As Bavaria awoke to a giant collective headache this May Day morning (helped by the football results last night as well I imagine!), I enjoyed a leisurely morning’s drive on the empty roads, and took time to slowly cruise past our brand new Maibaum, and admire it in all it’s blue and white stripey glory.
We said goodbye to the old one last year, and this one was ceremoniously put up yesterday lunchtime having been dutifully guarded for quite some time… They take these things very seriously over here, and the front page of our local paper featured a picture of a proud carpenter asleep in a barn next to a newly finished Maibaum in fear of poaching marauders demanding a ransom. I kid you not.
We have yet to see one put up traditionally by a team of strong Bavarian boys wielding sticks and slowly slowly propping the thing up, but it does still happen. Ours was given the honours by an enormous green crane which blocked the road for the duration, not that anyone seemed to mind.
And when the formal stuff was out of the way, it was round the back to the bier tent to let the festivities begin, complete with incredibly smart traditional band, plenty of steckler fish (barbecued mackerel in this instance, plenty of bier (of course), enough tracht to make it feel festive, and lots of joviality… My German is obviously getting a little better because I managed to pretend I was local for all of five minutes, until I had to give in and and admit I was English, but nobody minded, and the “prosts” carried on nevertheless. I like to think that Bavaria appreciates it when its temporary residents join in and make an effort to integrate, and they could definitely teach us a thing or two about community.
And although Small Girl and I decided not to wear our dirndls thanks to the cooler weather, Small Boy insisted upon wearing his lederhosen much to the delight of our elderly neighbour. And later on, his inner Bavarian decided upon a little weight-lifting challenge especially for the occasion (with his Father’s bier glass obviously!)!…
Michelloui says
Ha! Love this. I have fond memories of an October in Munich (yes, it was good timing, but purely accidental) when I first encountered a serving of beer this large. This sounds like a great time, a fantastic way to spend May Day–and a perfect post for the Where I Live Linky! Thanks for linking up x x
bavaria says
Thanks Michelle! (: xx
helloitsgemma says
You are so Bavarian these days!
bavaria says
Now, if only I could speak it… :D Thanks Gemma! xx
Pia says
oh, love love love Small Boy with the big boy drink :)
bavaria says
He will insist on trying to lift them. I think he’s hoping for a job at Oktoberfest! :D xx
Sarah says
All sounds like a lot of fun, love the look of the fish. I think it’s great that you make an effort with the language and that you are obviously doing so well and it must help you feel more integrated. Helps when your adorable son wears his lederhosen too. xx
bavaria says
Thanks Sarah! I make an effort with it, but that doesn’t mean to say I am any good at it! :D The fish is amazingly good, and goes surprisingly well with all of the liquid refreshments available! xx
A Patchwork Life says
Now that’s a proper drink!! Love that SB wanted to wear his Lederhosen, can just imagine how adorable he looks in them. And best to make the most of him being keen, my boys are SO fussy now!
Hope you have lots more fun over the weekend :) x
bavaria says
Thank you… Yes, I will make the most of it. It’s not uncommon to see teenagers wearing the more fashionable ones. I wonder if he would wear them then!! xx
Emma @mummymummymum says
I could drink that now :-)
bavaria says
But could you lift it? That’s the question! Thanks Emma xx
kelloggsville says
I’m rather pleased he kept his end up wearing Lederhosen. I’m rather disappointed by the girl’s team!!!
bavaria says
I know, I am sorry, but it was cold… :D Thank you! :)
vanessa jane holburn says
I love that outfit (and the bier obviously)! Reading this is making me thirsty, asfter all it’s (nearly) Friday lunchtime, it’s sunny…
bavaria says
And you have a lovely long Bank Holiday ahead…. Enjoy! Prost!
farfromhomemama says
No dirndls again!!! I feel so let down.
bavaria says
One day, one day! :D
fivegoblogging says
Prost!
I lived in Poland for several years and the amount of respect and sympathy I got for trying to join in with conversation in Polish was well worth the embarrassment :-)
bavaria says
Thank you! I bet that was fascinating… We have yet to make it over to Poland for a visit, I will have to pick your brains! :)
MsCaroline says
Love the Lederhosen (the part I can see!) We have several kiddos here who wear theirs on occasion, but not too many, since our families come from all over Germany and it’s only the southerners who seem to wear Trachten. The little ones are always so darling in them. Impressed with SB’s arm strength- I know how heavy those things are! ; )
bavaria says
Thank you. Yes it does appear to be just the south that wears traditional dress like this… I think it’s great coming from a country that has no traditional dress at all :D He does look very cute in them and I am just making the most of him actually wanting to wear them! I will tell him that you said he was strong! :D
Erin says
We might head off to the Auer Dult at Mariahilfsplatz on Saturday if it isn’t raining. The giant pottery markt half might make for some nice photography, and maybe an opportunity for Small Boy to show off his stein-hoisting skills again…
bavaria says
And now I know that I can understand a little more as I heard an advert for this on the radio this morning and wondered if you were going! Will speak to you later! :)
Helen says
oh my word my bladder would go bang drinking a beer that big !! not that i should be drinking beer at the moment..
bavaria says
Thanks Helen! No, indeed you shouldn’t! Hope you’re feeling well! :)
Brinabird and Son says
Prost! Sounds like you are really part of the community now. I know in Italy they can certainly teach us more about that!
bavaria says
Thank you Brina! :)
Mari says
I INSIST you buy a bit of the M thing and bring it to BritMums Live – we simply cannot carry on without it!
bavaria says
I will see if I can fit one in my case! :D x
Sally says
What an enormous stein!! All sounds like loads of fun. Looking forward to some pics of the dirndls at some point.
bavaria says
I promise I will post some at some point :) Thanks Sally! :)