NikonGear'23

Images => People, Portraits, Street, PJ & Cityscapes => Topic started by: afx on March 26, 2017, 17:12:49

Title: Bringing in the Maypole
Post by: afx on March 26, 2017, 17:12:49

Bavarian villages typically have a maypole somewhere.
They are replaced every few years. Ours was torn down in a storm 2 years ago,
and this year the maypole society that cares about such things is raising a new one.

The process is lengthy, first a new tree is brought into the village and from there on a vigil is held every night,
to ensure the pole is not stolen.
Of course the surrounding villages might try and kidnap it for ransom (Bavarian lunch with lots of beer for a large group of perpetrators).

Initially it is just a tree (34m) but in the coming weeks until it is raised (on April 30th) it will be painted white&blue and
various signs from local business will be attached.

Yesterday the tree was brought in, with the help of the local fire brigade (Feuerwehr) for traffic control.


Approaching the village
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-jxTHVM3/0/L/i-jxTHVM3-L.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-jxTHVM3/0/O/i-jxTHVM3-O.jpg)


The brass band gets ready to provide the appropriate sound stage
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RVcHSKN/0/L/i-RVcHSKN-L.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RVcHSKN/0/O/i-RVcHSKN-O.jpg)


Maneuvering the tree through the village takes some effort. They even took down some signs.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3GB8Qth/0/L/i-3GB8Qth-L.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3GB8Qth/0/O/i-3GB8Qth-O.jpg)


(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6LpHLkp/0/L/i-6LpHLkp-L.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6LpHLkp/0/O/i-6LpHLkp-O.jpg)

The rear view mirror had to be folded in:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-JkPdwxH/0/L/i-JkPdwxH-L.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-JkPdwxH/0/O/i-JkPdwxH-O.jpg)


A tight spot in the greenery
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VSKKLw4/0/L/i-VSKKLw4-L.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VSKKLw4/0/O/i-VSKKLw4-O.jpg)


Aiming for the tent
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-pXDF37C/0/L/i-pXDF37C-L.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-pXDF37C/0/O/i-pXDF37C-O.jpg)

In the morning the tree was not put into the tent, first the tent was used to host a party (no pics, I was busy serving pork roast...).
Then in the afternoon the benches in the tent where removed and the tree was moved in.
Of course now that the vigil has started, the guardroom is manned 7x24.

The funny thing is, as one needs a special permit for oversized transports,
the hijacking of the maypole would have to be announced to the police in advance ;-)
We'll see what happens.
I must admit I did not sign up for the vigil, spending 18:00-06:00 awake is no longer that easy for me.

cheers
afx

Title: Re: Bringing in the Maypole
Post by: Jan Anne on March 26, 2017, 17:28:00

Nice series Andreas, always enjoy these local traditions.

The only missing image so far is of course a selfie of you in a traditional Bavarian outfit  ;D

Title: Re: Bringing in the Maypole
Post by: afx on March 26, 2017, 19:53:11

Quote from: Jan Anne on March 26, 2017, 17:28:00

The only missing image so far is of course a selfie of you in a traditional Bavarian outfit  ;D

Fat chance,
I don't own any ;-)

cheers
afx

Title: Re: Bringing in the Maypole
Post by: Akira on March 27, 2017, 01:58:20

Didn't know that Bavaria shares this rather worldly spread tradition of totem pole.  Very interesting.  Thanks for sharing and welcome back, Andreas!

Title: Re: Bringing in the Maypole
Post by: armando_m on March 27, 2017, 05:24:22

Wonderful story

Thanks for sharing it