May

800 years ago, the German poet Walter von der Vogelweide enthused about May as the “month of delight” or “month of joy”. May processions and celebrations date back to the Middle Ages, and “May trees” are still erected in some regions to mark the coming of warm weather and good times. The second Sunday of the month has been celebrated as Mother’s Day since the early 20th century. May has also seen a number of positive political developments. The first nation-wide National Assembly was opened in St Paul’s Church in Frankfurt am Main on 18 May 1848. Labour Day, also known as May Day was established on 1 May 1890 as a day to campaign for workers’ rights. The Basic Law, Germany’s modern-day liberal and democratic constitution, came into force on 23 May 1949. It enshrines democracy, civil rights, the social welfare and federalism, which remain the central pillars of the modern German state.