Hallo!!
September 2014
The 181st Oktoberfest
has started!
How did the Oktoberfest
start?
The first Oktoberfest was held in the
On Saturday 20th September at
12
year 1810 to celebrate the marriage of
o'clock Dieter Reiter, the mayor of
the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to
München started the Oktoberfest by
Princess
tapping the first barrel of beer.
With
Hildburghausen. The festivities began
four strikes, Reiter drove the tap into
on October 12, 1810 and ended on
the barrel and spoke the magic words:
October 17th with a horse race. Since
"O'zapft is!" - "It's tapped!"
then,
The first
it
Therese
has
von
become
Sachsen-
an
annual
mug of beer was then handed to the
traditional celebration that takes place
Bavarian
for 16 days.
Prime
Minister,
Horst
Seehofer.
The festival was moved
forward into September because of the
bad weather. Because the September
nights are warmer, the visitors can
enjoy the gardens outside the tents and
the stroll over "die Wiesen" or the fields
much
longer
Historically,
without
the
last
feeling
cold.
Oktoberfest
weekend was in October and this
tradition continues into present times.
Deutsch Newsletter - Frau D. Dimech - September 2014
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Interesting facts about the
Oktoberfest
What can one do and see?
The festival consists of lots of beer and
Do I have to pay entry?
food, served in huge tents. There are
No, the entry to the area and all beer-tents
bands playing tradtional Bavarian music,
is free.
as well as modern bands in the evening
Are children allowed to visit the beer
hours that play rock, pop, and dance
tents?
music. To keep with tradition, many visitors
It depends on the age: Children under the
wear the traditional clothes: Lederhosen
age of six must leave the tents at 8pm
for men; Dirndl dresses for women.
even if they are in the company of their
Oktoberfest and beer
parents.
Around seven million litres of beer are
Is smoking allowed in the beer tents?
drunk during the Oktoberfest.
A litre of
No. Since August 2010 there is a
beer costs about Euro 10. The only beer
new no-smoking law in Bavaria
served comes from Munich breweries such
which prohibits smoking in all kind of
as the Augustiner, Paulaner and Spaten.
bars, pubs and restaurants including
What can one eat?
beer tents.
 Weißwurst
–
an
extremely
white
sausage served with sweet mustard.
What is the Oktoberfest Family Day?
Every Tuesday during Oktoberfest, the
 Bratwurst
whole family can enjoy discounted prices
 Semmelknödel - a Bavarian speciality
on fun rides. There are many attractions
consisting
such as roller coasters, spooky ghost
breadcrumbs. They look and taste
trains and fairy tale rides.
similar to dumplings.
What
is
the
Traditional
Costume
of
potatoes
and/or
 half a roasted chicken with a giantsized pretzel
Parade?
Every first Sunday of the Oktoberfest, the
 grilled, roasted and baked meats,
very popular traditional costume parade
especially pork
marches through the streets of Munich. In
 freshly smoked fish
1835, the parade was first held in honor of
the
25th
wedding
anniversary
of
When is Oktoberfest scheduled for
Oktoberfest founders King Ludwig I and
2015?
his wife Theresie. Since 1950, it has
2015: September 19th - October 4th
become a regular event.
2016: September 17th - October 3rd
Deutsch Newsletter - Frau D. Dimech - September 2014
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