The love maypole, a lovely German tradition. On the night of April 30th, young men place a small birch tree in front of their sweetheart's house or attach it to her balcony.

Usually, a young birch is used, as its fresh green color symbolizes new life and springtime feelings. The birch is decorated with colorful crepe paper ribbons. Often, a painted wooden or cardboard May heart bearing the name of the beloved is hung in the branches. In the past, there was often a secret color code for the ribbons, but today the rule is usually: the more colorful, the better. Often, the sweetheart's favorite colors are used.

Traditionally, the birch remains standing for a month. On June 1st, the tree is taken down. Ideally, the person who puts it up receives a reward – often a case of beer or (more romantically) an invitation to dinner or a kiss from the lady.

There's just something incredibly beautiful and nostalgic about opening your window on May 1st and seeing this colorful symbol of affection. It's like an analog declaration of love, one that someone has really gone to great lengths to create (and probably stayed up half the night). Getting a tree, secretly transporting it, and then silently securing it without the neighbors calling the police is practically a feat of athleticism.

Once you heard about it, it was on your mind all of April; you thought it was an incredibly lovely idea.

You were sitting outside the evening before May 1st when Cole, your best friend, came up to you and started chatting.

"Tomorrow's May 1st, excited yet?"

"Not really, who would confess their love to me?"

"Sometimes admirers are closer than you think, you'll see," he simply said, smiling at you.

And the next morning, when you had lost all hope and opened the windows, you couldn't believe your eyes. There stood a small birch tree, decorated with crepe paper in your favorite colors, and your name was engraved on a wooden heart.