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The Beauty of German Maypole Celebrations and Welcoming Spring

German maypole celebrations are centuries old. Raising the maypole tree and having maypole dances around it is a must-see on any Germany itinerary.


One of the great things about living in Germany is that we get to experience some of the traditions that would be difficult to plan as a traveler. There are so many very date specific events on the calendar, all year round, that scheduling the best time to visit to attend these events is difficult.

In this article, you will learn about:

Dancers in traditional Bavarian clothes dance around the Maypole.

Hoisting the German Maypole – A Bavarian Tradition

That being said, we’ve lived in Germany off and on for 11 years now and we have never been to the hoisting of the German Maypole. Until now, that is.

We found out on Friday that our little city of Weiden (population 42,000) was having their annual Maibaum celebration this past Sunday, May 1st, of course. There had been no advertising for the event, it was merely an entry on the city’s official website calendar.

Weiden's Maypole emblems and shields.
Dancing the ribbon around the Maypole.

Sunday morning came and the town was as un-bustling as any other Sunday. Our apartment is right downtown and our terrace overlooks one of the main parking lots.

We had read the Maypole would be lifted at 2:00 P.M. so with the parking lot still empty at 1:30 we left for the short walk with uncertainty.

Preparing the Maypole for hoisting.
The Maibaum arrives under guard and is lifted from the truck.

Had we read the post correctly? Was the event really taking place where we thought it was, in the market square about 5 minutes walk from our house? 

As we got closer to the beautiful medieval town hall we could begin to hear snatches of noise and music and our hopes lifted.

We came around the final corner into the Marktplatz and there the fest tables and benches, lined up in neat, compact rows waiting to fill up with jolly beer-drinking townsfolk.

The bands hadn’t started playing yet, but the grill was smoking and the beer was beginning to flow. People were trickling into the square a few at a time. We grabbed a wurst and a hefty liter mug of Maibock beer and claimed a seat to await the Maibaum.

Maypole in Germany Traditions and History

I suppose a little background is called for here for those of you who aren’t familiar with the Maypole tradition. Raising the Maypole on the first day of May in celebration of the beginning of spring goes back to the 13th century in Bavaria.

It seems like every city, town or village has its own Maypole that gets raised anew each year, making maypole traditions in Germany an extremely important cultural event.

Colorful decorations on Weiden's Maypole.
The Maypole is off the truck, the wreaths are hanging free, and the pole will be lifted up high into the air.
Workers secure the Maypole in the ground.
Hoisting the Maibaum is a highly technical exercise that requires a handful of specialists.

The pole can be plain, unpainted wood, or more decoratively painted in the blue and white colors of Bavaria, but each will have signs and decorations representing the different trades, guilds, and, in the case of Weiden, famous hometown heroes.

A small bit of the actual tree growth is left sprouting out the very top of the pole and wreaths and ribbons are hung to further liven up the Maibaum or the Bavarian maypole.

Positioning the Maypole over its final resting place.
Standing tall and ready for “planting.”

Every Maypole is in danger of being stolen and held for ransom by rival towns in the region. And I imagine our own group of ne’er-do-wells was plotting and scheming to steal the neighbor towns pole. A successful raid can result in a hefty ransom of beer and food for the skillful group able to pull of the heist of a Maibaum.

What shame for the poor town to lose their pole! At last, our Maypole came into the square under the watchful eyes of the young men and women who had been guarding the pole for the past several days while it was being prepared for the hoisting.

Controlling the Maypole hoist.
Another specialist, this man operates the crane.

After some brass band music, dancing, eating and drinking, it was time to hoist the Maypole. In years past, this was a tedious, sweaty job that involved much straining and back work.

Today, however, the job was done with the help of a massive crane that lifted the tree off the truck and swung it into place. There was still some grunting and cursing as the small team of Maibaum experts “planted” the massive pole in the ground in the middle of town.

Weiden's Maypole.
Adding the finishing touches to the Maibaum.
Slapping feet as they dance around the maypole.
Getting ready to start the Maibaum dance.

Traditional German Maypole Dance

Once the Maibaum had been hoisted and was swaying gently in the wind the music and dancing really ramped up. There were two small bandstands set up at either end of the platz and the two bands worked back and forth to keep the celebration going.

Eventually one of the bands packed up and left, leaving the stage available for the town’s dancing clubs to show of their talents.

Dressed in traditional outfits of dirndl and lederhosen, the folk groups took the stage and whirled, clapped, stamped, and danced to the merriment of the now very bustling crowd.

Then, the moment we had been waiting for, the dancers circled the Maypole and danced the Maibaum German dance, wrapping the base of the pole with the blue and white ribbons as they stepped through an intricate series of moves and twirls.

Skirts billow as dancing around the maypole is so fast and fun.
The dance is in full swing!

By the time the Maypole dance began, most of the festgoers were deep into their mugs of beer and continued to party away while the dancers danced.

The whole afternoon felt to me as if the town had just dressed up and come out to sing, dance, and celebrate for themselves; this wasn’t put on for tourists or visitors, though we certainly felt welcome and part of the event. It was a magical afternoon that I hope we managed to capture through our video.

Chances are, if you’ve been to Germany, you came to experience Oktoberfest in the fall. That’s certainly a good reason to visit Deutschland, but having done that, you really should consider visiting in other parts of the year, too. Why not spring?

Plan your next trip to coincide around the festive Maibaum celebrations and enjoy gorgeous weather, flowering gardens, and everything springtime in Germany has to offer!

Smiles everywhere as dad and son enjoy the maypole celebrations.
More waves and smiles as men in Bavarian traditional costume get in the spirit.

Conclusion

For some of the many Maibaum Germany fest times and places check the official Bavaria tourism website. And tell us, have you ever attended or participated in a May Pole celebration? Let us know in the comments below!

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Pin German Maypole Dance 

German Maypole dances. Find out when, where and how to enjoy them.

California Globetrotter

Wednesday 26th of April 2017

I have been looking for such a Maibaum little festival! I've been to one near Regensburg in a small quarter called Prüfening, and I so wanted to go again this year, but now I'm working on Monday :( Pinned for next year! (#40 from MappinMonday)

Corinne Vail

Thursday 27th of April 2017

Some of them might be the night before, and I don't know what time you are finished with work, but many of them are in the afternoon around three. I think you would have to check each town's calendar to see if there is one that you could go to. happy May Day either way.

Elaine Schoch

Tuesday 14th of March 2017

Looks pretty complicated. I'd be afraid I'd totally mess it up!

Corinne Vail

Wednesday 15th of March 2017

Elaine, Me too, but it sure is pretty!

Marcia

Tuesday 10th of May 2016

I'm smiling as I read this. We, my church, that is, used to have a Maypole Dance each year but I've never seen the hoisting of the May Pole. Honestly, I'd never even thought about it - it was there when we arrived. (I made a passing reference to the Maypole in my current post.) The Maypole arrive in Jamaica with the British. I didn't know there was a German connection as well. Thanks for sharing this, Corinne!

Corinne Vail

Tuesday 10th of May 2016

Marcia, How wonderful that you have this tradition as well and were able to be a part of it. Wonderful!

Lyn aka TheTravellingLindfields

Saturday 7th of May 2016

This looks like so much fun but you are right - sometimes it is hard as a tourist to co-ordinate your plans with these kind of celebrations, especially smaller celebrations. I love the idea of plotting to 'kidnap' maypoles from neighbouring towns.

Corinne Vail

Sunday 8th of May 2016

Lyn, And yet as travelers this is what we crave most, I think.

Rosemary Kneipp

Thursday 5th of May 2016

Hi, we've only been to Bavaria in June, July and September as we are keen cyclists and May is still a bit earlier for us, but the May Day tradition looks wonderful. Maybe when I retire we'll get to experience it.

Corinne Vail

Friday 6th of May 2016

Rosemary, Germany certainly can be chilly in May, especially in the mornings. If you do get to see it one day I think you'll really enjoy it. It was beautiful.