Tanz in den Mai: Party with the Witches!
In Germany, the very last hours of April are ones of great celebration, music and most of all, dancing! When the clock strikes midnight, May is here and welcomed by a party until the early hours of the morning.
(Photo credit: http://www.akpool.de/ansichtskarten/24284835-kuenstler-ak-wernigerode-warpurgisnacht-auf-dem-brocken-hexen-teufel)
The tradition comes from the Middle Ages when the 30th of April was the Walpurgisnacht (Witches Burning Night). Traditionally on the Eve of May Day witches are believed to be on tops of mountains having big parties. One mountain in particular is the Blocksberg mountain in Harz, Germany, that is infamous for the partying witches amongst its’ mountain peak! This idea of a witches gathering (Hexensabbat) has been in literature since the 15th and 16th century, where they elect a leader and discuss their witching affairs.
Then the Eve of May Day was celebrated with masks and fire so the evil spirits were expelled; now the modern celebration is a commercial and urban event. However, the traditions of this night has left a superstitious and mischievous mark on today’s German culture.
All over but especially in the Pfalz, the Eifel, the Hunsrück and Saarland region of Germany, in the evening of April 30th groups of teens take the place of the sneaky witches and do practical jokes on people in the neighborhood. Popular pranks would be moving around floor mats, garbage cans, garden tools and remove gates from fences.
Maibowle
(Photo credit: http://www.mylifes.de/maibowle-waldmeisterbowle/)
Maibowle or Waldmeisterbowle is a popular alcoholic punch to drink during Tanz in den Mai parties and May Day events. The Maibowle contains two liters of dry white wine to one-liter semi-dry sparkling wine. Then you soak the Waldmeister herb in the alcohol for 30 minutes. It is essential to pick the plant before it blooms because after it blooms the plant is poisonous. (Yikes!!) You can add a garnish of mint or add fruit to the drink.
Maibock Beer
(Photo Credit: http://www.infodienst.de/barre-maibock-2012-geht-den-start)
If punch is not your drink of choice, then during May Day activities it is the perfect time to try the Maibock beer since it is mostly sold in the period from April to June. It is a bottom-fermented strong beer with an alcohol content of more than 6% vol. It is a bright and less sweet, hopped Stout. And like all beer, after a couple of glasses it makes you a better dancer. ;)
Maypole
After you danced until the sun came up, the next day there is May Day festivities with the traditional Maypole ‘pole dancing’ if you will. Traditionally a birch pole is decorated with colorful crepe paper around the pole as in the pattern of a dance and it has a small tree on top of the pole. It acts as guard against evil spirits and also it is a symbol of fertility. Villagers dance around the tree and it brings luck of fertility of nature and also human fertility. Hopefully one is not too hung over from the night before while dancing in May because dancing around in a circle around a pole might make you feel a bit dizzy!
The 30th of April has a long tradition in Germany of celebration and mischief making. To me it sounds likes the American party night before Thanksgiving and the American Mischief (Cabbage) night before Halloween combined into one fun night! So this year, put on your witches hat and dancing shoes to party with the locals at a Tanz in den Mai event near you. Here are some ideas:
(Photo credit: http://neu.tivoli.de/schlagerperlen-und-kultige-pop-hits/)
30 April 2016 Events:
Wiesbaden
TANZ IN DEN MAI im PUPASCH WIESBADEN
Saturday, April 30 at 8 PM
Pupasch
Bärenstrasse 6, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany
Tanz in Den Mai Feierei
Schlachthof Wiesbaden
Murnaustr. 1, 65189 Wiesbaden, Germany
Darmstadt:
Bealtaine - "Keltischer" Tanz in den Mai ("Celtic " Dance into May)
The Green Sheep Pub
Erbacher Strasse 5, 64283 Darmstadt, Hessen
Koln:
Electro Swing Night
Gloria Theater , 11pm
House & R'n'B Tanz in den Mai Muschi Club
http://www.koeln.de/koeln/was_ist_los/nightlife/party-highlights-tanz-in-den-mai-2016_824054.html
Stuttgart:
Dance on the fest tables at the Stuttgart Springfest!
http://stuttgarter-fruehlingsfest.de/de/home/
Supreme Party: DJ Cray, DJ Monsieur Eric Bee und DJ Steve Turner
HipHop / R&B / Urban / Electronic Music
Perkins Park
Stuttgart-Nord
Die Pitchy & Scratchy Show:
DJ Gambit, DJ RL und DJ David Delane
HipHop / Trap / MashUp
Club Schräglage
Stuttgart-Mitte
Mannheim:
Discomania - Tanz in den Mai – Mannheim
10pm-6am
MS Connexion (Dance Club)
Angelstr. 33 (Zufahrt "Alte Seilerei 1"), 68199 Mannheim, Germany
Freiberg:
Global Clubsounds - Spring Edition (Tanz in den Mai)
Dancing Park Palazzo
Planckstr. 1, 71691 Freiberg, Baden-Wurttemberg
Kaiserslautern:
TANZ IN DEN MAI – JÄGERBALL
Nachtschicht Kaiserslautern
Zollamtstr. 28, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
Tanz in den Mai
Filou Kaiserslautern
Martin-Luther-Str. 8, 67657 Kaiserslautern, Germany
Siebeldingen:
When: 30 April 2016 Maifeuer
What: Dance into May with a large campfire, wine on tap, wild boar on the spit and the Palatine cult band "Six Affair"
Where: Weingut Dr. Steiner Johanneshof 76833 Siebeldingen
Website:http://www.weingut-dr-steiner.com/homepage.html
Contact to purchase tickets: Phone 06345/3664 Email: info@weingut-dr-steiner.de
The original Harz Mountain:
What: "Something that you can't explore anywhere else in the world" A gathering of witches and warlocks. Apparently witches can fly on goats? This makes the entire event worth seeing in my opinion
Where: Brocken, Harz Mountain (about 3 hours from Kaiserslautern)
Webesite:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/germany/harz-mountains/travel-tips-and-articles/52160
Author’s Profile: Gemma is a mom, a veteran and an Army civilian living in Wiesbaden, Germany. With New Jersey roots, she is enjoying her extended European vacation.
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