Overview

• Holzkirchen is set to erect its 29-meter Maibaum on May 1 after a six-year hiatus, with a horse-drawn wagon delivering the pole to the town square.
• Hohenschäftlarn raised its Maibaum on April 27 using a crane due to dense village construction, while Höhenrain manually hoisted its 34.88-meter pole for the first time in 39 years.
• The tradition of guarding Maibäume against ceremonial theft continues, with villages mounting round-the-clock watches to prevent rival communities from stealing their poles.
• In the Rhineland, demand grows for smaller birch Maibäume, which are decorated and placed as romantic gestures outside the homes of loved ones.
• Festivities accompanying the Maibaum erections include traditional dances, music, food, and beer, drawing thousands of participants and visitors to celebrate spring and community.