I attended a memorial service yesterday at a catholic church in Burlingame. It was a beautiful service and a great tribute to a wonderful woman, During the service I noticed the statue of Mother Mary in front to of the alter with a crown of flowers on her head.
My first thought was hey it’s May, then a bunch on memories flooding me from all of the May Days that we celebrate in parochial school in the city in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Fond memories, of Mom helping me make a flower crown that I would bring to school to take part in the procession then put my crown on the Queen of May. After all those May Day celebrations, I can still sing the song to this day. “We gather ‘round your shrine today, to crown you as the queen of May Ave Maria.”
The crowning of a statue of the Virgin Mary with a crown of flowers is a key feature in many Catholic parochial schools. This act symbolizes the honor given to Mary during the month of May, which is traditionally dedicated to her in the Catholic Church. This is one of many celebrations that happens at the beginning of May to celebrate spring. One of the most iconic May Day traditions is the maypole dance, where people dance around a tall pole decorated with ribbons and flowers. The dancers weave intricate patterns with the ribbons as they move around the pole.
My mother and her family were dancers at Betty May Dance Studios, she often told me stories of a traditional celebration of May Day at the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park. The celebration typically involved various activities including dance performances, Maypole dances, and other festivities that honor the arrival of spring.
I also have visions of druids gathering flowers and greenery dancing under the moonlight, celebrating nature and the arrival of spring.
As a summer guy, I enjoy spring and all it represents, the longer days, the warmer weather, the flowers in bloom, the green fields, and the images of summer days ahead.
Let me know what you think.
