The Planting of the May is an old tradition, which, we are told, survives in France exclusively in the South-West. A May is often planted to celebrate a young couple's marriage or in honour of the owner of a small business, supposedly after he has granted all the employees a raise. The occaisons we've attended have followed the election of the mayor of the village and his councillors.

Typically the May is a tall, straight pine tree with all but a few of the top branches cut off.

In this case the actual tree has been done away with and the flags and plaque attached directly to a post.

Madame la conseillière obliges the photographers.