They are often used in the month of May devotions.

There is no firm structure as to the content of a May devotion.

May devotion in the church urging people to participate especially the young.

May devotions have been a regular feature of Catholic life.

The origin of the conventional May devotion is still relatively unknown.

In Belgium the May devotions, at least as a private devotion, were already known by 1803.

Some May devotions may take place outside in a forest or a dedicated special place.

From Italy, May devotions soon spread to France.

In 1747 the Archbishop of Genoa recommended the May devotion as a devotion for the home.

Before Vatican II, May devotions were more popular.

One particular practice characteristic of May devotions is the May altar, whether in a church or as a "house altar" in the home.

During the month of May, May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary take place in many Catholic regions.

While May devotions may differ in various countries, the Marian title Queen of May exists identically in several countries as manifested in Marian songs.

The tradition of May devotions to the Virgin Mary involves various ceremonies such as the singing of Marian hymns, readings from scriptures, a sermon, and singing by local choirs.

In his 1965 encyclical, Mense Maio, Pope Paul VI identified the month of May as an opportune time to incorporate special prayers for peace into traditional May devotions.

The tradition of honoring Mary in a month-long May devotion is believed to have originated in Italy, but spread eventually around the Roman Catholic world in the 19th century together with a month-long devotion to Jesus in June and the Rosary in October.