The power of social traditions

The Maibaum remains an important social and cultural tradition in Germany, and is an event of popular festivity. Each town makes a Maibaum and erects it on a prominent square. And each Maibaum is constructed differently although the basic design is the same. There is one long log from a tree that has been completely denuded of its branches except for the very top where there is usually a small tuft of branches. About five feet or so from the top is a circle of branches woven together which is suspended and hangs as a loop around the log. Then there are decorative materials, plaques that identify the major occupations of the town, ribbons, wreaths, whatever the volunteer group in charge of building and setting up the maypole deem fit for that year.

The towns compete with each other to put up the best Maibaum and Horn is no exception. On this day in the late afternoon the volunteer group had assembled to set the Maibaum up. It is all taking place a stone’s throw from where we are staying. There are about 40 guys of all ages out braving the early Spring cold to erect the Maibaum. They are divided up into separate groups each wielding a huge branch with a fork at the end that allows them to push the long decorative tree upward. One guy is coordinating the whole affair and walks around, looking up at the tree and going from group to group to coordinate the activity. Two other guys have long branches with big iron nails protruding from one end which they use to try to help position the Maibaum around the forks. After much strenuous effort the Maibaum is placed into its spot and is tightened into place with the use of a large metal winch and a slab of stone is placed over the cover of the whole. The whole group retires to a neighboring barn for beer and wurst.

During the event an elderly man approached us and entering into conversation talked proudly of how Horn is the only town that continues to put up its Maibaum by hand. All the other towns use a construction crane to get there’s in place. Not Horn, here tradition and brute force propel the tree upward. Very close to the square is also the town’s schloss or chateau and the man talks of how the owner would always come to Horn on this day to view the erection of the Maibaum and to have a beer with the locals.

Another thing that can happen on this evening before May Day is that people use it as an excuse to commit mischief. You might wake up in the morning and find your garbage spread out in the street. Or, perhaps, toilet paper would festoon trees in your yard or on the town square. People from a neighboring town may have come to take your Maibaum down or place it somewhere else.