The Maypole – tradition with heathen origins.

"Guys, let’s go, off we go – together – heave ho!" This could be an appeal for the strong men of a village when the maypole is set up on May 1st. After a long night, the so-called "Freinacht" from April 30th to May 1st, a big party is being celebrated in most of Bavaria's communities. After quite some efforts - the trees are heavy and only being put in position by man power and long stacks, the so-called "Schwaiwaln" - the audience acknowledges the guys with a relieved applause and gets beer to the boys. On a sunny day the jamboree starts around the tree whose symbol shares a long tradition.

The Kelts are said to have celebrated May 1st as their most important holiday and that on this day ritual blood sacrifices had been made at a tree. It can alsoget bloody during the popular maypole stealing when the defending party meets the stealing one. Besides the set-up is quite stressful, depending on the size of tree.

Stealing the maypole has a great tradition and strict rules in Bavaria, other parts of Germany and Austria. The tree has to be felled already, located in the village and can only be stolen during Walpurgis Night. Since the tree is looked after the stealing is somewhat a mission impossible. If you still succeed and the pole has made it out of town, it has to be redeemed with natural produces  (food & beverages). If the negotiations fail, e.g. because of the thieves' high claims, they set it up in their village as a stigma and is sawn after a someweeks. The wood is then be auctioned for charity causes.

Almost every community in Bavaria and Austria has a huge maypole in the centre of their village. In many places the trees are not only a symbol of tradition, but reflect the crafts of the communities and towns. Craftsmen emblems are being applied at the trees, great to look at and representing the economic strength of the town.

Often wise sayings decorate the maypole, e.g. this one: "My village esteeming the tradition, has set me up with united powers. So look at me in detail and always keep in mind that one man alone can achieve nothing." Thus, the maypole symbolizes the community, standing together and demonstrating strength.

by Dietmar Stanka