The Maibaum, or Maypole festival is a traditional Bavarian cultural event that has been celebrated in towns throughout Germany and Austria since the 16th century.
Follow the traditions of this Bavarian celebration through the lens of photographer and guest contributor Rolf Hicker.
It takes many strong men to lift the traditional Maibaum (decorated tree) at the festival, which is mostly organized by local youth groups. Because the tall tree is raised using only a system of smaller wooden poles, the process can take hours. During the final push to get the tree upright, you will hear the men shouting “Hau rucks!” for leverage and unity.
Lifting of the Maibaum
At the event, visitors will see many of these participants wearing traditional Bavarian clothing, including the special socks worn during the stone-lifting process. These unique socks are paired with famous German lederhosen.
German men wearing lederhosen
While the boys are lifting up the Maibaum, the girls ensure they stay hydrated with original Bavarian beer. These women are wearing traditional clothing called a dirndl during the festivities. The traditional Maibaumfest is a all-day event. It’s common to see young men filling up a Maßkrug or a—one-liter mug—with fresh beer from a large wooden barrel.
Woman wearing a dirndl + Man with Bavarian beer
Featured photo © Steffen Flor
Article Photos © Rolf Hicker
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Rolf Hicker is a full time pro photographer who specializes in travel, nature, and wildlife. His images have been published in many of the largest magazines including National Geographic and Readers Digest as well as with some of the best known brand names like BMW, Holland America, Porsche and Alaska Airlines. View more of Rolf’s Germany Pictures.