The tradition of the May tree represents a fertility ritual associated with the return of leaves to the trees. During the month of May, a tree is ceremoniously planted or a pole representing it is erected. This custom has spread throughout Europe, and different names are associated with it: tree of joy or May tree, green May, May, tree of love, as well as “majban” and “majuš” in the northern part of Croatia.
According to tradition, on the night between April 30 and May 1, a tree, usually a birch, is brought from the forest and planted or simply placed in the center of the village or settlement. This ritual marks the transition from one season to another. It celebrates the rebirth of the plant world and universal life, with the aim of stimulating the fertile forces of the earth. The spring tree of renewal, set up in the central place of the village, is decorated with flowers and ribbons, and throughout the month of May, the villagers gather around it for dancing and celebration.
Egyptian and Greek Roots
The symbolism of the May tree has its roots in Egyptian and Greek traditions. The association is related to the archetype of the Tree of Life, a tree concept that is discussed by Mircea Eliade. The Tree of Life, found in numerous mythologies, signifies the existence of a cosmic tree that connects different worlds: heavenly, earthly, and underworldly.
In ancient Egypt, during the important festivities of the month of Khoiak, they would erect the Djed pillar. Using mummification bandages, the dismembered body of Osiris would be shaped, and the placement of the Djed pillar symbolized the divine ability of regeneration.
Originally, according to the Egyptologist Georges Posener, the Djed pillar was interpreted as a stylization of a blossoming tree or a severed trunk (to encourage regrowth), or a bundle of green stalks (a tall sheaf of grain), and it could also represent the spine.
During the New Kingdom period, it undoubtedly represented Osiris’s spine. The pillar has always played a significant role in fertility rituals and, by assimilating into the Osirian myth, it also symbolizes resurrection.
In ancient Greece, the Maenads (Bacchantes) also had a close connection with the tree cult. ing the May dance with ribbons in order to reconstruct the body of Dionysus-Zagreus that was torn apart by the Titans, which certainly resembles the myth of Osiris. Thus, in Greek pottery from the 5th century BC, we find Dionysus represented as a wrapped and disguised tree, crowned and surrounded by Maenads who wrap ribbons of leaves and flowers around his torn body.
This tradition of poles/masts and colorful ribbons hides a very ancient meaning. The mast, as a symbol of the axis mundi, represents verticality, immobility, and is associated with cosmic space; ribbons and dance represent movement, time, seasons, and horizontality. The combination of these symbolizes the living and constantly renewing space-time.
The tree entwined with colorful ribbons
The May pole or Maypole symbolically represents the tree as the center of the world, which gives the universe solidity and connectivity.
The small ribbons that form the top of the cone represent the river of stars, the celestial dome, a bridge or a rainbow, thus the ascending path ush. The crown symbolizes the border of the visible starry world. Great ribbons intertwine around and along the tiny one by performing a spiral dance of two snakes, like the one on Mercury’s caduceus.
This dance with interwoven ribbons around the mast represents the Wheel of Life, the cycles of seasons, and the fate in the passing time.
May in Provence and Brittany
The tradition associated with the May tree is still present in many parts of France. In Provence, the dance around the pillar is still performed today, and it is also called the dance of ropes. This archaic dance connected to the cosmic tree represents the weaving of life around the axis of the world that connects Heaven and Earth. During the dance, the dancers intertwine the ropes into braids and then unravel them. In addition to France, we find the dance of ropes in Germany and Austria.
In Celtic tradition, May 1st is the holiday of Beltane, the date when the Celts emerged from the period of darkness into the period of light. This is the third of the four major annual religious festivals from Celtic prehistory. It is associated For Belenos, Lug, and Belisama. The main Beltane ritual is the fire that the druids would light, and people would then drive their livestock through the fire, thereby protecting (immunizing) the animals from possible epidemics in the upcoming year.
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Generally speaking, it is a celebration of the change in the rhythm of life, the transition from winter to a more outdoor, natural way of living. The ceremony marks this transition both physically and spiritually. Dancing around the Maypole is one of the key components of the celebration: holding a ribbon in their hand, participants dance and spin around the Maypole. The Maypole thus becomes a giant loom. With the participation of dancers, violinists, harpists, flute players, the celebration becomes like a living painting.