Curious tradition in Bavaria
Maibaum by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stolen
02.05.2025 – 6:57 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
A special tradition in Bavaria becomes world champion Manuel Neuer to “doom”. And twice. In order to get the stolen goods back, he had to make a promise.
Bayern star Manuel Neuer has become the victim of a “theft”-and twice. The “evening newspaper” reports. What happened? The former national goalkeeper leased the Forsthaus Valepp at the Bavarian Schliersee together with the restaurateur Johannes Rabl. A tree was beaten for the traditional maypole on May 1st and stored behind a barn at the Forsthaus to solemn it on the first day of May, as is usual in many places.
But that was only possible with obstacles. Because the tree disappeared twice in advance. At first young men from Rottach had stolen the tree, now a group from Waakirchen was also successful in the protection of the tree.
Neuer was informed about a group of the group on the night of theft. The currently injured Bayern goalkeeper and his shared tenant got the 15-meter long back on the eve of May 1st. This was then closed. Fortunately, because on the night of May 1st, people are said to have been around the forest house again to steal the tree.
Background of the campaign: Like setting up, the claw of the maypole has tradition in Bavaria. As soon as it can be read in the newspaper or on social media that a maypole has been felled, the search begins for many groups in the area. Because if you steal the maypole of a neighboring community, you can look forward to an entertaining negotiation about the trigger – and to recognize a successful coup.
However, the custom follows clear rules: a tree may only be stolen if it is also properly hidden. Dealing it from a publicly accessible area is not allowed. Only the tree, no associated decoration.
The tree must also not be damaged and you shouldn’t get caught. If the thieves are set within the municipal boundary, the theft is considered failed. And: once the tree has been set up, it is considered inviolable.
In order for the new to get his tree back, the report quickly had a trigger for the claw: the promise for a joint celebration, in which world champion Neuer should also be there.