May 1

Anyone driving through the Bitburger Land region in May will immediately notice them: the colorfully decorated maypoles that adorn all the villages and towns in the Eifel. On the evening of April 30, they are erected as part of a May Day celebration. To begin with, a large conifer is driven to the center of the village accompanied by music, where the trunk is peeled and all the branches are removed until only the top of the tree remains. A wreath is tied from the green branches and attached under the top. Finally, the top and wreath are decorated with colorful crepe ribbons and the maypole is erected on the village square by the local fire department.

Finally, as night falls, the witches' night begins, during which the village youth concoct all kinds of pranks. All objects left outside the houses that night can be stolen and taken to another location. Even the maypole is not safe from mischief: it has to be guarded by the village youths, as the inhabitants of the neighboring villages will try to cut it down during the night.

The maypole erection also continues that night: The local boys place a birch tree decorated with colorful crepe ribbons in front of their beloved's house as a token of love. In leap years, the tables are turned, because then the girls place a maypole in front of the boys' door. In some places, it is also customary for a lime trail to be drawn between the houses of two people who are secretly in love.