Start of spring

Maypoles all over the country

The fire department in Augsdorf has been erecting the maypole and inviting people to the traditional festival for ten years.(Bild: SOBE HERMANN)

Since Wednesday, many Carinthian towns have been adorned with the symbol of spring! 

May makes everything new! And this new beginning, growth and fertility has been represented for many generations by the maypole - traditionally a tall, slender, debarked spruce with a green top and beautiful wreaths. This tradition is alive in almost every village, even in allotment gardens and kindergartens.

In Augsdorf in the municipality of Velden, for example. There, the volunteer fire department under commander Richard Novak has been organizing a traditional maypole erection including a traditional May Day celebration on the fire station square for ten years now. "Of course, this also includes the maypole auction - whoever guesses the exact dimensions of our tree wins," says fire brigade commander Novak.

Guarding the maypoles
The rural youth have also been holding their traditional maypole erection, including night-time guarding, on Schiefling's village square for years. This year, the St. Egydner Landjugend have secured their tree with a barricade, despite the guard division: "This protects our tree from insidious actions."

In Rosegg, on the other hand, the maypole was "guarded" with folk music by Babsi and Patrick. Incidentally, the tradition there also includes the youngsters climbing the maypole safely, with chairman Markus Paul ensuring safety.