Maypole (Maibaum): The German Courtship vs. Harana

Image via Wikipedia

How do you remember being courted by your husband? Or for the still single, how do you want to be courted? I'm a romantic at heart and though living here in Germany, still prude. I remember watching Sampaguita Pictures when I was in highschool. I will race home for my lunch break and watch the 1pm Sampaguita Pictures film at channel 9. Yap, all of their films were still in black in white. I just love the idea of "harana" and the "panunuyo" (courtship) where guys will help in the household chores of their ladylove by getting buckets of water from the nearby well and bringing it to her place. Confused why? Running water and faucets are not common inside the house then. Or guys helping the father of their ladylove chop wood for cooking. Why? There was no LPG (liquified petroleum gas) or electric stove then. Picture that and you would know what year that probably was. Nope, I didn't experience all of those. No harana, panunuyo (courtship) through fetching water or chopping woods. What I only experienced is that guys should never court a lady in the street. ALWAYS at her home where her family will see them and be able to scrutinize the guy. Hmmm. No wonder I'm still single. 

The Harana and Kundiman are lyrical songs popular in the Philippine Islands dating back to the Spanish period. Harana are traditional courtship songs in the Mexican-Spanish tradition based on the habanera rhythm while the Kundiman, which has pre-colonial origins from the Tagalog region, uses triple meter rhythm. Kundiman is also characterized by a minor key at the beginning and shifts to a major key in the second half. Its lyrics depict a romantic theme, usually portraying love, passion, or sadness. Normally, a guy with his group of friends will sing infront of the house of the girl at night. I wonder how guys who don't have a singing voice court their ladies. After some songs were sung, the family of the girl will then invite them to come in and this can be followed by the girl singing a duet with the guy. Like a live karaoke then, I guess. ;-)

Now here in Germany, they have their own style of courtship. It's entirely different from the old Filipino way of courtship. But nowadays, Filipinos court girls the same way as foreigners do. You just ask the girl out and if she likes you, she can join you in whatever gimmick you have in planned. I never could fathom when one is officially going out though. Some says, when they continually go out and see each other. From what I can still remember during my time, you will be officially a couple once the girl says "I love you" back. Those were the good old days. No guessing. Everything in the open.

A tractor carrying a Maibaum. Photo by benchfrooser

Back here in Bonn, its common practice in and around Nord Rhein Westphalia, that Maibaum or Maypole be celebrated during end of April. Just before the Maibaum is erected, depending on the region, there may be a procession through the village, usually ending up at a central place and/or restaurant and usually watched by crowds of spectators and accompanied by a brass band. The actual installation of the tree then takes place in the afternoon or evening. While the crowds usually while away the time drinking beer and eating sausages, the young men busy themselves with decorating the maypole to get the symbols of various trades representing the region into the right position. Whilst the maypole is traditionally set up with the help of long poles, today it may sometime also be done using tractors, forklifts or even cranes. In Lower Austria ropes and ladders are used.

If the tree is erected on the eve of 1 May, then the event is usually followed by a May dance or Tanz in den Mai.

A very tall maibaum. Photo by YankY56

Depending on local custom, the Maibaum may remain in place until the end of the month and is then taken down, decorations removed and the trunk stored until the following year. In many parts of Bavaria it remains in place all year round.

Maibaum erected infront of the building. Photo by expatlifeinbonn.

On the night of the last day of April, many young men erect small decorated "Maibäume" in front of the houses of their sweethearts. Some attach a red heart with the name of the girl written on it to the tree. Common tree being used for this is the birch tree. They then decorate it with colored crepe papers with some saying that even the colors symbolizes something. By erecting a maypole infront of the house of the girl, this serves as the official declaration of the guys intention to the girl. There are shops or where these special trees can be bought for this season. Mostly, the guys only ask their bestfriend or close friends to accompany them to tie the tree infront of the girl's house. In return for their help, he will treat his buddies for a drink. At the end of May, this poles will then be collected by a special dumpster that will throw it away.

So for you, what do you prefer? Me? Can I experience all?