A suitable tree was selected either by townsfolk or sometimes by a guild which was sponsoring the maypole. After that the maypole was brought into town by a procession. The tree was carried with great ceremony by a team of people or brought in by a wagon. The procession included song and dance and costumed individuals. Once the procession was finished and the maypole was erected, dancing, particularly circle dancing around the maypole, was common. Games and contests connected to the maypole were held. Depending on local tradition they might include a climbing contest, archery, a race of some sort or wrestling. Prizes might be handed out or sometimes the winner was crowned as the May King or Queen.
Once the celebration was over it was common to dispose of the maypole. This was done one of several ways - by throwing it in the water, cutting it into pieces or burning it, often in a large bonfire. Burning of the maypole was documented by Dr Mannhardt in Estonia, which is where one of the earliest Christmas trees was put up.
The maypole was widely believed to be magical. Its magic was good magic, intended to promote fertile crops and livestock, prevent illness and provide protection from bad weather. When the maypole was taken down and cut up, the pieces were used as charms or to fabricate farm implements with magical properties. If it was burned the ashes were spread on farmland to magically make the crops grow.
It did not seem like the maypole had much in common with the Christmas tree but Mannhardt had seemed convinced they were related. I decided to look at the earliest records of Christmas trees I could find to see if there was any truth to his belief.
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