Vintage Steinbach Painted Wooden May Pole Day German Austrian Music Box Wood

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Vintage Steinbach Painted Wooden May Pole Day German Austrian Music Box Wood:
$34.99

This sale is for a GORGEOUS, Beautiful Steinbach Vintage Painted Wooden Wood May Pole German Austrian Girls Birds Music Box. The music box does not wind or play music, something with the internal mechanism is out of place. Needs to be taken apart. When the top metal plate is spun, the girls spin in place and spin their ribbons on the May pole. Can probably be fixed but is sold as is.There is some paint loss on the yellow dressed girl. A very eye-catching vintage music box. It measures 7 1/2\" tall by about 3\" diameter. It plays the song \"Der Froehliche Wanderer\" as stated on gold sticker on bottom. May Day (Der Erste Mai, Tag der Arbeit) is an ancient festival to welcome the spring weather and to drive away evil spirits. It is also an occasion to campaign for and celebrate workers rights, particularly in Berlin. May 1 is a public holiday in all German states.What do people do?

Many people in Germany observe the night between April 30 and May 1 as Witches or Walpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht, Hexennacht). People in some areas light bonfires and spend the evening and night outside. Young people may play pranks, such as moving their neighbors\' garden furniture or ornaments to other properties. Maypoles are also prepared for the following morning, known as May Day. Young men in Rhineland may put a branch wrapped in colorful ribbons in the garden of a girl he would like to marry. Young women place these branches in the gardens of young men during leap years.

On May 1, some people organize or attend marches or rallies to campaign for or celebrate workers\' rights in Germany or abroad. These events may be tied with campaigns from other European countries. The largest march occurs in Berlin-Kreuzberg, an area of Berlin, and attracts many political activists.

Other people spend some time outdoors enjoying the spring weather on May Day. If this holiday falls close to Ascension Day or the Pentecost weekend, many people take a portion of their annual leave and go on a short vacation in Germany or a neighboring country.

Public life

May 1 is a public holiday and post offices, banks and many businesses are closed. Nearly all stores are closed, although they may be open in tourist areas. However, bakeries, petrol stations and stores at railway stations, airports and along highways are often open.

Public transport services may run a normal, reduced or no service depending on where one lives or wants to travel. Traffic may be disrupted in town centers where large parades are held.

Background

Traditionally, people believed that witches held Walpurgis Night celebrations on the summit of the Blocksberg, a mountain in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, on the night between April 30 and May 1. People believed that it was dangerous to be outside on this night so they lit fires and danced wildly to deter the witches from coming too close to them or their homes. These traditions lead to the custom of lighting fires and erecting maypoles still seen today.

May Day (or Labor Day) celebrations and similar observances on workers\' rights are worldwide.

Buyer receives FREE S/H anywhere within the Continental US. All items ship within 1-3 days of receipt of payment. International offers welcome!Thank you for viewing this sale!