Born on May 20
World Bee Day
A thank-you to the busiest workers.
Next: May 20, 2027
Where it comes from
World Bee Day falls on the birthday of Anton Janša, born on 20 May 1734 in Breznica, Slovenia, into a family of beekeepers. Trained as a painter in Vienna, he turned to bees full time in 1769, and in 1770 Empress Maria Theresa made him the first imperial teacher of beekeeping, at a new school in the Augarten.
How it's celebrated
Since the first World Bee Day in 2018, hundreds of activities have been held around the world each year, and FAO gathers them on an online map. Beekeepers, farmers, schools and governments use the day to talk about pollinators and the threats they face.
Did you know
Slovenian beekeepers once decorated the fronts of their hives with painted panels; the oldest known one is dated 1758.
Read the full story of World Bee Day
Also on this day
- World Metrology Day · Why a kilogram is a kilogram everywhere.
Star sign
Taurus · April 20 – May 20 · Earth sign
Steady and loyal, with a weakness for good food and comfortable things.