It began in 1810 on fields in front of Munich’s city gates,
as a horse race to honour Ludwig the Crown Prince of Bavaria's marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, and after the festival was repeated one year later it signaled the beginning of an annual tradition, the Oktoberfest in Munich. Called Theresienwiese, Theresa’s Fields, as a tribute to the new Crown Princess, its 31 hectares are where Munich’s Oktoberfest continues to take place over 200 years later, although it is no longer the outskirts of the city, and the Muencheners have long since shortened its name to the ‘Wiesn’.
War, disease and other crises mean that 200 years later in 2010 only 177 Oktoberfests had taken place, nevertheless to celebrate those 1810 beginnings, and many years since one was last held, there was another horse race on that year's official opening day, 18th September, complete with costumes from the period.
The Oktoberfest with its fourteen circus sized tents, all with their own distinct personalities, is known as the biggest 'Volksfest', peoples festival, in the world, and it has over six million visitors each year, with more than 15 percent tourists from outside Germany. They eat their way through over a hundred oxen, half a million chickens and 60,000 pork knuckles (sweine haxen), just a few of the many 'delicacies' on offer as food at Octoberfest, and drink 1,000,000 litres of water and lemonade, as well as over 7,000,000 litres of the beer that must be brewed within Munich's city limits, of which by far the most popular is the special Oktoberfest brew, Wiesn Maerzen, a high alcohol beer.
So it is lucky that amongst the 12,000 people employed to keep everything running smoothly, there are skilled beer servers who fill the litre mass glasses in just one and a half seconds, and ‘dirndl’ clad waitresses able to carry ten 'mass' at one time, as they rush through the crowded tents shouting Vorsicht (look out), or blowing on whistles to prevent too many collisions................click on photo to enlarge
The Einzug der Wiesnwirte dates from 1887. A costumed parade of around a thousand Oktoberfest workers, bands, brewers, publicans and tent owners, in decorated horse driven coaches, drays and floats, it passes through Munich to the Wiesn on the first Saturday of the festival.
While Sunday's longer Trachten und Schuetenumzug parade began as part of the silver wedding anniversary celebrations for, the by then, King Ludwig I and his Princess in 1835. Some 9,000 traditionally costumed participants from across Germany and neighbouring European countries take part in the seven kilometre long The Procession of The Costume and Riflemen.
Broadcast live on German television, and looking much as it must have done long before the medium was invented, amongst others groups of 'soldiers' and 'riflemen' in historical uniforms, members of traditional costume societies Trachtenverein, wearing the time-honoured outfits from their villages, towns and regions, Blasmusiken, oompah bands as they are sometimes known outside of Germany, decorated coaches, horses, floats, and drays, together with assorted livestock, travel along the garlanded autumn streets.
Both processions are led by Munich's city mascot for the last 800 years, Munchener Kindl, said to be the inspiration behind the Munchkins in the children’s tale The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and originally portrayed as one of the monks thought to have been the first inhabitants of Munich. Muenchen, the city's name in German, means ‘of monks’.
However the Oktoberfest Muenchener Kindl is a young woman, her costume based on a monk’s habit, and chosen from amongst the daughters of those associated with the festival. At 12 noon on Saturday the Oberbuergermeister, lord mayor, of Munich taps the first keg of beer and shouts O'Zapft is, Bavarian dialect for It’s tapped, and Oktoberfest is offically open.
Far more is on offer than an opportunity to sit in a tent and drink strong beer, it is an experience that celebrates and highlights Bavaria, Bavarian life and traditional Bavarian fun. A family event with special family days there is something for everyone at the Oktoberfest funfair, with side shows which include a flea circus, traditional and new rides for the very young to the older and braver, ferris wheels, roller coasters, ghost trains and the 'Krinoline', a very old but popular carousel.
Although some white knuckle rides, for example the ‘Top Spin’ which suspends the riders upside down, should perhaps not be attempted after rather too many excursions into the expansive territory of Oktoberfest food and drink.
Oktoberfest music is a genre of its own. Officially played more quietly during the day until 6 pm, although 85 decibels and around the level of loud road traffic might be quieter but certainly not quiet, it is not the perhaps expected traditional marching band music but pulsating, repetitive rhythms and sing-along refrains that guarantee a party mood. Released on CD’s the year’s favourites are as treasured as the memories of the Oktoberfest itself.
Over 200 years young. Despite the modern rides,
attractions and up to date facilities, not only the festival's own museum has an atmosphere of history and tradition, but also the event itself. An impression reinforced by the Oktoberfest visitors wearing traditional 'tracht'. The women in a dirndl, a style of dress with tight bodice, short sleeves and full skirt, and for the men lederhosen, leather trousers. And even tourists often find 'tracht' from somewhere to wear for the day, or week.A piece of living history in a 21st century world, and an experience to enjoy and remember.
This kit is not only easy to follow and make, the end result is a brew that could almost be from Munich's Oktoberfest | Just like the steins found at Oktoberfest, this heavy glass dimpled mug is the perfect way to enjoy an HB or your favorite beer. Imported from Germany |
Painting Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen circa 1815, oktoberfest-tv.de, Das Pferderennen auf dem Münchner Oktoberfest 1823, oil on copper Heinrich Adam, Oktoberfest Hacker-Pschorr-Brauerei Brewery Wagon, photo Rufus46, Interior View of Löwenbräufestzelt, Loewenbraeu Tent, at 12:22 pm, photo Andreas Steinhoff (Click on picture for more detailed version), Munich’s Coat of Arms, submitted Herrn W. Stoiber Stadt München, A Wall of Young Women in Different Dirndls, photo Florian Schott, all via de.Wikipedia
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