Felling birch trees on May 1st
May is the merry month par excellence and numerous customs usher in spring with it. The focus of May customs is the birch as a symbol of life, spring and fertility. In addition to the Germany-wide known maypole erection on the village or market square, the love maypole is only in Known in some regions of Germany: Young men erect a maypole in front of the house of their loved one as a Proof of love. While some cut the birch they need in their own garden, others are faced with the question of where and how they can best cut a birch. Because just like the May customs, the tree protection regulations vary from region to region.
What you need:
- u. U. official approval
- Crepe paper
- Tapes
- Chain or rope
What is the Liebesmaien?
- Especially in the Rhineland, the love maize is a popular May custom, in which the young and unmarried Men of the village birch trees in front of the house of unmarried women or their loved ones put up.
- Maien are young twigs or trees that are named after the month of May. the birch is called Maien because it is the first tree to turn green after winter. The maypole symbolizes fertility as well as strength and will to live.
- A birch tree in front of the house honors and blesses the woman for whom this symbol of love is intended.
- Nowadays, erecting the maypole is not always associated with the serious intention of entering into a relationship with the chosen one. In many places it is also the girls' friends who erect a maypole on their doorstep.
- The maypole remains until 1. June stand until the man picks him up again. As a rule, the beloved invites him to dinner afterwards.
Buying May hearts - you should keep that in mind
The custom of putting a maypole on your girlfriend is right in Germany ...
Simply fell the birch tree?
- In the past, the maypole could not be high enough to show its favor to the chosen girl. But it doesn't always have to be the tallest and most magnificent birch trees. Birch trees or branches also fulfill their function.
- Since not everyone has a garden and birch trees in it, most of you will have to fell the birch tree in the forest.
- Before you go into the forest and cut down a birch tree at random, you should ask the town hall or the local public order office what is allowed. Because every federal state and every district has a different statute and tree protection ordinance.
- In many regions, trees that exceed a certain tree size, for example 80 centimeters, are “protected landscape components”. In order to be able to fell them, you need an official permit. However, this does not apply to trees with a smaller tree girth and diameter. You only have to discuss the felling of a small birch with the tree or forest owner. This also applies if you only want to cut a tree or twig.
- So ask in your locality how it is handled there before you get caught and have to pay an exorbitant fine.
You have to pay attention to this in May usage
- Now that you have the tree or branch in your hands, first decorate it with flowers from crepe paper or colored ribbons that you put in the crown or branches of the birch tie.
- You can also attach a May heart made of cardboard to the birch, which contains the name or the initials of the name of your chosen girl. This May heart should not be confused with the lush May hearts or May pictures, which in North Rhine-Westphalia are attached to the house of the loved ones in a similar way to the birch tree.
- Finally, you set up the maypole on the night of May Day so that your chosen one, loved one or girlfriend will be surprised in the morning.
- Secure the birch tree to the fence, gutter or balcony with chains or ropes - if possible so that it is safe from theft and does not fall over or fall.
- When the loved one with whom you set up the maypole is not your friend, but one of many If you are a courted girl, you should put your maypole on the night of May 1st guard. Rivals will try to steal your maypole and set up their own to do it. It is not uncommon for this custom to result in bad arguments.
- Also, be careful not to put a (dry) fir tree, cherry or thorn branch on your loved one's house if you cannot find a birch. They are not love, but shame and have negative connotations. Schandmaien put men on girls' houses to expose them.
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