A maypole is erected every five years in Hohenschäftlarn near Munich. This year, the maypole guard became the breeding ground for the corona virus in early March.
- A maypole is erected in Hohenschäftlarn every five years.
- This year, the maypole guard became the breeding ground for Corona * in the first two weeks of March and before the exit restriction.
- Many places in Bavaria let the tradition rest because of Corona.
Munich - Preparations have been going on for a year and a half. Cabaret evening, beer tapping, rock night and of course the May Day celebrations were organized, the tree was felled. Every May, a maypole is set up in Hohenschäftlarn (Munich district) and then there is a big festival lasting several days. This year it would have been that time again, up to 2600 guests were expected - but nothing will come of it. Because of the Corona crisis , May celebrations and maypole erections are canceled.
"We also locked our guardhouse," says Florian Metz, chairman of the Hohenschäftlarn boys' association. "At first only for the public and for a few weeks now completely." Exactly 41.64 meters tall is the magnificent bar that the Hohenschäftlarn residents had brought out of the forest on Shrove Tuesday. The tree was guarded in the hut, the helpers were already planing it.
Maypole erection during Corona: "We were already in contact with the authorities at the beginning of March"
In Holzhausen (Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district) the boys and girls have also kept watch and prepared the tree. "We were already in contact with the authorities at the beginning of March," emphasizes Sebastian Bolzmacher, president of the boys' association. "Even before the exit restrictions, we reduced the number of people in the guard room." Only two guards were last on site at the same time.
However, the guards still infected each other. A young girl had Covid-19. When she found out about it, she immediately informed the other Holzhausen residents. Further tests followed - nine of which were positive . They were probably infected at the maypole guard.
"As far as I know, everyone is now healthy again," says Sebastian Bolzmacher. What he is particularly pleased about: “There was incredible cohesion in the village.” Even at the May Day celebration, the whole place always comes in to balance the tree with muscle power. All of this will be canceled this year .
"For us as an association, this is a difficult situation because we have no income, but for example have to pay part of the beer tent," says Bolzmacher. The association is considering setting up the tree during the year when the situation has calmed down. "But then on a small scale without a big party." The old tree has already been cut. And: "Next year there will be so many maypole festivals in the area."
The preparations for the installation of the maypole were in full swing. In Holzhausen, the organizers have already scooped up the trunk and removed the bark.
© Private
Coronavirus Munich: relocating the maypole is an option
Moving the maypole to another date is an option that is being discussed in some locations. So also in Weichs (Dachau district). "We are waiting to see how it goes, everything is still open," says Heinz Lamprecht from the Trachtenverein D'Kreuzbergler. But security is the most important criterion in all decisions. The tree is also set up by hand in Weichs. "There are several people cheek to cheek, you can't answer for that," he explains. The new maypole is currently in the forest and the old one is still standing. "We are talking to the insurance company," says Lamprecht. "We'd like to leave it there, but if that doesn't work, we'll be without a maypole if need be."
In other places, such as Hundham (Miesbach district), the town center has long been orphaned. There the old tree had to be removed in 2018 because of a wood engraving. The new trunk had already been delivered - now it is to be processed into boards. "Maybe we'll build a hut out of it," says organizer Michael Gartmaier.
Coronavirus: The tree remains stored in Holzhausen
In Holzhausen, however, the tree remains stored for the time being. The boys posted a nice letter at the storage location, asking them not to damage or steal it. In Hohenschäftlarn, too, the tribe lies further in the hut. "If someone steals a tree in this situation, it has nothing to do with tradition anyway," says Florian Metz.
"The tree is dry," he emphasizes. This is important because it will be erected in 2021. Postponing the festival to another date is too risky for the organizers. And not including guests and villagers is out of the question for them: "Then a few people would have had to finish the tree alone," says Metz. "But the maypole is supposed to be a community action."
Claudia Schuri and Sebastian Grauvogl
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