Get yourself ready to try out large quantities of Oktoberfest beer. Oktoberfest is one hell of an amusing event where you can enjoy the best beer along with side stalls, amusement rides, and games. And this is not for you can also get indulged in delectable Bavarian delicacies as well. But Oktoberfest is not just about enjoying beer and having fun for it has a deep significance in the Bavarian culture. And here we are going to discuss it all!
Oktoberfest: When did it all start?
So, the roots of Oktoberfest can be traced back to 1810. It was the time when King Ludwig I married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The exact date was 12 October 1810. All the people of Bavaria were involved in many festivities and great celebrations to observe the royal event. To honor the princess, the field was named Theresienwiese, and later on this name was changed to a simpler term Wiesn by the locals. In the honor of the newlyweds, horse races were held on 18 October as a part of the 15th-century tradition. Ever since then, the Wiesn festival became an integral part of the Bavarian Culture. With time, significant changes took place over decades and centuries, and finally, it all got converted into Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest: Funfair and Celebrations
Oktoberfest today is usually associated with funfair and being a beer festival. Although many people state it as the world’s largest beer festival, Oktoberfest is actually a Volkfest being a combination of both. When it comes to contemporary celebrations, it includes beer tents, amusement rides, food stalls, and music of course. When it comes to food, delicious German food, especially, local Bavarian delicacies are the main center of attraction. Some of which include Schweinebraten (roast pork), Hendl (roast chicken), Würstl (sausages) along with Brezen (pretzels), along with such Bavarian delicacies as Weißwurst (a white sausage) and Obatzda (a spicy cheese-butter spread), and many others are there to satiate to the tastebuds of the merrymakers. Speaking of music, in order to make the fest more amicable to the families and old people, music is restricted to be played at 85 Decibels in the daytime. Not only this, only quiet brass music is allowed to be played by the orchestras in the tents until 6:00 PM. So, the organizers of Oktoberfest make sure that each person has his/her own share of amusement.
Speaking of the popularity of Oktoberfest, 6.4 million people were served 6.7 million liters of beer at the Volkfest in 2013.
Oktoberfest Beer: You definitely need to try!
While you are at the Oktoberfest, you cannot miss you try the legendary Oktoberfest beer which is called ‘Oktoberfestbier’. The iconic beer is being served since 1818 and is still relished by people around the world. There is a definite criterion set for Oktoberfest beer and only 6 breweries are designated to produce it. These are listed below:
- Staatliches Hofbräu-München
- Spatenbräu
- Augustiner-Bräu
- Paulaner
- Löwenbräu
- Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu
The Club of Munich has registered Oktoberfest beer as a trademark that entails the 6 aforementioned breweries.
So, that was all about Oktoberfest, the biggest beer festival in the world. Tell us what do you think about this article? Have you ever been to Oktoberfest or planning to attend this year? Share your experiences and views in the comment section below. Till then, grab a beer and have a good time!