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The Largest Beer Festival in the World
6 travellers have this on their Bucket List
2 been here
The annual Oktoberfest in Munich is world-famous, and slightly notorious. This week-long festival is one of the largest celebrations on earth. On average, about 6 million people come to visit, of which about 20 per cent are foreign.
The largest beer festival in the world is quite an experience. There are huge tents in which you drink beer and listen to live music, and there’s also a fun fair.
According to tradition, special beer is served here. According to the German Reinheitsgebot, the beer contains only three ingredients: hops, barley and water. It is served in a Maß; a beer glass (or rather a mug) of one liter. Legally, only beers brewed in Munich may be served: Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Augustiner, Spaten, Hofbräu Munich and Löwenbräu.
There are numerous tents to visit. These have been very popular and very cozy for years: Augustiner, Ochsenbraterei, Schútzenfestzelt, Schottenhamel, Löwenbräu, zur Bratwurst, Winzerer Fähndl, Käfer and Hacker-Pschorr.
The men traditionally put on their lederhosen. The women put on the traditional dirndl. The men also officially include loferl. These are special socks.
The women wear a waist tie above their dress. This has an important function. If a woman wears this bow on the right, she is either married or engaged. On the left, however, that means she is single. If the bow is in the middle, the woman wants to say: "My relationship status is none of your business ..."
The city is very cosy in the evening. It is smart to spend the night or a couple of nights in Munich. You have numerous options. Think of small hotels, nice hostels, but also Bed & Breakfasts with breakfast, for example.
The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 to celebrate the marriage between Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria. It starts traditionally after the 15th of September and runs until the first Sunday of October.
The opening is done by the Mayor of Munich. He (or she) hits the first barrel of beer that Saturday at exactly noon. He shouts the world famous saying O zapft is! This is Bavarian for The tap is loose.
The location for the Oktoberfest in Munich is called the Theresienwiese. It's a huge party area not that far from the center of Munich. It is popularly referred to as Wiesn affectionately.
More information: www.oktoberfest.de
6 travellers have this on their Bucket List
2 been here