May Day in Bonn

May Day is a traditional holiday in Europe and its traditions go back to pre-Christian times. One of the traditions in the Rhineland region is to leave a maypole (a tree covered in streamers) at the house of a girl the night before.
This maypole was placed overnight just across the road from my Bonn apartment. I'm not sure if you can read the name on the heart but it actually says 'Nicolas'. That's because, although usually its the boy leaving the maypole for the girl, in leap years (like 2012) the roles can be reversed and girls can leave a maypole for their favourite boy. The lovely part is that this all done in secret; the maypole magically appears overnight. The sender can even choose to remain completely anonymous or leave a little clue to their identity.
The one thing to avoid is a tree covered in white streamers. The multi-coloured paper shows love and admiration but plain white streamers imply intense dislike. I did see one sad little tree covered in white streamers around the corner; Omer, I don't know what you've done but someone went to a lot of trouble to let you know they don't approve. Time for a long hard look at yourself buddy :)

Down in Munsterplatz, poor Beethoven (well his statue at least) is totally closed in by craft market in the picture above. But let me tell you that this is a genuine craft market.
How so? Well, when I saw the lady using a spinning wheel to produce the yarn for her homespun clothing line, I was impressed. Until I saw the lady with her loom, who was making the cloth for her scarves she was selling. Until I saw the wood turner who was using his own lathe to produce his carvings. Until I saw the basket weaver who was hand weaving baskets at her stall. Until I saw the bread maker who had brought two wood fired ovens to make his own bread that he was selling to a happy clientele (and can I tell you how nice fresh bread direct from the oven tastes on a sunny afternoon).

But the prize has to go to the blacksmith. Check out the photo on the left. The smithy has brought his own anvil, fire with coals and hand driven bellows to make his own wares for sale.
This has to be the most hands on, hand made craft market I have seen. The milliners had their own sewing machines set up to make their hats. The leather workers were making belts and wallets and bags in between making sales.
There was an education to be had in just walking around and looking at these artisans in action.

And to cap it all off; at one end there was a lute maker who, when not playing his wares, had CDs playing the most beautiful lute music. And at the other end of the market was a young girl selling ocarinas; and she had no hesitation playing a tune or two and the ocarina sounded so clear and pure; music in Munsterplatz and then, further off in Marketplatz, a stage was set up and musicians were playing concerts for appreciative audiences.

There was rain this morning but the afternoon has fined up beautifully; tee shirt warm with sunglasses needed to keep the glare of the sun at bay.

Just a great day in the sunshine