Maypoles = Fertility?

Question

Why are maypoles a German fertility symbol?

Answer 1

Ummm...

It's a big pole. A big, strong, long pole. With a k**b on the end.

You do know where babies come from, right?

Answer 2

Its a phallic symbol. The ribbons being wrapped around it are a symbol of female genitalia surrounding it.

Answer 3

May poles were part of traditional celebrations of the rebirth of nature in Spring (May).  People couldn't help noticing that  animals started emerging with their newborn young at this time, so fertility was obviously an important part of the celebration.

Here's how it works:

The pole represents male sexuality.

Traditionally, a crown of flowers-- representing female sexuality -- is placed atop the pole , supported by the ribbons.  As people dance around the pole, wrapping the ribbons, in causes the crown to slowly descends along the pole.  

The imagery there is pretty straightforward.

Answer 4

As far as I'm aware the May Pole is a British tradition. It relates back to the times when the new fertility of the land was celebrated. In the masculine form this was symbolised by the Green Man and the May Pole.

The rituals represent the recoupling of the god and goddess, the impregnation of the land and the cycle  of new life reaching gestation.

The rituals are a loose form of sympathetic magic. In imitating the reproductive acts it enhances the power of nature. So by dancing around the Phallis the object is given more energy, which in turn overlaps to those around it.

The Queen of the May was always a maiden. Ref. Ysbaddadan or the Hawthorn King of Arthurian legend.

Answer 5

I thought maypoles and maypole dancing was an old English custom and have long streamers that are tied at the top.  Some villages still perform it and a boy and girl holds the end of a streamer alternately like this.  Boy girl boy girl until each streamer is occupied then they weave in and out until they are all close together.  The whole procedure is overlooked by a woman acting as a May Queen.