What Type of Things Are Celebrated During German Oktoberfest?
The origin of Oktoberfest dates to 1810 when Prince Ludwig married Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The citizens of Munich held a parade in their honor. In 1881 they held the first agriculture show to boost Bavarian agriculture, and the show was held every four years thereafter. The carnival booths appeared in 1816. In 1819 it became an annual event. Until 1960, there were horse races held at each Oktoberfest. It is held each year in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
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Some Notable Events
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The beer tents are the primary attraction at Oktoberfest. There are about 14 tents in the festival. Along with local ale, they serve other drinks and food. Most of the food is traditional German fare, such as Hendl (chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Stecherlfisch (grilled fish on a stick) and Wurstl with Brezen (sausages and pretzels). Live bands play a combination of traditional and popular music. A statue of an amazon woman, a symbol of the power and strength of Bavaria, overlooks Munich and is near the center of the action during Oktoberfest. She is saluted on the last Sunday of Oktoberfest with the firing of small, hand-held cannons. An Open-Air October Festival Music concert is also held on the statue steps, usually the first Sunday of the festival. Oktoberfest mass is held prior to the opening of the festival.
Oktoberfest Today
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Modern Oktoberfest is not unlike it always has been. The same traditional costumes are worn and the same foods are served. Bands play traditional Austrian and German music. Only local breweries are allowed to participate in Oktoberfest, and they serve their ales in tents. This beer is darker and stronger than the usual fare. The festival lasts 16 to 18 days, beginning in late September and lasting until the first weekend in October. About six million people attend the event each year. In 2005 "Quiet Oktoberfest" was initiated to accommodate children and older attendees. No music is played over 85 decibels until after 6 p.m. Daytime attendees enjoy traditional music, while the popular music is played at night. In 2010 a no-smoking policy was initiated in the beer tents, making it even more family-friendly.
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Opening Ceremonies
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The Grand Entry of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries is the grand prelude to the opening of Oktoberfest. About 1,000 people participate in the parade. The landlords and their families, along with the owners and attendants of the breweries, are carried in carriages. Waiters and waitresses are carried in on decorated floats, and all of the band members for the beer tent music participate. The first kegs of beer to arrive at the festival are brought in on some of these carriages. The festival opens with a 12-gun salute and the Official Tapping of the Keg. The first beer keg is tapped by the mayor of Munich at noon. Everyone cries, "O' zapft is!" meaning, "It's tapped!" in the Austria-Bavarian language (a German dialect that originated near the Alps and is spoken by only a few thousand people today). The mayor gives the first beer to the Minister-President of Bavaria.
The Costume and Riflemen's Parade
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This is a much larger affair than the Landlords and Breweries parade, with over 8,000 participants dressed in traditional costumes. Aside from the German Sennerhut, Lederhozen and Dirndl apparel, there are representatives from Italy, Croatia, Austria, Poland and Switzerland. The march begins on Maximilian Street, proceeds through the middle of Munich and continues to the Oktoberfest grounds. The historical costumes and the 400 musicians are the highlight of this grand parade. Horses, horse-drawn carriages and floats are all featured in the event. The Costume and Rifleman's Procession is held on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest.
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References
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