Maibaumsetzen Saarwellingen

Three Maypoles in One Evening

On the eve of May 1st, it's a tradition in Saarland: The Maypole is erected. In Saarwellingen, a municipality in the Saarlouis district, this happens simultaneously in three locations — in the center of Saarwellingen and in the districts of Reisbach and Schwarzenholz. Three Maypoles, three festival grounds, one shared tradition.

A Custom with Germanic Roots

The Maypole setting dates back to ancient Germanic spring customs. The several-meter-high, decorated trunk — usually a birch or fir tree with a green wreath — symbolizes fertility, growth, and the beginning of the warm season. In Southern Germany and Saarland, the Maypole setting is carried out by a group of strong men in traditional costume or club attire — a physical task that requires many hands.

Brass Music, Schwenker, and May Punch

The erection is accompanied by brass bands playing typical marches and May songs. The local clubs — sports, marksmen, fire department, carnival, heritage — serve guests with Saarland specialties: Schwenker from the grill, Lyoner sausage, bratwurst, mixed salad, draft beer, and of course, the traditional Maibowle (May punch). The atmosphere is familiar, family-friendly for children and seniors, and untouched by commercialism.

Meeting of the Village Community

As Dr. Horst Brünnet formulated in his Guiding Principles for Saarwellingen: The Maypole setting is „a good opportunity to get into conversation with each other”. In the Saarland context, this means: neighbors meet neighbors, politicians meet citizens, clubs present their work. Anyone who wants to experience the real Saarland — far from tourism — should come to Saarwellingen on April 30th.

Discover Saarwellingen

The municipality of Saarwellingen is located between Saarlouis and Lebach in the Saarlouis district. Worth seeing are the late Baroque parish church of St. Blasius with its richly decorated interior, the Renaissance castle in Saarlouis, and the Saarschleife — the most famous viewpoint in Saarland, only 30 minutes away.