Poles Apart

THE English tradition of erecting a maypole to dance around at the start of May probably originated in Germany, which is why the tradition is largely confined in the British Isles to England and those parts of Scotland and Wales heavily influenced by the English.

In Bavaria it is not unusual to see permanent maypoles, perhaps near a town hall or in private gardens.

They are almost invariably painted in the state colours of white and cornflower blue, and are often decorated with signs of rural life.

Maypole in a garden beside a trail leading from Rottach-Egern to the village of Enterrottach