How May Day Is Celebrated In Various Regions Across Germany

May Day, or Labor Day, is a national holiday and officially marks the beginning of Summer in Germany. Across the country, people organise rallies for better work conditions, while families like to head out for picnics. On the other hand, the day is also marked by parties and protests, quirky rituals and riots, dancing and romance. Here is a look at the various ways in which May Day is celebrated across the country.

Bavaria

Across many towns and villages in Bavaria, May 1 is a day of fun and festivities. A quirky pagan ritual practiced on this day in this part of Germany is to cut down a tree, place it in the town square, strip it of all its branches except the ones at the very top, and decorate it with ribbons and wreaths. The Maibaum (May tree), or May pole, of one town is sometimes stolen by another town and held hostage for ransom – all in good fun, of course. The May pole climbing contest is a chance for young men to showcase their skills and stamina and impress the cooing damsels in the bargain, though feisty women also sometimes take part in the contest. The day ends with a lot of merry singing, dancing, parades and beer guzzling.

Berlin

Harz Mountains

Walpurgisnacht (Witch’s Night) is a wild pagan festival that marks the end of Winter and the arrival of Spring on May 1. Though the festival is celebrated in many regions in Germany, if you want to experience the true essence of Walpurgisnacht, Harz Mountains is the place to be. Over 20 locations in the Harz Mountains celebrate Walpurgisnacht, including Wernigerode, Goslar and Brocken, but the most awesome party in the region is hosted by the hilly hamlet of Thale. The celebrations, which roll on through the night of April 30 until the wee hours of May 1, are inspired by local myths and folklore. It is said that, on this night in bygone times, witches were seen flying on their broomsticks to the Brocken Mountain peak to celebrate the onset of Spring. The festivities consist of endless food, free-flowing drinks, music and dancing through the night.

Walpurgis Night decorations in Harz Mountins

Rhineland

In the Rhineland, and some other parts of Germany, romance is woven into May Day celebrations. Men chop down a tree (under the guidance of a forester) and decorate it with streamers, flowers and other ornaments, and place it on the doorstep of their love interest. This is often done anonymously. In turn, women place flowers or rice in the shape of a heart at the door of their beloved. Interestingly, on leap years, it is the women who place May poles outside the doors of their lovers. The day ends with parties, dance and music, as is the case throughout the country.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.