Maypole & Co

It is easy to work out this house in hte village contains a 60 year old man, his wife and two daughters. It says so on the blanket tied to the garage door, a homage from the 3 girls to birthday boy, Gerhard.

But today is about May Poles & their smaller cousins, the "Liebesmaien, which is attached to the garden fence'. It is also a public holiday, albeit this year a Sunday.

I have Bliped Liebesmaien before. with an explanation.Bur here some more:

Liebesmaien and what they are all about

They look tiny next to the big maypoles: the love maypoles. These are young birch trees that young men put in front of their loved one's door as a token of love on the night of May Day. An almost forgotten custom.

If you walk the streets on 1st May,, there is a young birch tree on many  houses, which are decorated with all kinds of colourful crepe and on which a small cardboard heart with the name of a girl hangs. Tokens of love from male admirers who express their affection with these so-called Liebesmaien.This Maie then stands in front of the loved one's doorstep for a month before the setter picks up his tree again on June 1st - and hopes for a reward. If the chemistry between the two is right, the girl invites the boy to dinner. Or just give him a kiss.

Mays of love are always young birches. On the one hand because they are a symbol of strength and will to live and on the other hand because the birch is the first tree to flower after winter. But since not everyone has a birch tree at home, many end up looking for a suitable tree either in the forest or even in the neighbour's front yard. Once the tree is there, the problems really start. Because on the night of the first of May, thieves who are after the love Mays are also up to mischief. Either to play a trick on the tree stand or to thin out the competition with a particularly popular girl. That's why love mays should also be well secured with a rope or chain.

The custom of Liebesmaien has its roots in the Middle Ages. As early as the 13th century, young men gave love to their sweethearts. In the 16th century the trees served another purpose: soldiers brought them to the mayors of a city to propitiate them and get permission to billeted there. Nowadays, however, the Liebesmaien can only be found in a few parts of Bavaria, including Swabia.