Oktoberfest is the world's largest Volksfest. Held
annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, it is a 16 to 18 day folk festival
running from mid or late September to the first Sunday in October, with more
than six million people from around the world attending the event every
year. Last year it was held on 21 September. In 2018, it was on 22
September and in 2020 it will be on 19 September to 4 Ooctober.........
Unfortunately, the Oktoberfest cannot take place in 2020 due to the spread of Covid-19. Oktoberfest 2020 had to be cancelled.
It all started with
a wedding – Prince Ludwig, who later became King Ludwig I and Princess Therese
of Saxony-Hildburghausen’s wedding on October 12, 1810. Citizens of Munich were
invited to celebrate the happy event. The Royal Brewery released a special brew
for the occasion, and everyone had such a good time that it was decided to
repeat the festivities, a tradition we now know as Oktoberfest. In addition to
the huge Beer tents, the festival is also the world’s largest fair, with
amusement rides, roller coasters, food and drink stalls, shows, etc.
The 14 tents serve
only specially brewed Munich beer. The brewing process starts in the spring. It
has an alcohol content of around 6-7% and comes in 1-litre steins. It’s the
main attraction at the festival along with other entertainment and fun..
Oktoberfest, a joyful festival and is the
world's largest Volksfest (beer festival and travelling
funfair). Held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany; it is a 16
to 18 day folk festival running from mid or late September to the
first Sunday in October, with more than six million people from around the
world attending the event every year. Locally, it is often called
the Wiesn, after the colloquial name for the fairgrounds, Theresa's
meadows (Theresienwiese).
The mayor declares
the festival open, by saying- O’Zapt is (It’s tapped). The Oktoberfest is an
important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since the year
1810. During the event, large quantities of Oktoberfest Beer are
consumed: during the 16-day festival in 2013, for example,
7.7 million litres (66,000 US bbl; 1,700,000 imp gal)
were served. Visitors also enjoy numerous attractions, such as amusement
rides, side stalls, and games.
There is also a wide variety of traditional food
available. 7.5 m litres were served in the previous year to 6.3 m visitors.
11.80 euros ($13) was the cost of a 1-litre jug last year. 124 oxen, 48 calves,
59,000 pork knuckles, 60,000 pork sausages and 510,000 grilled chickens were
consumed. Some Oktoberfest waitresses (and waiters) carry up to 18 beer mugs
weighing around 41.4 kg at the same time. Last year saw 5,800 injuries to
people in the crowd and 840 passports were lost.
The Munich
Oktoberfest originally took place in the 16-day period leading up to the first
Sunday in October. From about 1820, the festival was moved to September to take
advantage of the longer day light hours and warmer weather at that time of
year. The dates for this year are September 21 to October 6.
The pretty knotty
girls wear Dirndls (traditional female dress) that reveal the wearer’s status.
Look above the apron: if there’s a bow on the right, she is taken. If on the
left, she is available. A bow bang on the front, she is a virgin.
In 1994, this
longstanding schedule was modified in response to German reunification. As
such, if the first Sunday in October falls on the 1st or the 2nd, then the
festival would run until 3 October (German Unity Day). Thus, the festival now
runs for 17 days when the first Sunday is 2 October and 18 days when it is 1
October. In 2010, the festival lasted until the first Monday in October (4
October), to mark the event's bicentennial.
The The Munich Oktoberfest is the biggest beer show in the world. Tourists from around the world flock here in great numbers to participate and watch the fun, entertainment and best of all, gulp the maximum beer served by pretty waitresses and waiters.
Dos and don’ts at
the festival to be followed to avoid any unpleasantness- Don’t try to bribe the
bouncers to get inside. Either you come at 10 am and stand in line like the
rest of the tourists, or make reservations ahead. Never try to chug the mug or
a big, burly, Bavarian bouncer will throw you out. Don’t nurse your drinks
either. The mugs must be renewed in a 30 minute interval. Remember to tip your
waitress/waiter. Try to hold your first visit to the toilet as long as humanly
possible. Once you start you will be running constantly.
Other cities across
the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations that are modeled after
the original Munich event. But the real fun is at the Munich Oktoberfest that
brings out best fun, entertainment and beer. And it's colourful and crazy. It's a huge fun fair for the locals and tourists who enjoy every moment. A large number of tourists from around the world come to participate and be a part of this wonderful festival that goes on for days with beer flowing on all the days.
If
you feel that Aneela Nike Post is making a difference to your life, do take a
minute to consider a comment or contribution. We would also value your
suggestions as how to make ourselves more relevant to you. Please write to akn929@yahoo.com to give
your valuable feedback.
No comments:
Post a Comment