Maibaum In Austria we have this custom of setting up may-poles. They are put up on the first of May and cut down again one month later. Usually they are put up on village squares or in front of country inns. Setting the pole up is reason enough for a big party. But then, so is taking it down.   1998 we had to cut down a tree ... so we reused it as a may-pole. The bark was stripped, and a strip of old metal and branches was converted to a decoration by my sister.   Nearly standing ...   In case you wonder why there are so may photos of setting it up ... it took two tries ...   Digging it in.   And this is a different custom. During certain days (varying according to region) people can steal the may-pole. Then the owner has to buy it back - usually with quite some beer. In this case the tree was stolen by our neighbours kids (yes, all from one neighbour. They got around 10 kids).   Here they set it up again ... and are payed with a cake afterwards. The whole affair happened at the end of May - and the top of the pole looks kindof sad already.   © 1997-99 Thomas Prückler