I have always loved stories of all types, especially those of folklore, customs and personal tales. When I travel to a new place near or far I want to hear about what haunts the woods, Great-Oma's cure for a common disease, or what celebrations occur throughout the year. These oral traditions and histories form an important part of the intangible culture of a place and its people.
Walking around Bonn and Koblenz I began to notice a curious phenomenon. Here and there, in front of apartment buildings would be tall birch trees tied to a light post. The upper branches of the slim trees were festooned with colorful streamers and a large red heart bearing a name.
Curious, I finally asked Stefan Schaff, one of our partners from the Padagogischer Austauchdienst, what they were as we were walking back from a meeting. Delighted to share a custom from his town, Stefan gladly filled me in.
These trees called Maibaum (May Tree) are an old tradition found in the rural areas from Bonn to Aachen, and other parts of Northrhine-Westphalia. Maypoles are not exclusivley German, and can be found ushering in Spring in many European countries from the Czech Republic to Sweden. But the Maibaum of Bonn and nearby areas are more specialized than the large Maypoles found in town squares. These smaller, personalized trees are displays of love and affection called Liebesmaien (love Maypoles), and are a longstanding tradition.
On the night of April 30th, young German men can be seen, under the cover of darkness, leaving small, decorated Maibaums outside the homes of young ladies. These trees signify, if not full on love than at least a passing fancy in the recipient. The trees must be birch and are decorated with colorful streamers and hearts bearing the name of the person the tree is intended for. They are leaned against a light pole or building so they can be seen out the window of the intended recipient.
The Liebesmaien are supposed to be taken down on June 1st by the person or people who originally put it up. Generally the installation of the tree and its removal are done by a group of friends turning it into a bit of a community event. They are traditionally rewarded with cakes, beer, or a kiss from their beloved. On leap years the gendered roles are reversed. I am not sure how this tradition has changed in regards to fluid gender roles, though I hope anyone can take part in this tradition for their beloved. The Liebesmaien we saw around Bonn were past the June 1st deadline, but I'm glad they were not removed as it led me to understand more about this spring custom.
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