A dozen men, long wooden poles in hand, a trunk that slowly lifts off the ground, commands in between that hardly anyone understands, and a crowd holding its breath. That is how a maypole rises, as it has for generations, and usually without a crane.
When the maypole is raised
Around 1 May, in many places on the holiday itself, sometimes already the night before. It is a public celebration with brass music, a snack and beer, drawing together a whole village or district.
How a maypole is raised
The old method works without machinery. Using long wooden scissor poles, the Schwaigstangen, the tree is raised piece by piece:
- The trunk lies on the ground, its lower end resting against the prepared ground sleeve or foundation.
- Several people set the crossed poles and lift the tree a little.
- The position reached is secured, then the crews reset with shorter poles.
- Step by step the tree moves upright until it rests in the foundation and is wedged tight.
This takes strength, timing and experience. In many places the young men's club, the fire brigade or a dedicated maypole club handles it. In the city, as at the Viktualienmarkt, heavy trees and tight space usually call for a crane today.
The work before the big day
Before the tree goes up, it spends weeks in preparation. It is felled, stripped, peeled, painted and decorated, often by many hands. In the nights beforehand it is guarded, because an unprotected tree may be stolen. The day of raising is the climax, but the essential part happens before.
Raising in Munich
Most visible at the city maypole on the Viktualienmarkt and in the districts. Dates, locations and times for the coming season are gathered on the page Munich Maypole 2027.