Maypole

Here in Austria it is customary to erect a maypole as a symbol of fertility on the eve of May 1 or on May 1 in the village square. Maypole scrambling, stealing the maypole or May parades with brass bands are living customs in most regions of Austria.

There are clear rules for stealing the maypole. For example, it may only be stolen on the night of May 1, the tree must already have been felled and the theft may not be discovered by maypole guards. The guards must then release the tree with a crate or barrel of beer. We here at DasEulersberg also put up a maypole, although ours does not work for scrambling.