May 2026 Almanac
A branch of May we have brought you
A branch of May we have brought you,
And at your door it stands,
It is but a sprout, but it’s well budded out
By the work of our Lord’s hands.The hedges and trees they are so green,
As green as any leek,
Our heavenly Father He watered them
With his heavenly dew so sweet.Excerpt from “The Mayers’ Song,” quoted in The Oxford Book of Carols (Percy Dearmer and Vaughan Williams)
In each Almanac, you’ll find a ‘book of days’ to track this month’s HF gatherings & resources, as well as an ever-growing collection of art and resources to help you mark your days throughout May.
Consider saving this post to peek back at it throughout the month!
Pax+bonum, Kristin.
Would you like some music while you read?
Founder Box announcements
MAY 2 | Saturday | Last day to sign up as a Founding Member in time to begin your subscription with the Summer Box!
Online gatherings
MAY 11 | Monday at 10 am Pacific Time | Live tour of the Hearthstone Bookshelves
» For paid subscribers: As we begin a new Library series (in which I share more about the books I lean on for my research and reflection), I’ll be hosting a LIVE tour of my bookshelves and can share more about any books that strike your eye while we’re together!
Fresh Posts & Previous Archives
MAY 1 | Friday | May Day
» Printables: May Pole paper sceneMAY 14 | Thursday | The Ascension
MAY 19 | Tuesday | St. Dunstan’s Day
» Printables: Cover page & Book of Hours pagesSECOND HALF OF MAY: Festal focus reflections, art, & resources shared
MAY 18, 19, 20 | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | Rogation Days
» Printables: Printable prayer by S.E. ReidMAY 24 | Sunday | Pentecost
» Printables: Dove garland
Also this month:
Summer book club selection announced
Start of Hearthstone Bookshelf series
You can also find this calendar of upcoming events posted in the Village Green
+ May 2026 Calendar & Coloring
The May Almanac includes:
May calendar page with a selection of holy days, dip-pen illustrations, and links to connect you with more HF resources
Coloring page featuring my hand-drawn illustrations of May feast emblems
Print out these goodies (I recommend card-stock for the calendar and regular paper for the coloring page), and see how you can integrate the featured holidays into your existing plans!
+ Marian May Basket
This floral printable takes the beloved tradition of creating a May basket and encourages us to mark our days with symbolic flowers throughout the whole month!
Head to the Scriptorium to find your May printables:
HAWTHORN (aka, May Flower)
Crataegus spp.
Symbolism:
The Hawthorn was said to have been used as the Crown of Thorns during Christ’s Passion - Norman peasants wore sprigs in their hats as a reminder of the Crown.
The Glastonbury Thorn - a legendary Hawthorn said to have grown from the staff of St. Joseph of Arimathea - uniquely bloomed twice a year…once in the spring, near the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection, and once in the winter, near his Nativity.
The burning bush is sometimes thought to have been a Hawthorn - a legend that tethers the Haw to the Holy Spirit in symbolic language.
Blessed Virgin Mary’s Purity (its white flowers, often in bloom during Mary’s month of May, recollect her purity)
Purification/Protection (because of its tie to the Crown of Thorns & the Passion of Christ)
Hope (again associated with the Crown of Thorns and, thus, the Resurrection)
Head to the Scriptorium to find your May Herbarium print:
This month, we’ll be steeping in a holiday that helps us bridge Eastertide and Ordinary Time: Trinity Sunday!
Reflections, history, folk traditions, art, and more will be available in the second half of May
Paid members will receive a printable cover page and booklet for their liturgical year binders, as well as a peek into how our liturgical living group celebrates this holiday