Editing Maypole (section)

====Germany and Austria====
[[File:Afritz am See Maibaum Kärnten.jpg|thumb|Maypole, Villach Land, [[Carinthia]], Austria]]
[[File:Fachwerkhaus_mit_Maibaum,_K%C3%B6nigswinter.JPG|thumb|Rhenish maypole for a girl in [[Königswinter]], Germany]]

In Germany and Austria, the maypole (or {{lang|de|Maibaum}}) is a tradition going back to the 16th century.<ref name="Steves">{{cite book|title= Rick Steves' Germany and Austria 2008|last= Steves|first= Rick|author-link= Rick Steves|year= 2008|publisher= Avalon Travel|isbn= 978-1-59880-135-4|page= 45}}</ref> It is a decorated tree or tree trunk that is usually erected either on 1 May – in [[Baden]] and [[Swabia]] – or on the evening before, for example, in East [[Frisia]]. In most areas, especially in [[Baden-Württemberg]], Bavaria, and [[Austria]], it is usual to have a ceremony to erect the maypole on the village green. The custom of combining it with a village or town fete, which usually takes place on 1&nbsp; May or April 30{{where?|date=July 2024}} at [[Pentecost]] ([[Whitsun]]){{where?|date=July 2024}}, is widespread. This tradition is especially strong in the villages of the [[Bavarian Alps]] where the raising of the traditional maypole on 1 May in the village square is a cause for much celebration. Some poles are painted in the Bavarian colors of white and blue; most are decorated with emblems depicting local crafts and industry. {{Citation needed|date=June 2010}} In Bavaria, the {{lang|de|Maibaum}} is procured, prepared and then stored in some building, such as a farmer's barn days or weeks before being erected on 1 May. The young men from the villages try to steal the {{lang|de|Maibaum}} from each other (out of the storage places) which is why the people of the village take turns in watching over it. If a village manages to steal a {{lang|de|Maibaum}}, then the village the {{lang|de|Maibaum}} has been stolen from has to invite the whole village of the thieves to free beer and a festivity to get it back.

Just before the {{lang|de|Maibaum}} is erected, depending on the region, there may be a [[procession]] through the village, usually ending at a central place and/or restaurant and usually watched by crowds of spectators and accompanied by a [[brass band]]. The actual installation of the tree then takes place in the afternoon or evening. The maypole is traditionally set up with the help of long poles, today it may sometimes also be done using tractors, forklifts, or even cranes. In [[Lower Austria]] ropes and ladders are used.

If the communal tree is erected already on the eve of 1 May, then the event is usually followed by a May dance or {{lang|de|Tanz in den Mai}}. Depending on local custom, the {{lang|de|Maibaum}} may remain in place all year round or may be taken down at the end of May. The trunk may then be stored until the following year.

From the [[Rhineland]] in and around [[Cologne]] originates a somewhat different, private, maytree tradition. During the night before 1 May, traditionally unmarried men erect cut young [[birch]] trees, complete with their spring green foliage, often decorated with multicoloured satin (sometimes crepe paper) streamers, in front of the house of their sweetheart. (Sometimes, but rarely, additionally with a (heartshaped) sign bearing the name of the adored person. Normally the person who "is meant" (and neighbours etc.) is/are left to just guess/speculate about the identity of the involved.) These individual may trees can be spotted in other regions of the country, too, and even in urban environments where people sometimes have to get quite creative in finding a spot and way to fix them somewhere (as opposed to easier, traditional places with garden soil to just "plant" (stick) it in or fence posts to bind it to).