Der Maibaum • The Maypole

The month of May in Germany and Europe is not only the first month when it’s nice to be outside again, it is a month of many traditions. It all starts on the eve of May Day, on Walpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht), the night that passes from April 30 to May 1. In many parts of Germany and Northern Europe this is a night of bonfires and other customs welcoming the arrival of spring and bidding adieu to winter.

Holidays and Celebrations > May Day and Maypoles

The Maypole (Maibaum) standing at Munich’s Viktualienmarkt. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

The next day, May Day, in most parts of the world is Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit in German), the USA being one of the few exceptions. In Berlin, as Erin has written, May Day is a day of protest and rioting, and nothing like May Day in Bavaria and most of Germany. But the rest of May in most of German-speaking Europe is a time for cherry blossoms, Maypoles, and other customs.

As usual, the Romans did it first. The festival of Floralia, honoring Flora, the goddess of flowering plants, ran from April 28 to May 3 and symbolized the springtime renewal of the cycle of life. Men were bedecked with flowers, the women brightly dressed during the six-day celebration that featured behavior and dress (or the lack thereof) that was normally verboten. Singing, dancing, food and drink abounded. About a month later, on May 23, it was time to celebrate Flora yet again – with the rose festival. Flora’s twin sister, Fauna, was the goddess of animals and wildlife, giving us the English expression “flora and fauna.”

“Alles neu macht der Mai”
As the Germans say, “May makes everything new.” The first day of the month is more than just a day off. It’s a real beginning in many ways: The new annual Maypole is set up (or the old one is freshened up), the first Maibock beer is poured, the cherry blossoms and Maiglöckchen (Lily of the valley; May bells) can be enjoyed in full bloom, and lovers may reveal their secret crush in unique ways (more below). But the most important part of Germanic May traditions is the Maypole. One could say everything revolves around the Maypole. Let’s take a closer look.

Germanic Maypole Customs

Most people have seen a Maypole, either an actual one or in pictures. But few are aware of the interesting rituals and requirements related to a proper Maypole. Let’s examine the how, what, where, and why of Maypoles.

Maypole Origins
Today’s Maypole, a tall tree trunk with a green top and a “crown” near the top, dates from the 16th century in northern Europe. It is difficult to place a specific date and location, but the Maypole tradition seems to be a mix of pagan and Christian rituals related to the advent of spring and the departure of winter. Most Maypole historians cast doubt on the popular assertion of its fertility symbolism. That is certainly not an element of the Maypole tradition today.

What is a Maypole?
In German a Maypole is a “May tree” (der Maibaum). Every Maypole begins as a tree – but not just any tree. Someone has to find the right tree, cut it down, and then process it to create a Maypole. In Bavaria and other parts of southern Germany most communities have a club known as the Burschenverein, a group of young men in what is something like a local 4-H Club (US) or a Young Farmers’ Club (UK). Each locality has its own rules and traditions, developed since the 19th century, concerning the Maypole.

An unpainted Maypole in Wörth an der Donau, Bavaria. In some localities a Maypole may be left plain. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

A week or two prior to May 1, the Burschenverein members go out into the forest to find a suitable pine or spruce tree, strong and straight, and usually 65 to 80 feet (20-25 m) in length. Taller, more permanent poles can reach heights of 185 feet (56 meters). The chosen tree must be trimmed, smoothed, and painted before it is ceremoniously raised in a prominent spot, usually the town or market square. Hoisting a Maypole is properly done by manpower. Again the Burschenverein members’ sweat and toil, helped by ropes and wooden poles for support, is what gets the Maypole set into the ground and standing tall. For safety and other reasons, in larger cities tractors and cranes are used, but purists consider that cheating.

Before it is set up on May Day, the pole needs to be painted in the local or regional colors and design pattern. In Bavaria this means a blue-and-white (Bavarian flag colors) spiral turning from left to right from the bottom to the top. In Franconia (Franken) the pole displays red and white stripes. (In many smaller communities the Maypole is left bare.) Near the top of the pole a circular “crown” with garlands hangs on support lines. Fancier Maypoles are also decorated with the signs of local guilds and clubs on horizontal metal or wood bars. In most cases there is a procession and some sort of ceremony on May Day to commemorate the new Maypole. A May Queen (Maikönigin) also may be selected for the occasion.

Stealing the Maypole
A key part of the Maypole tradition is called Maibaumstehlen (stealing the Maypole). It is assumed by all involved that there will be an attempt by one village to steal another’s Maypole. In fact it is such an integral part of the Maypole ritual that there are rules for stealing a Maibaum! Most towns have volunteer guards in place to protect the local Maypole, which, by the way, can only be stolen BEFORE it is set into the ground and raised. Some communities even use video surveillance in an effort to prevent any theft. Once a Maypole has been snatched away, a ransom demand is not only expected but required.

Honor Among Thieves
There are very specific rules pertaining to when and how a Maypole should be stolen – and even regarding who can steal one. (Only persons who have set up their own Maypole are allowed to steal a neighboring village’s pole. Stealing your own town’s Maibaum is a no-no.) Originally a pole could only be stolen on Walpurgis Night, on the eve of May Day. But nowadays the Maypole is typically cut down and prepared much earlier, so that rule no longer applies.

Stealing a Maypole is a type of elaborate prank, with each village vying for the honor of pulling off an “impossible” theft. One of the most notorious thefts was that of the Maypole atop Germany’s highest peak, the Zugspitze (8,520 ft/2,600 m). In 2004 the 20-meter tall Zugspitze Maypole was stolen for the second time since it was first snatched in 1996. The 2004 theft was not a simple prank, since it involved a helicopter hoisting what is advertised as “the world’s highest Maypole.” But that stunt was carried out with the help of the Franco-German TV broadcaster ARTE. As is the case for all Maypole heists, a ransom was demanded for the return of the Zugspitze pole, but it was not the customary beer and snacks. Accounts vary, but the demands included a number of season lift tickets and restaurant meals.

The Rules for Stealing a Maypole
They vary by region, but in addition to those mentioned above, here are some sample rules for Maypole theft in Bavaria:

• The Maypole must be stolen clandestinely, without being detected before it is relocated to the community that stole it.
• The pole must not be stolen from within the forest. Timber theft is illegal. The pole must already be located somewhere in the town that owns it.
• The pole may not be cut or damaged in any way.
• If the thieves are discovered within the community in the act of stealing the Maypole, they have to return it.
• No violence against Maypole guards is allowed. If a guard places his hand on the pole, he is safe and the theft has failed.
• Involving the police is not only frowned upon, it could result in disgrace for those who did so.
• Only the Maypole itself may be stolen. No signs or decorative attachments may be taken.
• Stealing your own town’s stolen pole back is allowed, but the standard rules still apply.
• Following a successful theft, ransom negotiations begin. No excessive demands or lawyers are permitted.
• In the unlikely event that ransom negotiations fail, the stolen pole becomes a Schandbaum, a “pole of shame” with a plaque announcing the disgrace. Later the stolen pole is sawn into sections and auctioned off.
• In the end, peace should be restored. Any ill will should be set aside, with sights set on next year’s friendly rivalry.

In some villages there is a tradition of special “Maypole police.” As noted in the rules above, getting the regular police involved in a Maypole theft case is verboten. But the Maipolizei, also called the Mairemmel or Dörpremmel, is a small volunteer unit that makes sure that the Maypole theft rules are followed. The Maypole police can even assess fines for violations. They also may have other honorary roles in carrying out the Maypole ceremonies.

Small Maypoles of Love: Liebesmaien
Especially in smaller communities a popular Maypole tradition involves single men who want to express their love for a young lady in the town or village. The tradition varies by location, but essentially a young man sets up a small Maypole (about 20 ft/6 m), usually made from beech trees (Birken), adorned with colorful crepe paper or a large red paper heart (Maiherz) bearing the name of the intended or a short romantic verse. Depending on local custom, the “Love Maypole” may be placed in front of a particular maiden’s house. In some smaller communities Liebesmaien are placed in front of the houses of all the unmarried ladies. The small Love Maypole generally remains in place for about a month before the young man retrieves it. Usually this is associated with a response from the lady, perhaps even an invitation for dinner. In Baden-Württemberg the Love Maypole custom is known as Maienstecken.

In recent years, in parts of Germany, this custom has been made “softer” and more general, with young ladies receiving several small Maypoles as an honor or recognition, without any intention of a relationship. In areas of the Lower Rhine region the roles are reversed: Young women now set out poles for young men. This has long been the case in leap years in some towns where the Maypole custom is observed.

Before we move on, a brief mention of the opposite of the Liebesmaien: the so-called Schandmaien, or “pole of dishonor.” This is a sign of hostility or disrespect meant as payback for some incident or behavior. Fortunately, it is fairly rare.

A midsummer pole in Bromarv, Finland. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

Where Is the Maypole Custom Found?
The Puritans in England considered the Maypole custom immoral and pagan. The British Parliament banned Maypoles altogether in 1644. Of course that ban is no longer in force, but that problem never arose in German-speaking Europe in the first place. Today the Maypole custom is most prominent in southern Germany and Austria, but it is also found in other parts of Germany and Europe. Maypoles on May Day and in some locations for Pentecost/Whitsun (Pfingsten, 50 days after Easter Sunday, between 10 May and 13 June) are found in:

GERMANY – Federal States (Bundesländer) or Regions

• Baden – the western part of Baden-Württemberg
• Bavaria (Bayern)
• The Rhineland (das Rheinland) – mostly smaller Love Maypoles
• Saarland
• Emsland
• North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
• Franconia (Franken)
• East Frisia (Ostfriesland)
• Swabia (Schwaben)
• Palatinate (Pfalz)
• Saxony (Sachsen) – only in parts
• Upper Lusatia (Oberlausitz) – in the Bautzen and Görlitz districts bordering Poland

OTHER COUNTRIES
The Maypole custom is also found in other European countries. In Sweden the “Maypole” is a “midsummer pole” (midsommarstång) with ceremonies in June, a custom made famous by the feature film Midsommar (2019).

• Austria (Österreich)
• Belgium (Belgien)
• Great Britain (Großbritannien) – regional (Morris-men in Bedfordshire; Yorkshire, Warwickshire)
• Czech Republic (Tschechien)
• Ireland (Irland) – now only in Holywood on the first Monday in May
• Slovakia (die Slowakei)
• Slovenia (Slowenien)
• Sweden (Schweden) – in June
• Finland (Finnland) – regional, in June

In the United States the Maypole custom is found only at Renaissance faires, and Maypole dancing is usually reserved for children. In Canada Maypole dances are sometimes seen as part of Victoria Day celebrations in May. In New Westminster, British Columbia, dancing around the Maypole and May Day celebrations have been held for a century and a half.

Other May Traditions

Watch for more about other Germanic May customs coming soon. These include…

• May Bonfires (Maifeuer)
• Maibock beer
• Dancing around the Maypole (Maitanzen)
• Auction of May Brides ((Rhineland), Versteigerung von Maibräuten)
• May Festival (Maifest)
• Cherry blossom time (Kirschblüte)

Next | Holidays and Celebrations

Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• The Month of May in Germany – A GW Expat Blog post by Erin
• Walpurgisnacht: Annotated English-German Glossary
• Easter and Other Movable Feasts in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• History of Germany – A summary of German history from the 9th century to the present
• History & Culture – Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• Cultural Comparisons: The USA and Germany – Comparison charts