May is the month of Mary. As we celebrate the beginning of spring, a number of flowers have been particularly associated with her life in art, poetry, theology and worship.
May is the month of Mary and this custom was established in the 13th century, but its roots go back as far as the Ancient Greeks. In early Greece, May was dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of fertility. The Greek celebration was known as Protomagia (May Day) and involved floral processions and wreath-making to welcome the arrival of spring.
In Ancient Rome, May was dedicated to Flora, the goddess of flowers or blossoms. The Romans celebrated the beauty of flowers at the end of April and asked the intercession of Flora for all that blooms.
The word ‘May’ probably derives its name from the Roman deity Maia, named after the Greek word for nurse and mother, reflecting her role as the nurturing mother of Hermes.
In Mediaeval times, similar flower shows and rituals were popular, centred around the practice of dispelling the winter season. The 1st May was considered the start of new growth and it was during the month of May, that the Mediaeval tradition of a Thirty-Day Devotion to Mary was established.
All these elements make May an appropriate month to focus on Mary the mother of Jesus. This custom became especially widespread during the 19th century and remains in practice today.
There are just under 500 flowers, herbs and plants named after Mary with the most popular being the lily and the rose.
The two most significant flowers associated with Our Lady are the lily and the rose. Fleur Dorrell explores their meaning and role in the history of the church and in religious art.
