Der Mai

The fifth month of the year in Germany is the month of Maypoles, May Day, Maibock beer, May bonfires, and many more traditions. May is when Germans welcome full-blown spring and early summer. The cold, gray winter is fading away, the days are growing longer, and suddenly sidewalk cafés and parks in Germany are filled with long-frustrated sun worshipers.

Advertised as the biggest one in the region, the huge Maifeuer in Alpenrod in the Westerwald region of Rhineland-Palatinate takes place on Walpurgis Night (30 April), with the fire burning past midnight into the first day of May, the most popular date for May bonfires. In some other communities the May bonfire takes place on various other dates. Learn more below. PHOTO: © 2024 Ortsgemeinde Alpenrod

The first day of May (International Labor Day, Tag der Arbeit) is a legal holiday in Germany and all across Europe and most of the world. (Canada and the United States are the exception in this regard.) In larger German cities, particularly in Berlin and Hamburg, May starts off with a bang and clashes with the police in an annual rite of protest for protest’s sake. But in most parts of Germany, the first day of May is much more peaceful and devoted to less turbulent May customs. Below you can learn more about May in German-speaking Europe.

Germanic May Traditions and Commemorations

Below is a list of the many popular May customs and commemorations in German-speaking Europe. Click on any of the linked topics to learn more about them.

• Der 8. Mai – Tag der Befreiung (vom Nationalsozialismus) | The 8th of May is Germany’s “Annual Commemoration of the Liberation from National Socialism” (the Nazis) and the end of World War II for Germany in 1945. It’s not a legal holiday, but dignitaries, including the German chancellor and the federal president, take part in ceremonies (wreath-laying, speeches, etc.) on this date. In English-speaking countries the 8th of May is known as VE Day (Victory in Europe Day). The act of military surrender was first signed on 7 May at SHAEF HQ in Reims, France. A slightly modified document, considered the definitive German Instrument of Surrender, was signed on 8 May 1945 in Karlshorst, Berlin.
• Maibock Beer has the month of May in its German name. Bock beer dates back to 14th century, when it began its spread across Germany. Maibock is just one of several varieties.
• May Day and Maypoles in German-Speaking Europe is a detailed article about this topic.
• Maifeuer (May bonfire) – On the eve of May 1st Germans and some other Europeans enjoy piling up a lot of wood and setting it alight while partying nearby. In some places they do this on different dates in May, but a huge tower of flames is the common element.
• Maiglöckchen (May bells) – The English name for this delicate white, sometimes pale pink, flower is lily of the valley. (See photo below.) Found in German works of art, poetry, and music, it is a well-known symbol of the month of May.
• Maitanzen, or “dancing around the Maypole” is also a May custom in Germany.
• Holidays and Celebrations Calendar – Our German Way calendar lists key events in May and other months of the year.
• The Month of May in Germany is a blog post by Erin about May in the German capital and in other places in Germany – with her own personal perspective.
• The Ice Saints (die Eisheiligen) arrive between 11 and 15 May, depending on the region. This colorful tradition is related to Catholic saints and predicting the last frost of the planting season. Beware of Cold Sophie!
• Mother’s Day – Muttertag is observed in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland on the second Sunday in May, just as in the USA and Canada. But the custom in German-speaking Europe has a slightly different history.
• Walpurgisnacht: Annotated English-German Glossary – This annual event takes place on the last night of April, continuing into 1 May. Also see Maifeuer (May bonfire) below.

Maibock Beer
Bock (Bockbier) was originally a strong, dark German beer that dates from the 14th century and the Hanseatic city of Einbeck, located today in the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen). From Einbeck, Bock beer spread across Germany, eventually arriving in Munich, where the locals pronounced the beer’s town name in Bavarian dialect as oan Bock (“a billy goat”). And the beer’s name remains “Bock” today, although it is now brewed in several variations, including:

• Doppelbock (Double Bock), a stronger, maltier version; alcohol content from 7% to 12% or more by volume
• Eisbock (Ice Bock), a very strong version (alcohol content 8.6% to 14.3% by volume) made by partially freezing the beer and removing the ice
• Maibock (May Bock), a pale lager, more hopped version generally made for consumption at spring festivals
• Weizenbock (Wheat Bock), a wheat beer made with a 40 to 60 percent wheat content replacing the usual barley

But for the month of May of course we’re focusing on Maibock. Because of its lighter color it is also known as Heller Bock, from German hell, meaning light, bright, or pale in color. This style of Bock has a color ranging from deep gold to light amber. It has a large, creamy, persistent white head, and moderate to moderately high carbonation, while the alcohol content ranges from 6.3% to 8.1% by volume. It may look like a pilsner, but it packs a bit more of a punch.

Maiglöckchen in art: In this detail view from a painting by an Upper Rhenish Master titled “The Little Garden of Paradise” we see lilies of the valley (May bells) below the lady’s red dress. PHOTO: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Maifeuer | May Bonfire
The May bonfire tradition varies somewhat in practice from region to region, but the common element is obviously a big bonfire, often setting aflame a pile of timber and assorted wooden objects that can tower as high as 12 meters, close to 40 feet. (See the photo at the top of this page.) Often the local Feuerwehr (fire department) is the host organization involved in setting things up and ensuring safety during the event.

By far the most common date for the Maifeuer event is on Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis Night, the night between 30 April and 1 May) as part of the Hexenjagd (witch hunt) custom. That night is also known as Hexennacht (Witches’ Night). But some communities hold their May bonfire event on different dates during May, and even on different dates in different years. For instance, the village of Medingen in Saxony (Landkreis Bautzen, near Dresden) had its May bonfire on 25 May 2023, but in 2024 the date is 11 May.

Usually these festive affairs features food, drinks and musical entertainment. In many places entry is free, but guests have to pay for food and drink. Often there are also activities for children. In some communities there is an entry fee of from five to 20 euros. The Maifeuer is more common in northern Germany, but you can find the closest May bonfire event to you by doing a web search.

In German, lily of the valley is called Maiglöckchen (“little May bell”). The species Convallaria majalis has many regional names in German. Name variations in English include “Maria’s tears” and “May bells”. PHOTO: Ivar Leidus, CC-BY-SA-4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Maiglöckchen | Lily of the valley
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is called Maiglöckchen (“little May bell”) in German. In English “May bells” is also one of the common terms used, along with “Mary’s tears”. The Catholic Church made Lily of the valley a symbol of the Virgin Mary. Living up to its German and Latin names (majalis means “of May”), May bells bloom from May to early June.

Lily of the valley is a woodland flowering plant with sweetly scented, pendent, bell-shaped white flowers. It is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe. Convallaria majalis var. montana, also known as the American lily of the valley, is native to North America. Although beautiful and sweet smelling, all parts of this flowering plant are highly poisonous for humans and animals.

May in German Poetry

There are many examples of poetry in German related to May and springtime. Below is one example mentioning May bell flowers in the original German verse with an English prose translation.

Note: The German poem above is the extremely modified version by Voß of Hölty’s original 1773 poem (“Mailied”), later set to music by Franz Schubert in 1815/1816.

Next | May Day and Maypoles in German-Speaking Europe

Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• Walpurgisnacht: Annotated English-German Glossary
• Holidays and Celebrations Calendar for Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• History of Germany – A summary of German history from the 9th century to the present
• History & Culture – Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• Cultural Comparisons: The USA and Germany – Comparison charts