As we are celebrating Germany this month at VLLC, I thought you might be interested in the history of the Oktoberfest.
Today, Munich Oktoberfests are held in September because the weather is milder than October. In Munich, the festival lasts for 16 days, beginning on a Saturday in September and always ending on the first Sunday in October. Although the horseracing ended in 1938, the other events continued through the years with the exception of war time.
In 1887 lederhosen and dirndls became the traditional garb of the attendees. The fest traditionally begins with a parade, starting just before noon. Included are the mayor and other civic leaders, followed by horse-drawn brewer’s carts, bands, and townspeople wearing their costumes. The parade ends at the oldest private tent at Oktoberfest, the Schottenhammel tent where the mayor opens the first keg of beer and the toasting begins. More than 7,000,000 people attend the opening ceremonies.
Outside the beer tents, there is dancing, music, sideshows, and carnival rides, and German food of all types, such as wursts of beef, chicken, veal, or pork, slices of beef, pieces of chicken, sauerkraut, potato salad, cabbage, onions, and of course, pretzels. Enjoy this food with a stein or two of one’s favorite beer.
(http://www.delawaresaengerbund.org/Oktoberfest/Origin.htm)
I haven’t been to Munich during October but really enjoyed my time there. Not being a beer drinker, I didn’t LOVE the Hofbrauhaus but loved the atmosphere. I can just imagine what it is like during Oktoberfest.. Who has stories about Germany? We’d love to hear. I was in Munich in August last year and this was one of the people I saw in the Hafbrauhaus. The ceilings and architecture were also great.. Jo Ammerlaan, National Manager VLLC Centres
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