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31 May: what is celebrated today
31 May is a date bound by a common idea: shared responsibility. Caring for the body, protecting the most vulnerable, preserving life—human and non-human—and not forgetting those still awaiting justice and recognition. This day brings together different causes, united by the same question: what kind of world are we building and whom are we leaving out of it?
World No Tobacco Day
Every 31 May brings a necessary pause in the face of one of the most harmful and normalised habits of the last century. World No Tobacco Day does not merely point out the risks of consumption, but focuses on the strategies that for decades have disguised harm with aesthetics, marketing and false promises of freedom.
To talk about tobacco today is to talk about public health, the environment and social justice. It is about the importance of protecting children, supporting those who want to stop smoking and dismantling a narrative that has turned an addiction into an everyday consumer product.
International Cabin Crew Day
Thousands of metres above the ground, when the ground disappears, trust is placed in those who work quietly between narrow aisles and pressurised cabins. International Cabin Crew Day recognises a profession in which safety, care and composure are as important as courtesy.
Beyond the impeccable uniform, cabin crew are professionals trained to deal with emergencies, care for passengers and remain calm when the journey becomes uncertain. Celebrating them means recognising an essential profession in the contemporary world.
World Foster Care Day
Not all children grow up in the home imagined for them at birth. World Foster Care Day values those who open their homes temporarily to offer stability, affection and routine to minors going through complex situations.
Foster care does not replace the family of origin, but accompanies children while a difficult reality is resolved. This day reminds us that a family environment, even a provisional one, can make a profound difference to a child’s emotional and social development.
World Parrot Day
Colourful, intelligent and deeply social, parrots represent the richness and fragility of wildlife. World Parrot Day seeks to warn about the threats facing many of their species: habitat destruction, illegal trafficking and irresponsible captivity.
Celebrating this day means learning to see these birds beyond their beauty. It means understanding that protecting parrots involves preserving entire ecosystems and taking on a more respectful relationship with the natural world.
European Week Against Cancer
31 May coincides with the close of European Week Against Cancer, a collective reminder that prevention and early diagnosis remain fundamental tools against a complex and widespread disease.
This week places the emphasis on information, access to treatments and human support. Talking about cancer is not only about medicine, but also about public policy, lifestyle habits and support systems that leave no one behind.
International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories
During the last week of May, the calendar turns its attention to territories and peoples that have not yet achieved full self-government. International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories invites reflection on rights, resources and self-determination.
It is not an abstract observance: it concerns identity, dignity and the need to ensure that these communities can decide their future, protect their resources and preserve their culture in a world that advances unevenly.