May-day here is actually called "Worker's Day", but it's pretty clear that the festival is some sort of pagan phallic-worship celebration. A bunch of the village men bring in a 30 metre long tree, and "erect" it by hand. This takes several hours, and many hundreds of litres of beer. I'm told that in other parts of Germany, women dance around the may-"pole" with ribbons, but I can assure you that here in Bavaria, women aren't allowed anywhere near it.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the Maibaum (My-bowm, May-tree) festivals so far. The weather always seems to be perfect, and what could be better than a public holiday where you're expected to go and drink huge amounts of beer in the street with your neighbours while watching other people working? Here's how it works.
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Ok, you know that a may-tree festival is happening in a near-by village, and head over there about midday. Along the way, you get stuck behind these guys. They're sitting on a long tree that's being towed by a tractor or by horses. Don't honk at them or you won't get any beer. Instead follow them - they know where they're going.
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