiz

• Cartoonists Day: Commission a cartoon that links with your business and embed it in your newsletter

• International Midwives’ Day: Link to a charity that supports the training of midwives

• World Laughter Day: Embed a video in your newsletter doing something goofy to make your subscribers laugh

May 6, 2024

• International No Diet Day: Share positive steps your subscribers can take to celebrate themselves the way they are (e.g. throwing out the scales, cooking adventurous new things, eating what they love, etc.)

• No Homework Day: List family-friendly activities so kids can try something new instead of doing their homework

May 7, 2024

• National Teacher Day: See key events

• Poem On Your Pillow Day: Write a poem about your projects and include it in your newsletter

May 8, 2024

• No socks day: "Sockless and stress-free"–This newsletter could focus on the benefits of going sockless, such as feeling more relaxed and comfortable, and offer more tips for reducing stress

• Donate A Day’s Wages To Charity Day: Share a non-profit organization that holds special meaning for you and encourage your audience to donate (P.S. Did you know that MailerLite offers a 30% discount to non-profits?)

May 9, 2024

• Sleepover Day: List some fun family sleepover activities (movie marathons, karaoke, pillowcase drawings, etc.)

• Make a Book Day: Offer practical tips and tutorials for making books, including ideas for different types of bindings, cover designs, and paper choices

May 10, 2024

• Mother Ocean Day: Give a roundup of 5 crazy facts about the ocean (e.g. did you know that we’ve explored less than 5% of our oceans?)

• Military Spouse Appreciation Day: Link to charities that support the families of people in the armed forces

May 11, 2024

• World Fair Trade Day: Link to some of your favorite Fair Trade products

• Stay Up All Night Day: Write about a time when your business/project kept you up all night

• Dog Mom’s Day: Dedicate the P.S. line of your newsletter to your pet

May 12, 2024

• Limerick Day: Write a 5-line limerick poem, and encourage your subscribers to write their own and share them on social media

• Mother’s Day: See key events

May 13, 2024

• World Cocktail Day: Share a recipe for your favorite cocktail so your subscribers can celebrate the day at home

May 14, 2024

• Online Romance Day: Encourage subscribers to send an online love letter to someone they love or share ideas for romantic virtual dates

May 15, 2024

• International Day Of Families: Send an automated email series with free resources for families over the weekend, with a different activity on each day

May 16, 2024

• Drawing Day: If you’re an artist, add a photo of a recent drawing or painting that you did

• Biographers Day: Share your company’s “bio”; the success story of how it all started

May 17, 2024

• International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia: Dedicate this newsletter to the importance of challenging stereotypes and breaking down barriers to create a more inclusive and welcoming society for everyone

May 18, 2024

• Visit Your Relatives Day: Encourage your subscribers to check in on their loved ones today

• International Museum Day: Write about your favorite museum, and explain why it inspired you

• Global Accessibility Awareness Day: Share tips on how your subscribers can make their website more accessible to people with disabilities, with case studies from your own content

May 17, 2024

• Endangered Species Day: Link to a wildlife conservation charity you care about

• World Baking Day: Share the recipe for your favorite baked treats

May 20, 2024

• Be A Millionaire Day: Host a webinar answering FAQs on savings accounts, loans and investments, and add an RSVP button to your email

• Victoria Day (Canada): Mark the official start of the Canadian summer with a Victoria Day promotion for your subscribers

May 21, 2024

• Memo Day: Leave a memo note graphic or GIF in your newsletter, reminding people to check out your new product launch or upcoming event, etc.

• International Tea Day: “Spill the tea” on things your email subscribers can look forward to, such as a giveaway or a new podcast episode

May 22, 2024

• Sherlock Holmes Day: Describe a “puzzle” or challenge you experienced in the early days of starting your business, and how you overcame it

• International Day For Biological Diversity: Share helpful resources about the importance of biological diversity and how humans can reduce their impact on the loss of certain species

May 23, 2024

• National Drinking with Chickens Day: Share fun and creative ways that we can incorporate chickens into our favorite drinks, with recipes and tips for making chicken-themed cocktails

May 24, 2024

• International Tiara Day: Virtually “crown” one of your team members who has been extra amazing this month and give them a shoutout in your newsletter

• Brother’s Day: Share two of your products that complement each other so well that they could be siblings

• Title Track Day: If you’re a music lover, link to a favorite song that also shares the name of the album itself

• Don’t Fry Day: Create an infographic reminding people to stay safe in the sun, and embed it in your newsletter

May 25, 2024

• Geek Pride Day: Share a niche topic that you are unashamedly fascinated by

May 26, 2024

• Paper Airplane Day: Add a printable airplane template to your newsletter with folding lines as a kids’ activity

May 27, 2024

• Cellophane Tape Day: Describe the values and milestones that hold your company together (like cellophane tape)

• Memorial Day: See key events

May 28, 2024

• Amnesty International Day: Direct your subscribers to the Amnesty International page for information, tutorials and resources on how to get involved

May 29, 2024

• International Everest Day: Share a recap of the greatest “height” (aka milestone) your company reached, with testimonials and stories from your time

• Senior Health And Fitness Day: List exercises and activities that older people can follow to stay active

May 30, 2024

• Water A Flower Day: Talk about a project you’re currently nurturing, and what you hope it will become

May 31, 2024

• World No Tobacco Day: Suggest positive habits people on your email list can try to replace tobacco products

• Web Designer Day: Curate a list of top design tips your subscribers should keep in mind to boost their digital marketing efforts

No need to worry about what to put in your next newsletter; these 84 ideas have you covered. Look for creative ways to connect each special event with your business in a way that will resonate with your subscribers, and then rest assured that your email marketing campaigns will be relevant throughout the month!

Now that your May content is done and dusted, it’s time to start planning for June. →