Monday 5 October 2009

O'zapft is! Oktoberfest...in September:)

Herzenstand auf Oktoberfest
There is something that always makes me laugh when I hear "Oktoberfest"- it starts mid September and only the few last days of the 16-day-beerfestival are indeed in October! But I have to say it is amazing to see the enormous number of beer fans and party-addicts and of course the tons of Dirndl (typical Bavarian dress, consisting of a bodice, blouse, full skirt and apro) and Lederhosen(leather pants).
Dirndl Lederhosen Oktoberfest
What took place in October 1810 as a wedding party of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, its now a huge money-making and beer-selling machine...Löwenbräu, Augustiner, Pschorr-Hacker: the most famous beer producer have their own party tents where beer and music are flowing sometimes in the same tempo. The price of one liter beer increases every year-from 2005 till 2009 the price increase was 1,50EUR. The 2009 price was 8.60EUR (to compare in 1949 it was 1,70 EUR)!
Party Oktoberfest
The Munich Oktoberfest is known as the Largest Volksfest (People's Fair) in the World. In 1999 there were six and a half million visitors to the 42 hectare Theresienwiese. 72% of the people are from Bavaria.15% of visitors come from foreign countries like the surrounding EU-countries and other non-European countries including the United States, Canada, India, Japan, Brazil and Australia.
Oktoberfest Zelt

And last but not least-make sure you leave before the tables start get wet of all the beer on them:) And dont forget dancing is allowed only on the benches, but not on the table-the only place where just the Mass Bier is safe!

2 comments:

Roj said...

Wow! Very informative in a witty way. We were invited by a friend from there but we chose to come over around Christmas instead. I actually can't imagine myself being in the situation with beer smell all around me and so many folks...

I never knew that this so modernistic and unique feast originated from a wedding! I bet he (the King) gave so much free beer to everyone that time. :)

Jana said...

thanks:)))its great for Xmas too....Munich I mean, at the place where the Oktoberfest takes place, in December you have a huge international Christmas market (google Tollwood):-)