May Day / Maibaumaufstellung

Today is May Day, a national holiday in Austria and Germany and in many other parts of Europe. Historically May Day was a holiday for the common man, a day off to celebrate the completion of the spring planting. In Austria and Bavaria, May Day is typically celebrated with May poles or May trees as they seem to be called here. The 'raising of the May tree', is the center of the festivities which includes a parade and music and lots of people in traditional clothing. For the past week or so there have been flyers and posters going up around Salzburg advertising different May Day festivals. It seems that every Verein (an official club/interest group) hosts their own Maibaumaufstellung and accompanying party.

Unfortunately, we're in Regensburg which, even though it's part of Bavaria and has many of the same customs and traditions of the Austrians, doesn't seem to celebrate May Day in quite the same way. The only Maibaumfest (May tree festival) seems to be aboard the boat museum which is housed on a 1923 river boat. Somehow I don't think it's going to be quite the same thing. And so I found this video so we can all pretend that we are at a real Maibaumaufstellung soaking up the traditions and culture of the day.