Did you know that Oktoberfest wasn´t originally a beer festival? Here are some facts about the world´s most legendary German festival.
The very first Oktoberfest was celebrated in Munich in 1810 in honor of Prince Ludwig´s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began on October 12, 1810, and lasted nearly a week until October 17. The future King Ludwig invited the entire city to attend the celebration, which included a large feast and horse races.
Why is there beer at the Oktoberfest?
It was Joseph Pschorr who was specially commissioned by the Crown Prince of Bavaria in 1810 to create an original beer for his wedding. It was out of this celebration and this brew that the Oktoberfest tradition was born.
Why did they change Oktoberfest from October to September?
The original Oktoberfest was indeed held in October. But years of enduring Bavaria´s rainy fall weather eventually prompted organizers to move up the start date to September.
More facts:
▫ Locals know the event as «Wiesn.»
▫ You can´t start drinking until the mayor opens the first keg…
Since then, Oktoberfest is held as an annual festival in Munich during a two-week period ending on the first Sunday in October. Every year, the number of visitors reaches about 6 million people, not only from Germany but from all over the world!
German Culture
Maria Latzke
