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Archiver > GERMANNA_COLONIES > 2000-06 > 0960477369


From: "elkehall" <>
Subject: Re: [GERMANNA] May Wine
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 11:16:09 -0400
References: <393F9E83.4A0267BE@inficad.com>


Hope I don't bore anyone! Thought about another May custom. On the first
of May (which is Labor Day in Germany), EVERYONE goes to the country and
goes hiking. In Germany you find hiking paths throughout the countryside
and the forests. You can walk on the farm paths between the fields and no
one would say that you are trespassing. Farmers own the land but not the
paths between the fields. On that day, you can hear people singing the old
folk songs as they walk throughout the fields. It's lots of fun, everyone
has a picnic or visits one of the many little inns in the country. The
doors of the houses and inns are generally decorated with birch trees or
branches and lots of flowers. In the villages, the young people dance
around the may tree, and many still wear the old costumes. There is somewhat
of a revival of traditional festivals in smaller towns and villages and
many people purchase and wear the old costumes again on these special
occasions.

Elke


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