Parishes and schools honor Our Blessed Mother this month with May crownings. While the origins of the tradition are said to reach back to the 16th century, images of Mary and Jesus wearing gold crowns can be found much earlier in early Eastern iconography. In the West, the practice of publicly crowning a statue of the Blessed Mother gained popularity in the 19th century. To do a May crowning in your own home, visit websites like www.TheReligionTeacher.com that list prayers and delve into the reasons behind the act of devotion.