“Nothing is certain and I hope that our maypole boys sleep on the tree to guard it!” says Andreas Steinfatt, chairman of the Munich Breweries Association. So far no one has tried to steal the almost 35 meter high spruce trunk. The closer the day of installation, the less likely a theft is. An unwritten law forbids stealing once the maypole has been painted. If the tree remains in the hands of the Munich breweries and the Hohendilching-Sollach boys’ association in the Miesbach district until Sunday, then the Viktualienmarkt will have a maypole again, three years after the last installation and exactly 60 years after the first one was erected there .
For the second time, the trunk is provided by the Hohendilching-Sollach lads’ association. Anton Huber feels honored to once again prepare the tree for the state capital. A suitable specimen was found and felled at the end of December. The boys were looking for a straight trunk, at least 30 meters high and 65 centimeters in diameter, so that it would fit into the maypole rail on the Viktualienmarkt. This usually applies to rare trees that are more than 100 years old.
After felling, the wood is delimbed, debarked and dried for about three months. In April, above all, planing, sanding and painting white and blue will take place, says Huber. At the Viktualienmarkt, the rail into which the tree is clamped has just been freshly painted. Until 1987 the tree was stuck in a hole in the ground, today it is lifted onto the rail with a crane.
Three years ago, the thieving lads made immense demands
Everyone is “really keen to enjoy life to the fullest again,” says Steinfatt. Especially at this time, the clubs were looking forward to their maypoles. There is no competitive thinking. Instead, the traditions would be lived and maintained. Apart from that, the maypole on the Viktualienmarkt also has a certain prominence. It is a special feature for guests and tourists, the stand operators would enjoy it and in winter it serves as a Christmas tree. The reopening is traditionally celebrated on Sunday with music, beer and snacks.
Huber assures that the tree will be continuously monitored until then. At least two people would hold the maypole guard at night, and another club could try to grab the tree at any time. In 2019, the last maypole on the Viktualienmarkt was actually stolen, “very professionally, with night vision devices and other tools,” says Steinfatt. There had been immense demands from the three boys’ clubs that had struck at the time. But after hard negotiations, a compromise was found and with hearty food and plenty of drinks, it was possible to celebrate together and with a tree again on May 1st.