The Maypole

The men haul the tree upright by hand, the brass band plays, the folk dancers do their Schuhplattler, and eventually there it stands, 25 meters (about 80 feet) or more, dead straight, painted in blue and white. It takes three to four hours. In between there's beer, a hearty spread, and a mood that's hard to put into words.

It doesn't happen every year, only when the old pole has gone rotten and needs replacing. 2026 isn't a maypole year. But the tradition is part of Bayrischzell, and this page is about how it's kept alive here.

From the Hideout to the Village Square

In the weeks before May 1, the tree gets prepared, decorated, and hidden away, in Bayrischzell usually at the Klarerhof down in Osterhofen. By now that's an open secret, but it still gets guarded around the clock. That's how the tradition works: young guys from neighboring villages might try to steal the tree, and then you'd have to buy it back with beer and a spread of food.

On May 1, the tree is hauled from the Klarerhof over to Bayrischzell. The procession officially kicks off at the old town hall, then heads up Tiroler Straße and Schlierseer Straße to the raising site next to the Hotel Alpenrose, the second heart of the village, where the stationery shop and the butcher are. The parking lot gets turned into a festival ground.

Three to Four Hours Until It Stands

In Bayrischzell the maypole goes up by hand, with long lever poles called Schwaiberl. Meter by meter, pole by pole. It's the men of the village doing it, not just club members, whoever wants to help, helps. There's a construction vehicle standing by, but only as a safety backup, not to do the lifting.

It takes three to four hours. In between, the Bayrischzell brass band plays, the folk dancers put on their routines, and there's beer and food. It's not a show for spectators, it's a team effort where you watch and drink along.

The Hamlet Has Its Own Maypole Again

For a long time Geitau didn't have a maypole of its own. In 2025 one finally went up again, also by hand, also with Schwaiberl. Same routine, smaller scale, but every bit as much community spirit.

Bayrischzell and Geitau raise their poles separately, not out of rivalry, but simply because there aren't enough helpers to pull off two festivals at once. Different trees, different days.

Geitau 2025, Over 200,000 Views

I was there with my camera at the maypole raising in Geitau in 2025. The reel went viral, more than 200,000 views on Instagram. If you want to see how it all goes down, the clip is right at the bottom of this page.

What the Maypole Is All About

The maypole is one of the oldest traditions in Bavaria. Its roots reach back into pre-Christian times, a symbol of fertility and community meant to bring growth, luck, and blessing. The first written records go all the way back to the 13th century.

The tree is usually a tall, dead-straight spruce or fir, stripped, washed, and painted blue and white. Wooden plaques and figures hang from the trunk, showing off the local trades and clubs: butcher, baker, brass band, fire brigade. The maypole tells you what a place has to offer and who lives there.

That the pole goes up by hand and not with a crane is no accident in Bayrischzell, it's a point of honor. Some places do it differently. Not here. You see the same attitude on Corpus Christi, when the clubs march through the village, tradition that isn't staged, it just happens.

Unwritten Rules, Serious Business

Between late March and May 1, the rule is: the maypole is fair game, at least in theory. Young guys from neighboring villages try to snatch the un-raised tree from its hideout and carry it across the municipal line. If they pull it off, the ones who got robbed have to buy it back, with beer and a spread for the thieves.

More glimpses of Bayrischzell are over on my Instagram channel.