Who is enjoying die Wiese, or die Wies’n this season?! Or what it is known across the world as Oktoberfest. Before you order your next beer, do you know how it all began?
On October 12, 1810, the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Saxon-Hildburghhausen Princess Therese had their marriage ceremony. After which the townspeople were invited to the festival which took place in the fields right outside the city gates. The fields thereafter were named after the Princess, Theresienwiese. The celebration lasted for almost a week, and at that time ended with a horse race (which was discontinued in the 1960’s). The people of the town enjoyed the celebration so much they asked King Ludwig to continue it the following year, and here we are today 212 years later!
Today, October 6, is the last day to celebrate the largest beer festival in the world in Munich, where it was originated. Oktoberfest officially begins on the second to last Saturday in September at noon when the mayor of Munich taps the first barrel at the Schottenhamel Tent proclaiming “O’zapft”…it’s open! It then concludes on the first Sunday of October. They moved up the start date to September primarily for the weather.
Oktoberfest at Theresienwiese usually has 14 main beer tents and several small tents (there are wine tents as well for those who don’t care for beer). You will need to make a reservations, and yes they book fast! Most reservations include 2 beers and 1 food voucher. Over 7 million people attend each year, consuming around 1.5 million gallons of beer.
The beer for Oktoberfest is brewed according to strict German standards with the four ingredients allowed in the brewing of the beer…malt, hops, yeast and barley. Only 6 Munich breweries are permitted to serve beer at the festival… Paulaner, Spaten, Löwenbräu, Hofbräu, Augustiner, and Hacker-Pschorr.
As the afternoon turns to night, the sounds of the traditional folk music, polkas and marches get louder, the people enjoying the festivities sing louder as their confidence grows, they link arms, and sway side to side with their new found friends. The band will offer a toast to contentment, congeniality, and relaxation, “ein Prosit Der Gemütlichkeit”. You will also hear international music from other tents beyond the traditional German music, including American throw back hits. Can you hear it…”Y….M….C….A” (you know you want to do the choreography to that song right now, ha ha)!
I remember the first time I attended an Oktoberfest event, I was in high school in Tulsa. As I recollect I can still smell the thickness of the beer in the air, and taste the delicious bratwurst. I remember watching the adults that surrounded us get livelier as the night progressed and as they made their way through a few beer. We danced the polka as if we knew what we were doing, and of course you can’t pass up the chicken dance…shake those tail feathers!
FOMO (feeling of missing out)??? Oktoberfest is so popular you can find a celebration for you to experience in your own backyard! Although today is the last day to celebrate in Munich, the traditional time of the event is not adhered to outside of Bavaria. Go ahead and look up what is going on at your local German Restaurtants and Biergartens, or search your city guides, I am certain you will find an event to enjoy with your friends or family.
In the meantime… Prost!
Curiously,
Koko
