Hunger tree
A hunger tree ( Bavarian : Hungabam ) is a decorated tree that is planted in the garden for couples who are not yet married despite being together for seven years. The tree is usually planted and decorated by friends of the couple. From this point onwards, according to custom, the couple must hold a drink , meal or party for these friends on the anniversary of their relationship with the same participants. This will continue until the couple get married.
Regional distribution
The original place of origin of the hunger tree and the age of the custom is not clear. It has been spreading since the beginning of the 21st century in parts of Bavaria where this “tradition” was previously not common, for example in Chiemgau since around 2010. It also varies in the different regions. In some places the hunger tree is hung with junk.
Comparable customs
Newly wed couples set up a wedding tree in the garden, which prompts the couple to provide for offspring within a year. It is decorated similar to a maypole , but it shows things like a stork or a cradle as a motif. Usually an explanatory text is added ("This tree will stay there until we see a child from you")
When the offspring is born, signposts are set up with the words “ Lumpenmacherei ” for a boy or “ Bixnmacherei ” for a girl. The inspiration for this are the Bavarian words “Lump” for a bad boy and “Bixn” as a pejorative word for girl or young woman. Tins or rags are pinned to the signs .
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Chiemsee-Alpenland: Hungerbaum , accessed on January 7, 2018.
- ↑ Quer: Hunger Trees: Pseudo-Customs Should Establish Marriage , Bayerischer Rundfunk, July 13, 2018 , accessed on July 15, 2018.
- ↑ Hometown newspaper: After seven years of wild marriage - Do you know the hunger tree? , accessed January 7, 2018.