In the area of Poland that was once part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the evening of 30 April brings a flurry of activity as groups of young men erect May Poles. Traditionally, it is accompanied by a bit of verse painted on a placard and hoisted up by young bachelors near a young maiden's house.

This year, in the spirit of masculine competition (read: phallic), a group of "old married guys" (as a friend described them) put up a thirty-five meter May pole. Fearful of the inevitable male envy, they also took shifts guarding the thing so no one would cut it down.