Maypole of Speyer, a photo from Rheinland-Pfalz, West

Photographer's Note

A Maypole set up in the main street of Speyer.

A maypole is a tall wooden pole erected as a part of various European folk festivals, particularly on May Day, or Pentecost although in some countries it is instead erected at Midsummer.In Germany and Austria the maypole (or Maibaum) is a tradition going back to the 16th century. The pole is usually painted in the Bavarian colours of white and blue and decorated with emblems depicting local crafts and industry. The colors of the mast (red and white) correspond here to those of the region.

Un arbre de mai 閞ig� dans la rue principale de Speyer.

On retrouve cette tradition dans plusieurs pays mais surtout en Bavi鑢e.En Bavi鑢e, la tradition du m鈚 de mai remonte � la nuit des temps. Il s抋girait d抲n vestige des Celtes qui ont peupl� le Sud de l扐llemagne : venant des steppes orientales, ils v閚閞aient la nature et c閘閎raient le d閎ut de l掗t�, le 1er mai, en 閞igeant un arbre autour duquel ils dansaient pour chasser les mauvais esprits. Il est source de comp閠ition entre les villages bavarois, qui rivalisent d抜ng閚iosit� et d抏fforts pour se doter du plus grand et du plus bel arbre.D閜ourvu de son 閏orce, le tronc d抋rbre dont on se sert pour ce m鈚 de mai est ensuite peint en bandes blanches et bleues (les couleurs de la Bavi鑢e) et le sommet du m鈚 est d閏or� d抲ne couronne en branches de sapin. Bien souvent, on retrouve tout le long du m鈚, des figurines repr閟entant les diff閞ents corps de m閠iers, comme le cordonnier, le ramoneur, le menuisier, le charpentier, etc. Sur celui ci, les couleurs rouges et blanches de la r間ion ont remplac� le bleu et le blanc.

Highmountains, delpeoples, Silvio1953, macjake, baddori has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

JFS (32459) 2012-09-01 0:40

Bonjour JeanJ!
Tr鑣 bonne photo avec beaucoup de d閠ails...curieux cet arbre...La n閠t閠� est excellente!
Bon fin de semaine!
amicalement,
Juan

Sergiom (117241) 2012-09-01 5:23

Bonjour JJ,

J'appr閏ie beaucoup le texte explicatif, cela ajoute � l'int閞阾 premier de cette belle image attrayante. On se surprend � regarder chaque item un � un car ils sont d'une belle nettet�.

Bon samedi

Serge

jlbrthnn (76043) 2012-09-01 6:06

Bonjour Jean-Jacques,
Cette tradition est insolite et spectaculaire, et tr鑣 photog閚ique. La note est int閞essante. La photo lumineuse et nette est de grande qualit�. Bravo.
Bonne journ閑
Amicalement
Jo雔

holmertz (103520) 2012-09-01 9:21

Hello Jean Jacques,
This is a very catchy, colourful and well composed picture. The maypole with its many shields provides a very good foreground with many fine details to watch among the emblems. The church tower is an equally fine feature. The colours are strong and bright but not overdone.
Kind regards,
Gert

rychem (72187) 2012-09-01 10:48

"Learning about our world through photography". Interesting custom in Germany. technically perfect shot
regards
Ryszard

Sonata11 (34119) 2012-09-01 11:46

Hello Jean,
wonderful catch image of this ceremony moment. Wonderfully executed with stunningly beautiful architeture. Perfectly well done. Great execution. Like it.
All the best and have a great WE,
Barbara

Highmountains (2674) 2012-09-01 22:23

The photograph is crisp and clear. Well composed with the black spire in the background and the multicoloured maypole in the forground.
The red tiled roof of the building has been clearlly taken.
Interesting comparison of the cross on top od the spire and the round emblem on top of the maypole.
The black framing with white border is elegant.
Thanks for sharing.

emka (158672) 2012-09-01 23:11

Hi JJ, Thanks for the note. I saw such a maypole in some places in Bavaria and i didn't know about it. Excellent composition, fine contribution to TE.

Have a nice Sunday

MAlgorzata

Nicou (193814) 2012-09-01 23:47

Hlelo JJ

fantastique cpatage t compo sueprb euve quel m鈚 qui fiat arbre avec ces beaux 閏ussons et cette 間lise � l'arri鑢e superbe.

Bravo et amiti�

Nicou

dkmurphys (79209) 2012-09-02 0:54

Hi JJ,
Very fine detail with all the emblems and the traditional architecture in the background. Well composed!

Daniel

delpeoples (60342) 2012-09-02 2:24

Salut cher JJ

I've never seen a maypole before, this is very beautiful and is composed superbly against the backdrop of the ancient architecture. beautiful vivid colours and sharpness complements the tight frame superbly.

Bonne amities
Lisa

timecapturer (49288) 2012-09-02 2:34

Hi JJ
a superb composition with all the elements perfectly balanced and beautifully detailed. The light and your execution here are perfect. Excellent image!

Enjoy your Sunday - Brian.

baclama (19214) 2012-09-02 12:14

original cet arbre de mai!!!
une tres belle lumiere et un cadrage juste comme il faut
bonne soir閑
amicalement
vero

danyy (0) 2012-09-03 4:07

Bonjour JJ,
les allemands aiment tellement les blasons et les insignes !!

Une belle photo nette, bien cadr閑 et bien color閑.
Typique.

Mes amiti閟.
Daniel.

Silvio1953 (222747) 2012-09-03 9:23

Ciao JJ, interesting note, I don't know before anithing abaut Maypole, beautiful photo with excellent clarity, splendid light and colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

macjake (98544) 2012-09-04 6:24

Hi JJ
this is certainly a photo I would not expect, can honestly say I haven't seen this one before on TE.
Fine work with the lighting and the sharpness, all the structures and subjects are in focus and well detailed, even in the bg.
interesting subject.
cheers
craig

baddori (20341) 2012-09-07 23:09

J. Jacques
Les grands artistes imomenti fracture.
Festivals folkloriques vous mettez un peu des deux.
Chaque objet de cet arbre, que vous 閏rivez est due � des traditions, des lieux, etc.
Le presentaziione est renforc閑 par la belle tour de cloche et la poterie noire.
Encore une fois, la montre dispose d'une pr閏iosit� rouge et bleu.
Belle pr閟entation et pr閏is et de partage.
Gianfranco