While there has been a degree of continuity in the format and scheduling of the annual National Famine Commemoration ceremony, the date of the ceremony, as well as the artistic and cultural elements, may change from year to year. It has proved possible in most years it to schedule the Commemoration on the second Sunday in May. However, it has not been considered desirable to fix the same date each year, given the factors that may need to be considered, such as the site selection process, the availability of the lead person to officiate at the ceremony and the general arrangements at community level.