Folklore: German Pentecost Trees

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 14 Jun 06 - 02:55 AM

Those trees are not only put out on May 1st and Penetcost as a decoration, but also on Corpus Christi along the way of the procession. Presumably derivated from this usage the way of a pageant, or secular festive processon, is decorated in the same manner, as I could see last sunday during a big firefighter gathering in a small village. The trees were decorated also with ribbons in many colours.

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 11:37 PM

Danke. Das is nett.

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: DMcG
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 05:08 PM

However, a little study shows that in parts of Germany, esp lower Saxony and the Luneberger Heide (heath) and It's a rare custom (at this date), only in parts of lower Saxony, and you have been in one of them.

Precisely! I was in Oldendorf, which is part of the Luneberger Heide.

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: Wolfgang
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 04:47 PM

It's a rare custom (at this date), only in parts of lower Saxony, and you have been in one of them. First of May is the more common date.

Der Winter ist vergangen

Der Winter ist vergangen, ich seh des Maien Schein,
ich seh die Blümlein prangen, des ist mein Herz erfreut.
So fern in jenem Tale, da ist gar lustig sein,
da singt Frau Nachtigalle und manch Waldvögelein.

Ich geh den Maien hauen wohl durch das grüne Gras
und schenk ihn meinem Buhlen, die mir die Liebste war.
Und ruf ich, wird sie kommen, an ihrem Fenster stahn,
empfangen Baum und Blumen, die sind gar wohlgetan.

Ade, mein Allerliebste, ade, schöns Blümlein fein,
ade, schön Rosenblume, es muß geschieden sein!
Bis daß ich wiederkomme, bleibst du die Liebste mein,
das Herz in meinem Leibe gehört ja allzeit dein!

(copied from here where you can find a midi after a bit of scrolling)

translation of the (relevant to the custom) second verse:

I go to cut the May (young birch tree) though the green grass
and shall make it a present to my lover, my dearest,
And when I call her she'll come and stand at her window
to receive the tree and flowers looking great (the tree and flowers are meant, not her!).

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Jun 06 - 12:58 PM

Now I get it! That's why they were there!

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 09:58 PM

... which would have got rid of all those branches at the front door...

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 08:51 AM

The article in the German Wikipedia is rather complex. To translate it properly, I would have to get out my dictionary and plan to spend at least an hour.

However, a little study shows that in parts of Germany, esp lower Saxony and the Luneberger Heide (heath), people cut young birches and oaks (or oak branches, perhaps) on the Friday before Pentecost and make garlands and wreaths from them. At the proper time, a guest who passes under the garland enters the house and partakes of a little drink (alcoholic, which comes as no surprise) and either gives or gets a small coin. There is nothing in the article about May - it all has to do with Pentecost.

(For you non-church-goers, Pentecost comes 50 days after Easter and celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Christ in the form of a rushing wind and flames. After it came, the followers could preach in all languages.)

DMcG, the trees you saw leaning against the doors may have been recent deliveries, waiting to be made into garlands and wreaths.

Although the use of birch and oak may seem to have pagan overtones, this custom developed after the more correctly-Biblical practice of building fires at the front door proved insalubrious.      :)

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: DMcG
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 04:14 AM

This article in the German Wikipedia appears to talk about it. I have had to rely on automatic translations, though.

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 01:59 AM

... for which we may well be grateful...

;-)

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 09:07 AM

Bachelors ornate a tree (the birch is standard) or at least a twig and put it on the house of their beloved ones in the night before May 1st.
They should not be confused with the Maibaum (Maypole).
For the collecting of the May twigs (Maien) there are some old folk songs.

Subject: RE: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: MMario
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 08:47 AM

the only customs I could find regarding germany and pentecost were about pentecost ale.

Subject: Folklore: German Pentecost Trees
From: DMcG
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 08:29 AM

I've just come back to the UK from the Bergen/Celle area of Germany, where we saw trees of maybe 2.5-3 metres laid against doorways, often in pairs. All I can find out from the 'Net is this:

Pentecost is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter ... Also, in more traditional areas of Germany, people still decorate their house doors or cars with fresh green twigs, called "Maien," a custom that has been observed since the Middle Ages.

A tree that big is a rather generous interpretation of a 'fresh green twig', but it is clearly related.


Can anyone tell me more about it?