May crowning planned at St. Paul School

SALEM — A May tradition will take place at 9 a.m. Monday at St. Paul School, where second-graders will participate in a May crowning.

It had long been a tradition at St. Paul School to do a May Crowning the Monday after Mother’s Day every May for many years. The church has pictures from the World War II era of children participating in the ceremony.

The observance ended for some reason but was revived by Patricia Bauman, now principal, when she was a second-grade teacher in 1988. She planned a service and all the second-grade students wore their First Communion apparel.

The May Crowning rite dates back to Pope Gregory XVI in 1837. Today, May crowning occurs in many Roman Catholic parishes and homes.

The ceremony traditionally takes place with young girls in their best dresses carrying flowers, traditionally hawthorn, to adorn the statue. One of the girls, often the youngest, carries a crown of flowers or an actual golden crown on a cushion for placement by the May queen, usually the oldest girl. The flowers are replaced throughout the month.

Being selected to place the flower wreath upon the head of the Mary statue is a special honor.