Yesterday two tragedies occurred in Mintraching. There was not only a fire in the hall but also a theft: the maypole was stolen.
Bad events overshadow the Bavarian tradition that should normally be fun: During yesterday's fire in the Mintraching district of Neufahrn, the Mintraching maypole was stolen. Although the fire was extinguished promptly, nasty rumors sparked on social media afterwards. Everything about intentional arson, taking advantage of the emergency and the moral questionability of this tradition can be read. Overshadowed by the question: What is really true?
Stealing the maypole: A Bavarian tradition
Every year from the end of March onwards, the local boys' clubs are extremely tense. Because while the associations are working on their own maypole, others are being intensively scouted and, if possible, stolen! Any maypole can be stolen as soon as it is in the village, as long as nothing is destroyed during the theft.
It is considered stolen as soon as the town sign is passed. However, if a local resident has previously placed their hand on the maypole and spoken out in favor of it, the attempt is considered a failure. The club that was stolen gets the tree back afterwards, but only with a trigger chosen by the thieves. To prevent the robbery from happening, the “Maypole Guard” has to keep an eye on it - because the potential thieves can be lurking at any time.
A group of “maypole thieves” in the Freising district
So it's clear that the young boys are keen on stealing the maypole. A group of “maypole thieves” has therefore been formed in the Freising district. They come together from over ten different towns to come up with sophisticated plans to take away everything that isn't nailed down.
Particularly in our sights this year: the Mintraching maypole. This week two attempts had already failed, a third was supposed to be successful and at the same time heated up tempers. Because during the previously planned robbery, a warehouse in the town burned down at the same time. The Mintraching boys, who are often also members of the fire department, responded - the tree was unguarded.
Large-scale operation during the Mintraching Maypole Clause
Raphael Urban, second chairman of the Catholic Boys' Association Isarlust Mintraching (KBIM), explains how it happened in detail: “The alarm for the fire department was around 2:20 p.m. A member of our club and the owner of the farm where we work on the tree was also there. The telehandler, which normally secures everything, was previously used on the farm. It would have made stealing the maypole more difficult.
However, a tenant of the farm informed us promptly that thieves were at work. However, some were busy putting out the fire and were unable to respond. “Stupidly, she didn’t put her hand on the tree, but instead appealed to common sense to cancel the project due to the circumstances.”
A “quick and clean steal,” as the group of maypole thieves called it, the maypole was brought from the yard to the town sign within ten minutes. At 3:10 p.m. the Stangerl was brought to Günzenhausen for accommodation.
Mintrachingers want to show character
The Mintraching boys' club tried to stop the theft within Neufahrn. The negotiations failed. What remains is a lack of understanding and disappointment over rather unsportsmanlike behavior. The board of directors of the Catholic boys' association Isarlust Mintrachings agrees: That was a stupid coincidence that still leaves a bad aftertaste.
Based on the failed attempts, it was already suspected that such an action would soon come. But why such an emergency situation is being exploited continues to cause a lack of understanding. Despite everything, the members are committed to diplomacy. The release was negotiated that same day at 8:15 p.m. The demand: 20 rolled roasts with side dishes and beer, paid for by the KBIM. The club wants to continue to show character, because it was still a clean theft without any damage. It is currently uncertain whether the Mintraching boys' club will take part in the release festival, as usual.
“Tempers are definitely calming down, but opinions about what is right and what is wrong about this matter remain different,” said Raphael Urban. However, both parties agree: This incident should not forever tear a wedge between the people involved and the club. It would have simply been taking advantage of the emergency, which is why the thieves don't feel entirely comfortable with the matter.
Death threats for the Günzenhausen boys' club
The group of maypole thieves from the Freising district do not see any fault in their behavior. They will continue to try to steal maypoles. They just feel like they are being presented in the wrong light. Precisely because there are some untruths circulating on social media that are sometimes damaging to the reputation of groups that are not involved. The Günzenhausen boys' club received death threats via direct message, and the local fire department is also accused of helping with the robbery. All accusations that are not true. Due to the circumstances, the people involved in the theft would like to remain anonymous.
What is true, however, is that none of the maypole thieves are active in the fire department or even took advantage of the circumstances. There was no external help either. The thieves had neither prior information about the guard nor any resources such as a key. What was known: there was no “waking” during the day, which is why this day was chosen. Success is the result of good espionage, day and night, and a certain level of expertise. Because the maypole thieves sometimes include “experienced” people.
Request from both parties: Stop the spread of falsehoods
On the day itself, they were there from 7 a.m. and were waiting for an opportunity. That would also have been known to the Mintrachingers. The temporal misfortune and the threats received, which will most likely have legal repercussions, are also not in the interests of the thieves, who are all active in various boys' clubs.
During the negotiations today at 1:15 p.m., the circumstances were discussed intensively by both sides. Minds have calmed down, what remains are persistent rumors that are still making waves beyond the district. Not everyone has yet realized that the boys' club and the Günzenhausen fire department have nothing to do with it.
Both organizations therefore ask you to stop the spread of untruths and to remember what stealing the maypole actually is: a Bavarian tradition that strengthens the community among each other.
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