May 1st without a May Festival - that should never happen with René Weber, board member of the Guichinger Customs Association.
Then came Corona.
Weber thought of something else and hit a nerve with it.
Gilching has been erecting a 33 centimeter high maypole since then.
Gilching
- they say the best ideas come in your sleep.
That was actually the case with René Weber in February.
"It occurred to me at night," says the 39-year-old board member of the Guichinger Customs Association.
He really wanted to create a way for the Gilching people to experience their May Day celebrations despite the pandemic and ban on events - with all the trimmings.
For a few days now there has been a 33 centimeter high maypole to buy for DIY.
The first 100 items were sold out immediately, there are 60 orders on hold, more are not being accepted.
Weber must be amazed at the dynamism that has developed around his mini maypole.
The whole story goes like this: Weber has been a board member of the traditional association for two years.
Born in Geisenbrunner, his hair is still standing on end when he thinks about the fact that before his time there was no May Day celebration in Gilching.
“That should never happen to me, I made a promise to myself,” says the computer scientist, who has been the father of a young daughter for almost two years.
The pandemic, however, thwarted his promise, and on May 1, 2020, the maypole remained silent.
Now there is still a pandemic and everything indicates that the customs will fall into the water again on May 1, 2021.
“Then I thought about how to put up a tree at home.” Because he doesn't have a garden himself, a meter-high tree was out of the question.
"It should be one that you can put on the table."
That was the beginning of long craft evenings.
In his cellar, Weber and colleagues from the board of directors made the first prototypes.
It was supposed to be a plug-in set for which nobody needs any equipment.
The project gained structure.
And the maypole went into production.
Nine club members each spend a whole day making the various kit parts for a tree.
Within the club, Weber only made hints until the end of March.
“Gilching is setting up”, or “Setting up the maypole 2021” was the cryptic motto on the social channels.
Weber also made funny pictures with Playmobil figures.
“Everyone was very curious.
In the newsletter at the end of March, we then dropped the bomb for the members, ”says Weber, and it is written on his face that the whole issue is great fun.
The maypole set was officially available at Easter, and Weber couldn't see that the small boxes were out of stock that quickly.
“We then thought carefully about whether we should really go for it,” he says.
Because, as I said, there are around 20 hand-made individual parts in every plug-in set.
And all for 15 euros.
“We didn't want to make it any more expensive.
And 15 also fits 1.5. ”, Grins Gaudibursch Weber.
Now, a maypole alone does not make a may festival.
So there is a free recipe for roast pork and a link to YouTube videos in which the young people Korbinian Lallinger and Sonja Skokanitsch give a little dance class.
If you practice diligently, you can also download a playlist with the right music shortly before May 1st.
An enchanting detail on the side: the maypole can be erected traditionally.
There are also two sticks and a hemp rope from which swallows are tied.
The maypole is clamped in place with the swallow and lifted up bit by bit with a loud "jerk".
"When the maypole is up, the top bolt is inserted, loud cheers and celebrations," it says in the instructions.
And all of that despite Corona!
Now the bad news: more maypoles will be produced, but in the end there will be 260.
But these can only be purchased at certain sales times in the club room at the fire brigade and in small numbers at Gasthof Widmann and in Schmitts Wurststadel (Römerstrasse 77) in Gilching.
