How to Plan a May Crowning for Kids

May is almost here! For a fun activity that both children and parents will enjoy, consider holding a May Crowning!

What is a May Crowning?

It is a centuries-old tradition in the Catholic Church where we honor Mary as Queen of Heaven! Traditionally held in the month of May (which is dedicated to Our Lady), it usually involves families processing with flowers to crown a Mary statue and pray for her intercession!

Whether you’re a veteran at May Crownings, or this is your first time, here are the 5 EASY steps to holding a May Crowning with your family!

First, find a statue of Mary

It can be one in your home or garden. If you don’t have one, ask if there is another family who would lend theirs for the occasion (I’m sure they would love to participate in the celebration!) or check your local Catholic store to see if they have any in stock! 

The size of the statue doesn’t matter (though it will determine the size of your flower crown). 

You could even crown a statue at your local parish! Perhaps they have a grotto where a beautiful May Crowning could occur after a daily or Sunday Mass.

Next, make a wreath of flowers

Use a wire to measure the distance around Mary’s head. Then, weave real or artificial flowers around the circle. You can use any type of flower you would like. Traditionally, hawthorn flowers were used (see picture for reference). However, any flowers would be beautiful for the flower crown!

If flowers are hard to come by in your area in early May, you can also cut a band of fabric or felt to fit Mary’s head, and hot-glue felt “flowers” around it.

Feel free to add a bow of ribbons or lace as well to make it even more beautiful for Our Lady!

Next, gather family and friends to process to the statue

If it is warm enough for fresh flowers, it is fun to give each person (or child) a flower to carry as you process to the Mary statue. Once there, have everyone place their individual flowers in empty vases around the statue. Then, someone can crown Mary with the flower crown–in our family, it was that year’s 1st Communicant who was given this responsibility.

Once Mary is crowned, say a prayer

Once you crown Mary, you’ll want to say a simple prayer asking for her intercession. As Queen of Heaven, she can bring our requests to God on our behalf. Here’s a beautiful children’s book that illustrates this idea!

Here’s a few ideas for kid-friendly prayers: 

• 1-3 Hail Marys
• The Angelus 
• A decade of the Rosary
• Hail Holy Queen
• The Memorare
• The Magnificat

Want to pray the entire Rosary, but not sure your littles will sit still? Try playing a Holy Heroes Rosary CD for your May Crowning (they also come as MP3 downloads that can be played from your phone). Or, give tiny hands these beautiful picture books to look through and take turns leading each Mystery! 

Finally, pick a hymn to sing to Mary

A beautiful way to wrap up this Marian tradition is with an appropriate hymn. There are lots of beautiful, traditional hymns to Mary! Check these ideas out: 

• Regina Caeli (as sung by the Holy Hero Adventure Guides…perfect for the Easter season!)
• Bring Flowers of the Rarest (the classic May crowning song)
• Salve Regina
• Ave Maria 
• Ave Maris Stella
• Daily, Daily Sing to Mary
• Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above
• Sing of Mary
• Immaculate Mary
• Holy is His Name
• Hail Mary Gentle Woman
• O Sanctissima

There are many arrangements on YouTube that you can sing along to if your family is not as musically inclined and nervous about singing unaccompanied!

BONUS: After you finish crowning Mary, surprise them with these coloring pages about Mary’s apparitions! You can aslo read your kids one of these gorgeous picture books about Mary.