May is traditionally said to be Mary's month, and at St Mary's Cable St, our statue of the Madonna and Child is crowned with a veil during May.

There are differences of opinion about this tradition within the congregation, where some members love the tradition, some disapprove of it, but the majority are probably just slightly bemused by it.

Of course, we honour Mary all year round as the mother of Christ, but the tradition that May is Mary's month apparently dates back to the 13th Century, although it gained in popularity in the 18th Century.  It is probably related to the idea of spring as a time of fertility, and in some churches Mary is given a crown of flowers on May Day.