maypole

The maypole is not a phenomenon of modern times. People saw the similarity to the tree of life and its laws. For them, the tree was a mirror in which they recognized themselves and the world. The tree with its branches in the changing sky, looked like the man and his house. Roots are hidden the secrets of the depths, its branches reached to heaven. For those gods were always associated with trees.
Trees give the man oxygen to breathe. Their leaves and fruits contain healing properties. Without the wood, he does not grow. Already in the 72 century aCwas all this known to the people, such as demonstrated by the following saying of the Chinese Kuan Chung: "When planning one year ahead, sow than corn. Plan a century ahead, plant trees."
Ancestors of the Maypole are: the World Tree, the Tree of Life and the lucky tree. Even during the Egyptian and Indian fertility rituals played a role in the tree. Similar symbols in Java. In Dyonisos cult of the Greeks was not only the god of wine, but also that of the venerated trees. The Romans dedicated the month of May to the goddess of growth, fertility and the plants thrive. Her name was Maia. Maia's feast was celebrated on May 1. There were sacrifices, and as a symbol of its dignity, trees were established, around which they danced.
Ceiba and the Omaha Indians have a ritual like this. They chop down a kapok tree and rid it of its leaves. In the camp they are painted with red and black rings. These symbolize day and night, thunder and death, but heaven and earth. Finally, the Sacred Tree, The Tree Mother of mankind, in the middle of the camp posted. As they dance and make it fun.
The Celts were from the treeless steppes of the Ural region to Europe. In Europe, they found themselves suddenly in huge forests. According to their show began on May 1 the summer, on November 1st winter. These data were important holidays, including those with blood sacrifices were celebrated. There is the suspicion that the Maypole actually a Celtic sacrificial tree. Archaeological evidence shows in Germany, that sometimes covered with gold and adorned with ribbons.
Even when the Germans played a major role the tree cult. Trees were sacred. According to them, lived in a tree every soul that influenced their growth and fertility. Trees accompanied the Germans from birth until death.
Also with them was a special feast day on May 1. It was the wedding of the mother goddess Freia and the sky god Woden. The tree cut down and set up in response to this was a young, green birch tree or shrub. This was hoped, the fertility of the fields and people in the village a positive way. Maypole celebration at the ancient Greeks
Christianization was used by many eradicated. Nothing was more sacred, but the God of the Christians. Yet it failed, all pagan myths to eradicate. They lived on, including the Maypole and use with Palm Sunday (Sunday before Easter) cut green branches and thus to decorate home and church. The Netherlands has the Palm Sunday stick, a wooden cross, decorated with colored strips of paper and bread and a cockerel at the top impaled. Thus pulling the school through the district. Here is a mixture of a pagan practice with the memory of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem took place. Originally, these crosses (life bars) adorned the fields as protection against a bad harvest. Palm Sunday procession
In fairy tales changed the life of the rod wand. This meant that those who have power over it, death or give life. The wand further into the lives of kings scepter (symbol of power) and the saying "someone on the staff break" to indicate that the rod of the life convict can not help.