Tanz in den Mai and Maibaum-Aufstellen Hartenholm

Walpurgisnacht in the Segeberg District

April 30th — Walpurgis Night — is traditionally the eve of May Day in Germany and is celebrated in many communities with bonfires, dance events, and Maypole raisings. Hartenholm has upheld this tradition for generations: the Hartenholm Civic Association hosts the festival every year on the village green at the edge of town, where the entire community and many guests from neighboring villages gather.

Maypole Raising as the Highlight

The symbolic highlight of the evening is the raising of the Maypole at 7:00 PM. The pole is erected to the musical accompaniment of the local fife and drum corps — a task that traditionally requires several strong helpers and the dexterity of children. Afterward, the decorated pole is guarded — as custom dictates that a neighboring community may steal the Maypole if it is left unguarded.

Dancing, Beer, and Hartenholm Sociability

From 6:00 PM, the program on the festival meadow is in full swing — with beer service, bratwurst, and dance music. The atmosphere is familial: while the adults dance and chat, the children play around the Maypole and look forward to the candy stand. Those who wish can stay until midnight — Walpurgis Night only ends with the dawn of May morning.

Hartenholm in the Aukrug Nature Park

Hartenholm is a small community in the Segeberg district of southwestern Holstein, nestled between the forests of the Aukrug Nature Park and the federal highway B206. The community is easily accessible via the A7 motorway (Bad Bramstedt exit) and belongs to the Amt Kisdorf. The May festival is one of several traditional festivals with which the Civic Association nurtures village life — complemented by the harvest festival, summer festival, and Christmas market.