Maypole

 In Transylvania there is an old custom: on May 1st, a Maypole is chosen. This is a green tree that is said to protect the house and bear rich fruit to the one who puts it at the gate.

 

This year, we are going on the Grand River, one of the two tributaries of the Cugir river. We shall look for fresh beech leaves there, that we shall nail on the gate.

 

We shall leave after the dew has risen. It's colder in the mountains than in the city. Andrei takes an ax, I take the camera. While Andrei cuts branches, I will immortalize landscapes, flowers, leaves...

 

first day of May -

across the street

the lilac flavor

 

We park the car at the exit of Cugir. We are looking for a beech that grows on the side of the road. To our right, rocks carved by workers who have made their way decades ago. On the left side, the river with clear water flows hurriedly.

 

 photo

next to a carved rock -

a bird in flight

 

The forest stirs. Andrei gets some fresh branches.

 

a bush by the road -

white and scented

hawthorn flowers

 

 Once we've taken a few more photos, we're heading home. We are expected. When we arrive, we nail the fresh branches on the gate.

Grandma is hugging us. She does care a lot about tradition.

 

 tr. Mirela Brăilean