May Tree Ceremonies

Kurpark, Pfandl, Perneck, Lauffen, Lindau, Jainzen

Setting up the maypole is an old fertility custom. For the maypole, a beautiful, straight tree with a length of about 30 to 34 metres is selected, felled early on 30 April, cleared of bark and branches and then decorated. According to tradition, the cutting of the bark drives away evil spirits and witches that might be hiding under the bark in the form of beetles.

At the top of the tree, the green top remains, in which, according to Germanic belief, the gods dwell. The wreath symbolises the female element, which is permeated by the male element, the trunk. The connecting ribbons exercise the binding magic and bind, so to speak, the blessing of the thriving.

The maypole is prepared by the Trachtenverein D'Ischler and erected by hand by strong Burchschen according to the old tradition, which can take up to two hours. This is done with the help of long poles, the 'Schwoageln'.

Throughout the night, the tree is closely guarded so that it cannot be stolen or damaged by boys from other places. However, stealing the maypole is subject to very precise rules.