Student project: May Tree for Inchenchofen

A May Tree in front of a blue and white sky

The most beautiful May Tree of the district af Aichach-Friedberg is located in Inchenhofen. Picture: privat

The "Maibaumbuam" standing together smiling into the camera

Tobias Schwarzbauer (front row, 2nd from left) and the "Maibaumbuam". Picture: private

After 29 years, the small village of Inchenhofen in the district Aichach-Friedberg has a new “Maibaum” (“May Tree” or maypole – a Bavarian tradition: a specifically decorated tree, set up every year on 1 May). Tobias Schwarzbauer initiated the project. It credits for his studies in the Bachelor degree programme Digital Business at THI Business School as a so-called social project. These are compulsory in all Bachelor degree programmes of THI Business School. Together with like-minded people, the “Maibaumbuam” (Bavarian dialect: buam = boys), he organized the felling of the tree, the building of a concrete foundation in the heart of the village, the painting, decorating and – very important in the Bavarian tradition – guarding of the May Tree from the moment of its completion until setting it up on the 1st of May. The project was worthwhile: In a competition of a brewery, a jury chose the May Tree of Inchenhofen as the most beautiful tree in the whole district. Besides, a new association was founded to make sure that Inchenhofen from now on sets up a May Tree every year and thus, preserves an ancient Bavarian tradition.