The Munich Beer Festival - Oktoberfest
19.09.2008,
Blog
„D'Wiesn“ is probably to most popular meadow in the world. The „Theresienwiese“ is where the worlds best known public festival, the „Oktoberfest“ takes place.
„Die Wiesn“ the place to go
Since 1810 the Munich Beer Festival is rocking Munich. The first Munich Beer Festival was organized as a horse-racing on the Theresienwiese. Also within the following years the Munich Beer Festival had a mainly sporting character, lifting the beer mug was at this time not the discipline.
In its early times the Oktoberfest took place in front of the city walls of Munich. By the time the Oktoberfest grow bigger every year and attracted more and more visitors
The Munich Beer Festival developed into the public festival toward the end of the 19th century as we know it today.
First from 1880, the beer sale was allowed on the Oktoberfest. A year later opened the first "Hendlbraterei" (chicken grill).
The Munich Beer Festival today
To give more space to the visitors, the big beer halls were built with the music stages. These are the well known beer tents of the Munich Beer Festival all over the world today.
The Munich Beer Festival atracts over six millions visitors every year. The audience is international and not only the Bavarians are wearing the traditional leather shorts (Lederhosen) or the Dirndl. Also some enthusiastic visitors do it. ;)
The Munich Beer Festival starts officially with the traditional „Fassanstich“ which is carried out by the mayor of Munich.
When the mayor opens the first barrel of beer, he announces this with the famous words „O’zapft is!“ ("tapped is"). To amplify this very important ceremony, 12 gun salutes are fired for the opening of the Munich Beer Festival / Oktoberfest.
The first beer
Then the beer starts flowing. Until the end of the greatest public festival of the world 60'000 hectolitres of beer will be sold. And 500'000 roasted chicken, 150'000 roasted Pork Sausices, 100 roasted cattles (ox) and a few roasted „Neidhammel“ (Envy people) will be sold.
When is the next Munich Beer Festival?
The Munich Beer Festival takes place this year from September 20th until October 5th.
And the SEOktoberfest starts at the 24th and lasts until the 25th September. Prosit!
