WW: Historical Steinerne Bridge in Regensburg, Germany

I'll go semi-wordless today! This photo was taken yesterday during our visit to the Buergefest in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany. The historical Steinerne Bridge was built around 1135 until 11476. YOu can see from afar the famous St. Peter Cathedral in Regensburg. I will give you more information and photos in my other blogs! Happy WW!

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I Love Hohenfels

I love this place called Hohenfels. The nature around that you can see is very nice. This morning as I dropped a letter to the post office, I also stopped by at the Church. This is the tower that you can see in this photo. You can click it for a better view. take care guys and hope you had a great day today!
Feel free to visit Wordless Wednesday to see more photos! Happy WW!

Remembering 9/11 Horror

I believed millions of people all over the world remember what happened last Sept. 11, 2001. It's been eight years now since that horror happened. I can't already say a lot of things about this. I only want to extend my sympathy and condolence to the victims' family and friends for this very tragic happening! May the Souls of the Victims Rest In Peace!

Please visit my other sites for more photos. This was taken last Sunday in ARD television in Germany where they featured a movie and videos of that event. Feel free to visit this link about 9/11.




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WW#52 Kallmuenz Castle Ruins in Bavaria, Germany

It's Wednesday again and the day is almost over in Europe. I can't totally go wordless on my WW post. I simply have to say something about the picture that I share. I got here the Castle ruins in Kallmuenz, a small town in Bavaria, Germany. Happy Wordless Wednesday to all!

copyright photo by: Euroangel

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WW: Statue in Burglengenfeld, Germany

a beautiful statue in Burglengenfeld, Germany during my short sightseeing today.

photo by Ruby Benz

WW: The Louvre Museum in Paris, France

The Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Photo I took during our trip to Paris last March 28, 2008

WW: Hohenfels Castle Ruins

The remains of the castle in Hohenfels

WW: Birmingham Buildings

Photo of the day

This is the Birmingham City hall. Photo taken during my three weeks trip to England last year..They were having a Christmas market during my last visit here. That was a great trip in England. I hope to be backed their next time!

Short Break at Prague

photo by Euroangel

Before I will start writing again, I want to share a photo about Prague during our trip there last Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008. I took this photo at the Prague Castle which is located on the hilly part of Prague. Cool view but I don't know why it is quite foggy hill. Is it because of the coal they are using for there heaters/ovens during winter time?? I guess so, since oil, gas and electric heaters are really getting expensive now!! Have a great Friday to all!!

Prague, Czech Republic Trip

A phot taken at the Prague Castle's Square. ..still foggy here huh!! or is that cause by the smokes from their heater...I'm not so sure!! visit my other sites for more updates!! take care!!

MayPole (Maibaum) in Bavaria, Germany

I had a picture on Maypole or Maibaum yesterday in Simply The Best. As promise I am sharing you now the hsitory of Maibaum in Germany esp. in the state of Bavaria. I took these Maypole photos during our visit to Pielenhofen last month.

Introduction:

One of the oldest illustrations of a maypole was made in 1590. It can be seen on a fresco by Hans Donauer in the Antiquarium of the "Münchner Residenz". The fresco shows Lake Starnberg and a castle. Beside the castle a maypole is depicted with double sided tillers for the emblems.

Erecting a maypole was not unique to Bavaria or to the Alpine region, but occurred in nearly all other European countries. The tradition reaches from gesteckten Maien to May dances around a decorated pole which was put up in a village square. Erecting a maypole must follow certain rules and is accompanied by traditional customs which are explained below. There are regional peculiarities which are beyond the scope of this general article.

HISTORY

In the 16th century erecting a white and blue painted maypole became a tradition in Bavaria. Later, in the 18th century, symbols and shields of different worker's guilds were added to the pole.

Erecting a maypole is a community enterprise. This can take the form of local clubs and groups of unmarried boys and girls. Normally, these groups choose a Maibaumchef or Maypole Leader, usually a farmer, joiner or carpenter, who knows about wood and woodworking tools.

Work is traditionally divided between the men and women. Men take care of choosing, cutting down and transporting the tree pole, while young women are responsible for the garlands, collecting donations and other decorations.

The selection of the tree is important; it has to have a height of at least 30 meters (100 feet) and must be bolted upright. To cut the tree down requires care and concentration to avoid damage. Usually it is donated by a local farmer or a club in the village. For transport a decorated horse-drawn wagon was used but today a tractor is common. The boys and girls arrive together in the village with the tree, where the residents wait for them together with a brass band.

Before erecting the maypole the tree must be prepared. First, the branches and the bark are removed. Then tree gets a wash with hot water and if necessary it is planed to the desired shape. To work more effectively, the tree is put on bevels. If they are going to paint the trunk, they take the tree into a factory hall or a repair shop. Traffic is normally blocked in the city where the Maypole is to be set up on the 1st of May.

After preparing the maypole it is important to guard it because, traditionally, young men from surrounding villages may attempt to steal it. To prevent this, the inhabitants and predominantly young men, stay awake the whole night. Young men from surrounding villages also stay awake the entire night looking for their chance to steal the pole. If, by chance, they should be successful in absconding with the pole, the pole is returned after negotiations take place over barrels of beer and food.

A few unwritten rules govern the stealing of the maypole:

1. Thieves who are captured inside the village have to give the maypole back.
2. No force is allowed!
3. The maypole must remain undamaged.
4. After May Day, it is not allowed to steal the tree.
5. A tree can only be stolen when it is in the village.
6. The larcenist must commit the deed unobserved.
7. If a stolen tree is not redeemed, the thieves can put it up as their maypole or can put it up as a disgraced tree next to their own.
8. The theft and the redemption should be made without the need of police and the courts.
9. Only the maypole can be stolen not the figures or the wreaths.

If the maypole survives all of these dangers then positioning begins. An unwritten law is that this should be accomplished only by physical strength. For this purpose, the entire village of men are mobilized. This is a traditional event which takes place on only one day of the year and so the entire villages comes together to celebrate this tradition in a big festival. Before erecting the maypole, the mayor of the village says a few words to the assembled villagers. After that the Reverend blesses the tree and then command is assumed by the "maypole chief". With commands such as Hauruck and Zugleich and with the aid of so called Schwalben the tree gets higher and higher. As soon as it is upright it is fixed in place. The band then plays for the traditional May dance. The festivities continue until late into the evening with plenty to eat and drink.

The setting up of the maypole is a tradition going back to the 16th century.

Young people of the village work together to select and cut down the tree, to transport and to decorate it. During the preparation it is necessary to guard the maypole because young people from other villages who would like to steal it. The setting up of the maypole is a big feast for the whole community.

source: wikipedia.org

Sunday escapades!!

How's everyone doing today!! Hope you got a great Sunday like what we had today!! We passed by at different places again as we visited my sister in law in the hospital in Neumarkt. After our visit there, we passed by at Parsberg around 5pm to see the Verkauf Offnen Sonntag or Sunday Open Sales in English.

Since almost all shops were already closing, we decided to go walking to Burg (castle) Parsberg. I always go to this town once or thrice a week to go shopping especially for groceries. This is the first time I had been to the castle... here are some photos for some evidence..hehehe!!

at the castle compound!! This castle is now a museum for old/antique things..

that building on the top is the Burg Parsberg..this is the view if you stay downtown!!

view of the castle at the back near the woods

the two towers of the castle in Parsberg..I didn't expect that these towers still exist in this castle as you can't see these if you stay downtown..this castle was also renovated..

Today was a very wonderful sunny day!! for more updates, please also visit

• Simply The Best
• Euroangel Graffiti
• My Daily Nourishment

hope everybody enjoy their weekend!!