It all began with a Hochzeit (wedding)- in October 1810….
Once upon a time am 12. Oktober 1810, Crowned Prince Ludwig
(later King Ludwig I of Bavaria) wed Princess Therese von Sachsen-
Hildburghausen and held a huge party just outside of München “place of little monks”(today’s
Hauptstadt of Bayern). Maximillian, Ludwig’s father gave the pair a 70 acre Wiese as a wedding gift and they invited not only the royalty, but the whole community! The celebration was so popular, that the party, complete with horse racing (Pferdrennen), took place the following year, prompting the start of a traditional German celebration that has become world famous. Other than for a few interruptions cause by war, disease (a cholera outbreak in
____) or inflation, Oktoberfest has been celebrated every year since 1811. The massive
Bavarian Volksfest begins each year on a Samstag im September and ends 16 Tage später on the first Sonntag in Oktober (since 1880), due to the tendency towards inclement weather in later Oktober. No one likes rain in her or his Apfelsaft! It may be called “Oktoberfest”, but the big event actually starts in September.
Although the horse racing (Pferderennen) didn’t become a lasting attraction at the
Oktoberfest, just about everything else did! Today, the world’s most famous fair and beer festival (das Bierfest) is still held on the large 70 acre Wiese (meadow or fair grounds here) just west of München proper. It is called die Theresienwiese (named after the princess!). The locals however have given it the moniker (nickname) of die Wies’n.
With the exception of the (in)famous emphasis on Bier, the Oktoberfest is really similar to a huge American state fair, complete with wild Achterbahnen (rollercoasters), Karuselles
(merry-go-rounds), carnival booths (Buden), Essen, and Musik (live entertainment). There are
14 famous and permanent Bierhallen such as Spaten, Paulaner, and Löwenbräu and only one
Weinbude (wine booth). Despite all the beer one thinks of these days, in its early years,
Oktoberfest was an agricultural fair, where farmers displayed their best fruits, vegetables and finest cattle. Nowadays the Zentrallandwirtschaftsfest (agricultural fair) part only takes place every three years.
Oktoberfest’s carnival aspect did not begin until 1818 and then it only consisted of a single carousel and a few modest rides. The large beer tents (actually large halls) didn’t appear until 1896. Back in the 1800s München was a much smaller town than it is today, so
Oktoberfest participants had to journey out to the Thereseienwiese that now lies within the city limits. Heute people use die U-bahn and die Strassenbahn to
Wies’n and to avoid inevitable traffic and parking headaches!
So what is the official kick-off of these world famous festivities? People from all over the world dress up in their local Trachten (traditional costumes) along with bands and Bierwagen festooned with fresh flowers and pulled by highly decorated horses and they line up to form an Umzug (parade). They march through the city and exactly um 12 Uhr Mittag the
Münchener Oberbürgermeister takes out his famous wooden mallet and taps the first Bierfass
(keg/barrel) and calls out the traditional ,,O’zapf’ is’!” (It’s been tapped!). This tradition is relatively young as it began just in the year 1950.
1 D1 Christopher, Jonathan, Michael, Spencer, Kirby, Sarah, Chandler, Breanna, Lucas, Tyler, Megan,
Eddie, Abby

Marching to the beat of the bands are the famous Münchener Kellnerinnen
(waitresses). They hold contests each year to see who can carry the most Masskrüge (I liter beer mugs). There is also a very special brew, which is brewed only during the Oktoberfest called ,,Wies’nbier” and has an even higher alcohol level.
To encourage family attendance, each of the two Tuesday afternoons of the
Oktoberfest are designated Familientagen and they are from 12:00-18:00 (6 pm) with special prices for public transportation and Eintritt (admission). Other entertainment on the second day of the festivities is an Umzug (parade) called the Trachtenfest. German and other groups from around Europe dress in their traditional costumes (Trachten) – the Frauen dress in their colorful Dirndl and the Männer dress in their famous Lederhosen and parade through the streets for all to see and admire. Again there are many bands which provide the music for the folk dances performed by these international groups.
Just as in München’s normal Biergärten there is no reason to keep the children away from Oktoberfest. There are plenty of Milkshakes and Apfelsaft to quench their thirst and satisfy their appetites. Some of the other famous things to eat at the Oktoberfest are: Ochsenbraten ,
Brathendl, Pommes Frites , Würstchen , Steckerlfisch , Zuckerwatte , Mandeln (ironically, also the word for tonsils auf Deutsch), the famous Lebkuchenherzen , and Brezeln . There are Würstchen eating contests and people enjoy the Blasorchester (brass band) and enjoy the company of complete strangers as they sing Trinklieder and schunkeln (sway with arms interlocked to the music) as one.
München’s Oktoberfest is definitely a sight to see and experience! It is also one huge boon to the city’s economy! For this year’s latest information and live cam, check out the website at
www.oktoberfest.de, Wikipedia, or on german.about.com. Viel Spaß!
2 D1 Christopher, Jonathan, Michael, Spencer, Kirby, Sarah, Chandler, Breanna, Lucas, Tyler, Megan,
Eddie, Abby