Oktoberfest is the most popular and massive folk festival peace. Every year, with the arrival of autumn, millions of people visit the south-eastern part of Bavaria. It is there, in the city of Munich, that the celebration will be held in the next couple of weeks. Whirlwind good mood and unbridled fun, music and dancing will consume you.

Tons of fried chicken and Bavarian sausages, fish and pretzels, washed down with an unreal number of liters of beer. Those who come here should forget about diets and a healthy lifestyle for a while because Oktoberfest is the largest beer festival in the world.

As soon as the celebration of the next Oktoberfest comes to an end, preparations for the new Festival next year immediately begin. Oktoberfest is a Munich creation and lasts two to three weeks. The third Saturday in September is traditionally considered the start day of Oktoberfest, and Oktoberfest ends on the first Sunday in October. But if Sunday falls on the 1st or 2nd, the holiday will be extended until October 3rd (German Unity Day). In 2019, Oktoberfest celebrations will last 15 days, from September 21 to October 6.

Beer for the Oktoberfest celebration can only be produced and supplied by six Munich breweries. This beer meets the requirements of the “Law of Purity of Beer” issued in 1516. This law stipulates the composition of beer, which must consist of three components: barley, hops and water. During non-holiday times, this beer is called “Martovskoye” and its strength reaches 6%.

The history of the Oktoberfest beer festival

October 12, 1810 is considered the date of the Oktoberfest. This is the day of the wedding of Bavarian Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghaus. It was decided to hold the celebration outside the city in a field. Since then, this place has been named Theresa’s Meadow, and now Oktoberfest is celebrated there. On October 17, 1810, horse races were held on this meadow and now there is debate as to which date should be considered the beginning of Oktoberfest.

The idea of ​​celebrating Oktoberfest was in the spirit of the Bavarian population and it was decided to hold an agricultural exhibition here in a year, which has become a tradition for Oktoberfest. It is still held during Oktoberfest, although now not every year, but once every four years. In 1811, the first shops selling beer were opened. In 1813, they decided not to hold Oktoberfest due to hostilities with Napoleon. Until 1819, organizational issues related to the celebration of Oktoberfest were dealt with privately, but it was in this year that the city council became responsible for holding Oktoberfest and decided to make Oktoberfest an annual holiday. In August 1850, a bronze statue of “Bavaria” was installed in Theresa’s meadow. In 1872, the dates for celebrating Oktoberfest changed. It was decided to postpone most of the festival to September due to better weather conditions. And since 1904, its terms were finally established and are not subject to change.

Gradually, various components were added to the celebration of the festival, thanks to which the familiar image of modern Oktoberfest is formed in our minds. Since 1881, fried chicken has been on sale during the beer festival, and since 1892, glass beer mugs have replaced the previously used clay mugs. In those same years, beer tent owners began to get rid of the entertainment components inside the tents. Dance scenes with attractions moved to the street, thereby adding additional benches and tables for customers. In 1886, Oktoberfest was electrified. According to one well-known German newspaper “AZ”, it was Albert Einstein who screwed in the first light bulbs in Michael Schottenhamel’s beer tent.

Before the outbreak of the First World War, the festival became increasingly popular. In 1910, the centenary anniversary was marked by the sale of more than a million liters of beer, and in 1913 Oktoberfest was marked by the construction of a beer tent with a record 12 thousand seats. Subsequently, the festival was not remembered for many years, first during the war, and then during the post-war crisis. When the Nazis came to power, Oktoberfest celebrations underwent significant changes and it was not until 1949 that the old Oktoberfest was revived.

Beer festival events

Procession of beer tent owners

Since 1887, the festive procession of beer tent owners traditionally marks the beginning of the Oktoberfest celebrations. A young girl holding a bell in a black and yellow robe represents the symbol of Munich, called the “Munchner Kindi” and, together with the mayor, is at the head of the festive procession. They ride on a festive cart, followed by the owners of Oktoberfest beer tents. They are carrying barrels of beer that they will sell. Musicians also take part in the Oktoberfest procession, who will subsequently delight the ears of visitors to the beer tents. The Oktoberfest procession starts in the center of Munich and moves to its end point - Theresa Meadow. The duration of the festive procession is about an hour. More than a thousand people are part of the procession. The streets are crowded with Munich residents and tourists, and there is a television broadcast.

How to open the first barrel of beer

Upon the arrival of all members of the festive procession at their destination at noon, the main event of the first day of the festival takes place - driving the tap into the first barrel of beer. This obligation was entrusted to the Bavarian mayors in 1950 and is fulfilled by them to this day. Every year, residents of Bavaria look forward to this moment and often make bets on the number of blows the mayor will need to open the barrel. The record for this case was set in 2006 by the then mayor Christian Ude, he needed only one blow, but the anti-record in this case belongs to the discoverer Thomas Wimmer, whose keg took as many as 19 blows! Having driven in the tap, the mayor exclaims “Uncorked!”, followed by 12 signal shots, which serves as a signal for the owners of all beer tents to start trading. The first glass of beer is poured at Oktoberfest for the Bavarian Prime Minister.

Costume procession of the Oktoberfest beer festival

The costume parade is another of the oldest Oktoberfest customs. For the first time, this event was held in honor of the 25th anniversary of the marriage of Ludwig and Teresa. Since 1950, not a single Oktoberfest has been complete without it. The second day of the festival was the day of the costume procession. The starting point of the procession is the building of the Bavarian Parliament, and the procession ends in Theresa's meadow. The procession usually involves 8 thousand participants who dress in national and historical costumes. At the head of the demonstration there is always a Munich child, accompanied by authorized representatives of the Bavarian government. Following is a procession consisting of forty elegantly decorated carts, musical ensembles, various communities of folk costumes, and shooting societies. Recently, they have often been joined by representatives from various European countries.

How is Oktoberfest going?

No matter how interesting the festive events are, the real juice of this whole event can only be felt in the crowd of celebrating people. During Oktoberfest celebrations, all roads lead to Theresa's Meadow. It is unlikely that it will be possible to convey in words this feeling of undivided joy, reckless fun, with the indispensable attributes in the form of vocal accompaniment heard from all sides in various languages ​​or sensual dancing on the table, seasoned with inexhaustible beer libations.

Oktoberfest beer tents

The most important attributes of Oktoberfest were the world famous Munich beer tents. Their owners are six world-famous Munich breweries: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, Hofbräu, Paulaner, Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr and Löwenbräu. The total number of beer tents installed in the meadow during the festival reaches 32. Of these, 14 tents can accommodate up to 10,000 people and 18 tents can accommodate up to 1,000 people. Beer in Teresa's Meadow is sold only in tents, which are constantly crowded and you will have to stand in line before you can quench your thirst. Beer mugs there are the same size - liter. You need to be prepared for this in advance; you won’t be able to get standard half-liters there.

Oktoberfest waitress girls

A beautiful, young, busty girl, dressed in a national Bavarian costume, with an incredible number of mugs of beer in her hands, and a cheerful smile on her face. This is the picture that most likely pops up in the mind of a person who has never been to Oktoberfest. In fact, he works as a waiter at Oktoberfest more men than women. And there is a rational explanation for this; carrying huge trays of food or a dozen liter mugs at a time requires stamina and strength. But even if a waiter in a female form approaches your table, it is not a fact that she will be young and beautiful. Working at Oktoberfest is very lucrative and the chance of meeting a waitress “well over 30” is growing every year. But of course, there is always a chance that a young and smiling waitress will serve you!

Food and drink

The key drink of Oktoberfest is beer, which is specially prepared for this holiday. This beer contains less gases in its composition (compared to regular beer), but it has a slightly increased alcohol content (5.8%-6.3%). But besides beer, you can enjoy the taste of other drinks. Walking through the meadow, you will definitely see a tent selling Munich wine. There is always the opportunity to drink stronger alcoholic drinks that do not contain alcohol at all.

It's impossible to attend Oktoberfest without enjoying traditional Bavarian snacks. Hendl (fried chicken) is a must try. It is the one that is eaten the most during Oktoberfest. Bratwurst (pork sausage) and Schweinshaxen (pork knuckle) will be appreciated by pork lovers. Steckerlfisch (fried fish on a stick) is a traditional beer snack. Weisswurst (white Bavarian sausages), Kartoffelsalat (potato salad), Brezel (pretzel) and many different delicacies will not leave anyone indifferent.

Attractions, Oktoberfest for families

During the “Beer Festival” on the territory of Theresa Meadow, there is a huge amount of entertainment for visitors, from ancient carousels, which have been delighting Oktoberfest guests for 80 years, to modern attractions. Tuesday is considered the “family” day of Oktoberfest. On this day, food, drinks and attractions delight visitors with children with their prices. There is also a “family square” on the festival grounds, equipped with carousels for the youngest guests and a cafe with children’s menus.

Where is Oktoberfest held besides Munich?

• The Cannstatter Volksfest, or Stuttgart October Festival, is considered the second largest celebration of its kind in the world. You can visit it by arriving in the city of Stuttgart in October and be amazed at its scale, as more than 4.5 million people visit it annually.
• In the Federal Republic of Germany, cities such as Hörn with its festival Kranger Kirmes - Fair Week and Bremen with its - Bremer Freimarkt attract about 4.4 million people during their festivities, they are slightly inferior to Düsseldorf with the fair - Gröste Kirmes am Rhein, which is visited 4.3 million people.
• Oktoberfest is celebrated not only in Germany. In Canada, the city of Kitchener also celebrates Oktoberfest, its average attendance is about 800 thousand people.
• In the south of Brazil, in a town called Blumenau, there is also a tradition of celebrating its own Oktoberfest. About 650 thousand people gather on the streets of the city.
• In the United States of America, Oktoberfests are celebrated in many cities. For example, more than 500 thousand Americans visit Cincinnati annually during the festival, and the city of Tulsa is visited by almost 200.
• In the capital Russian Federation, a large number of establishments hold unique Oktoberfests.
• Oktoberfest has long been known worldwide. Every third resident of Germany has been to Oktoberfest at least once. 1985 brought record attendance for Oktoberfest, with over 7.5 million visitors attending that year. There is no other festival like it in the world that could boast the same number of people. That is why the Beer Festival - Oktoberfest 2017 should not pass you by!

Stars at Oktoberfest

Big fan of the festival

Oktoberfest (October folk festivals, German Oktoberfest) is a folk festival held annually in Munich (Germany), the world's largest beer festival..

Oktoberfest is organized and conducted by the Munich administration. Only Munich brewing companies are allowed to participate in this festival, which brew for it a special Oktoberfest beer (German Oktoberfestbier) with an alcohol content of 5.8-6.3%, which at other times of the year is usually called March or Vienna.

history of the holiday

The holiday has a long history. Since 1872 it begins in September. The first day is traditionally Saturday, which is why the duration can vary greatly (on average 16 days). The holiday ends on the first Sunday in October. If it falls on October 1 or 2, then the holiday is extended until October 3.

Oktoberfest first took place on October 12, 1810 in honor of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig (future King Ludwig I) and Princess Theresa of Saxony-Hildburghaus (the meadow where the festival takes place is named after her). In honor of the wedding, horse racing was also held on October 17. For this reason, different sources give different dates for the first Oktoberfest (October 12 and October 17).

Initially, the holiday was organized and held privately. In 1819, the organization and management of the holiday was placed in the hands of the Munich city council. It was decided that Oktoberfest would be held every year without exception.

In 1872, Oktoberfest was first moved to the end of September - beginning of October, since at this time the weather in Munich was more comfortable than in mid-October. In 1904, the final decision was made to move the holiday to the end of September, but the last Sunday of the holiday was supposed to be in October. This tradition has survived to this day.

In 1881, the first chicken roaster opened, and in 1892, beer was first served in the now familiar glass mugs. Around the same time, the tents in which beer was sold took on the appearance that they have now.

In 1910, Oktoberfest celebrated its centenary. On this occasion, 1.2 million liters of beer were sold. In 1913, the largest tent in the history of the holiday was erected with 12,000 seats.

From 1914 to 1918, Oktoberfest was not held due to the First World War. In 1919 and 1920, Oktoberfest was renamed " Autumn holiday"(German: Herbstfest).

In 1936-1938, the Bavarian blue and white flags that decorated the holiday were replaced by Nazi flags with a swastika.

From 1946 to 1948, only the “Autumn Festival” was celebrated again. The bottling of real “Oktoberfest beer” was prohibited - visitors had to be content with the permitted low-alcohol (< 2 %) пивом.

Since 1950, there has been a tradition to begin the holiday with twelve shots into the sky from a cannon, as well as the opening of the first barrel of festive beer by the mayor of Munich with the characteristic exclamation “O’zapft is!”

Since 1960, there has been an influx of foreign tourists to Oktoberfest.

In 1980, a terrorist attack at the main entrance to Oktoberfest killed 13 and injured more than 200 visitors. However, this terrorist attack did not lead to the cancellation of the holiday.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 did not lead to the cancellation of Oktoberfest, although this possibility was seriously discussed by the organizers. As a sign of solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks, the organizers abandoned the ceremonies for the departure of the owners of beer tents and the uncorking of the first barrel. The festive fireworks display was also cancelled.

Photo: xexe.club

• Every year, Oktoberfest attracts about 6 million visitors, who drink about 6 million liters of beer and eat 500,000 fried chicken.
• Oktoberfest employs 12,000 people.
• The festival offers 100,000 seats for visitors.
• Six breweries have the right to take part in the festival - Spaten, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu, which sold 5 in 2004. 5 million liters of beer (6.1 in 2003).
• The holiday's turnover in 2006 amounted to 449 million euros.
• For hotel accommodation and travel to public transport Holiday guests spent more than 500 million euros in 2006.
• The price of a liter of beer, as a rule, increases every year. So, in 2007 it ranged from 7.30 to 7.90 euros, and in 2008 from 7.80 to 8.30 euros.
• In 2007, 351 pickpockets were recorded, 99 fewer than in 2006.
• The volume of music in tents before 18:00 should not exceed 85 decibels.
• To supply the holiday with electricity, 18 transformers and 43 kilometers of electric cable are used.
• Energy consumption is approximately 3 million kilowatt-hours, which corresponds to approximately 13% of Munich's daily electricity consumption.
• A beer tent consumes about 400 kilowatt-hours, large attractions about 300.
• To supply the tents with gas, a four-kilometer network of gas pipes was laid.
• 200 thousand cubic meters of gas are consumed by kitchens and another 20 thousand are spent on heating beer gardens located in the open air.
• The volume of beer sold in a mug should not differ from 1 liter by more than a tenth. Compliance with this rule is monitored by a special society “Verein gegen betrügerisches Einschenken”.
• 830 toilets equipped with regular toilets and urinals with a total length of 750 meters are open to visitors. 17 specially equipped toilets are available for disabled people.

Oktoberfest 2018: dates, history of the holiday and interesting facts. Read our article about how everything is organized and what you should definitely try!

Oktoberfest- one of the most famous holidays in Germany, as well as the largest folk festival in the world. It attracts about 6 million visitors every year from different parts not only Bavaria, but throughout Germany, as well as guests from other countries.

About 70% of visitors are residents of Bavaria, the remaining 30% are visitors from other German states and tourists from all over the world.

FACT: Oktoberfest is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most big celebration in the world!

Oktoberfest takes place in 2018 from September 22 to October 7. Beer tents will open at 10.00 and close at 22.30. The festival is held on Theresienwiese (“Theresa’s meadow”), in the center of Munich, near the Main Station. The area of ​​the Meadow is about 26 hectares!

The Oktoberfest is organized by the Munich administration. It allows only Munich brewing companies to participate in the festival, which brew a special drink for the holiday. Oktoberfestbier(Oktoberfest beer) with an alcohol content of 5.8-6.3%.

A liter glass of beer (Mass) at this year's Oktoberfest will cost a little more than 10 euros (which is very expensive by German standards).

history of the holiday

Oktoberfest first took place 205 years ago October 12, 1810 in honor of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig (future King Ludwig I) and Princess Theresa of Saxony-Hildburghaus. They were invited to the celebration in honor of their marriage all residents of Munich. In honor of the wedding, horse racing was also held on October 17. For this reason, different sources give different dates for the first Oktoberfest (October 12 and October 17). The celebration took place in the meadows, which at that time were located outside the city (and now it is almost in the very center of the city), and in honor of the bride these meadows were called Theresienwiese.

On the next one, 1811, a farmer's fair was added to the holiday with a showing and awarding of the most beautiful horses and bulls. In 1813, the holiday did not take place, since at that time Bavaria was drawn into the Napoleonic Wars.

A in 1818 At the next holiday, the first carousel and swing were installed. And of course, what is typical for Bavaria - the first beer stalls. But even this was not enough for people to have fun.

Initially, the holiday was organized and held privately. In 1819 The organization and management of the holiday were placed in the hands of the Munich city council. It was decided that Oktoberfest would be held every year without exception.

In 1896 owners of Munich taverns and taverns built real beer tents and “fortresses” together with breweries, and installed even more diverse attractions.

In 1872 Oktoberfest was extended and moved to the end of September - beginning of October, since at this time the weather in Munich in most cases is consistently good and daytime temperatures rise to +30 ° C, which increases the thirst of visitors and increases the income of the event organizers. However, the last Sunday of the holiday was to remain in October. This tradition has survived to this day.

Oktoberfest in 1908

In 1910 Oktoberfest celebrated its centenary. On this occasion, 1.2 million liters of beer were sold. In 1913, the largest tent in the history of the festival was erected with 12,000 seats - Bräurosl, now has about 6,000 seats, the largest tent to date, Hofbräu-Festhalle, has about 10,000 seats.

The First and Second World Wars brought a forced break in the celebration of the “most national holiday" Only in 1950 Munich Mayor Thomas Wimmer resumed the holiday tradition, which is still maintained today.

On the first day of the holiday at exactly 12 o'clock with 12 shots into the sky and the opening of the first barrel of festive beer by the mayor of Munich with the characteristic exclamation “Ozapft is!” (translated from Bavarian something like “Uncorked!”) the head of the city solemnly begins the holiday.

Some numbers:

• 30% of the entire annual production of Munich breweries is drunk during the holiday;
• 12,000 people work at Oktoberfest, of which about 1,600 are waitresses;
• about 1,500 toilets are available to visitors;
• In total, about 100,000 seats will be provided for festival visitors.

The first day of the holiday is traditionally Saturday, which is why the duration may vary slightly (on average 15 days). The holiday ends on the first Sunday in October. If it falls on October 1 or 2, then the holiday is extended until October 3 (the day of German unification).

Inna Efanova, Deutsch Online

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And it was simply a sin not to visit Oktoberfest in the first year of my stay in this city, because it is a symbol of Munich and the whole of Bavaria (and for some, the whole of Germany), like the Eiffel Tower for Paris, and the canals for Venice.

I heard a lot of reviews about this beer festival - from enthusiastic to extremely negative, from “you have to go there at least once in your life” to “this is the worst thing that happened in my life.” One thing united all eyewitnesses - they did not remain indifferent to Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest. View of the Paulaner tent

So, naturally, it’s better to see once than to hear many times, so in the first week of the festival, we went there too.

A little history of Oktoberfest

The first time the festival took place more than two centuries ago - back in 1810, and then it was... a wedding. Yes, the first Oktoberfest was precisely a wedding celebration - it was organized for his subjects by the local ruler Ludwig I in honor of his marriage to Princess Theresa. For this reason, by the way, the location of Oktoberfest is called “Theresienwiese” (“Theresienwiese”), and the Bavarians call the holiday “Wiesn” (“Meadow”). On the signs in the subway and on the streets of Munich it is written not “Oktoberfest”, but “Wiesn”.

Apparently, then, in 1810, the wedding celebration was a success, because Ludwig and Teresa began to hold it annually, the holiday became a tradition of the Bavarians and was supplemented with new features - there were attractions, tents with sweets, a costumed procession of brewers on the first Sunday of the festival and, of course, beer halls tents of the best breweries in Germany.

Oktoberfest through our eyes. How it was

It seems that you can get to Teresa's Meadow during the festival without a navigator - you just need to follow where the crowds of people in national German costumes are heading. A lot of people, a lot of people, at any time of the day.

Restaurant at the very entrance to Oktoberfest (away from the tents)

At the entrance you are inspected by security and there are metal detectors. Immediately after security you are surrounded by a large number of attractions - carousels, roller coasters different types, a room of fear, a shooting gallery...Among all these structures there are tents with gingerbread and other sweets. In general, at first, Oktoberfest is more reminiscent of Disneyland than the world's main drinking party.

Rides at Oktoberfest

Shooting gallery at Oktoberfest. Everyone at the festival, both old and young, wears national Bavarian costumes

The very first (and, as it seemed to me, the most popular) are Löwenbräu and Paulaner.

Tent tower Löwenbräu (in Russian it is correctly pronounced not as we are used to “Löwenbrau”, but “Löwenbrau”)

Each tent has its own biergarten - that is, tables and benches that stand outside. Inside the tents, of course, it is quite difficult to sit without prior reservation (although you can if you come during the day), but in the biergartens - please, there is no advance reservation here, you just go through and sit in an empty seat.

Inside the Löwenbräu tent. As you can see, there are not many people there during the day

The waitresses in each tent, as expected - girls in national costumes, with curvy beautiful shapes, which deftly carry 12 liter mugs at a time. It’s hard to imagine how much physical activity this is, because they have to run like this without a break from 9:00 to 23:00.

National live music plays inside the tents, and on the street, between the tents, attractions and shops - simply popular music (not German, but world dance hits that are relevant during the holiday).

Löwenbräu and Paulaner are followed by the Augustiner and Spaten tents, even further - Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu (the largest - up to 10,000 people can sit here at the same time) - a total of 6 breweries. They are the ones who have the exclusive right to sell beer at Oktoberfest; others are not allowed here.

Besides beautiful design tents (the towers with logos alone are worth it), breweries attract attention and lure visitors in another way - colorful horse-drawn carts with branded barrels drive around the entire festival area.

Paulaner cart

The carts are beautiful and authentic, so you have to stand in line to take a photo in front of them. The horses are also not deprived of attention - everyone reaches out to stroke their manes, touch their festive equipment and also take photos.

This beauty carries barrels at Oktoberfest

When we arrived at Oktoberfest, it was about 2:00 pm and the atmosphere was like a nice family fair, albeit with beer tents, and a lot of children were running along the rides different ages, but towards evening both the audience and the whole atmosphere began to change dramatically - more young people appeared, the tents began to fill up, and the attractions began to empty. The holiday turned into exactly that wild Oktoberfest, about which there are almost legends - a lot of beer, a lot of those who drank this beer, their crazy dances and songs, drunken laughter, the characteristic smell of spilled beer here and there.

The conclusion from here is simple - Oktoberfest is very diverse, in different time day, he provides everything for everyone - sweets and attractions for families and quiet people, a lot of alcohol, dancing and flirting - for those who come here to have a blast. You just need to choose what you want, and rumors that everyone at the festival is not on their feet 24/7 are greatly exaggerated.

What and how much does it cost at Oktoberfest?

The prices here, of course, are hellish. First of all, for beer - a liter mug in the Pulliner tent, for example, costs 10.90 euros. Prices are approximately the same in other tents. This is 5 times more expensive than a liter of the same beer bought in a Munich store.

Gingerbread is also quite expensive, from 3.5 to 15 euros (for 3.5 it will be quite a bit).

Reserved table in a tent

Attractions cost an average of 8 euros per adult.

And keep in mind that cash is a priority at Oktoberfest; cards are almost never accepted here (because of this, I didn’t get on the Ferris wheel :)

The popularity of the festival affects not only the cost of drinks and souvenirs on its territory, but also more globally - during the days of Oktoberfest, housing rentals in Munich and prices for air tickets both to and from the city in any direction skyrocket. For example, during the festival, a ticket for a direct flight “Munich-Moscow” costs 11,000 rubles, and a week after the end of the holiday it costs about 7,000 rubles.

Some more facts about Oktoberfest

• Oktoberfest is a dating place, a sort of offline Tinder. Many married couples, European and not only, met here over a glass of foam.
• Rumor has it that in the first week of Oktoberfest, a lot of a special kind of Italians come here (from the villages of Northern Italy), who, so to speak, are very loving and persistent, and can begin to actively pester a girl, even if she is with a companion. As a result, there are often fights.
• Since the end of the 19th century, the festival has been held not in October, but in September - it was moved a few weeks earlier than it was originally held, because the weather in Bavaria at the end of September is much better than in mid-October.
• At Oktoberfest, many people go crazy - people get drunk to the point of unconsciousness. The result is that during the 16 days of one festival, about 500 annually end up in intensive care with alcohol poisoning.
• There really are a lot of people coming - when we were looking for housing back in July, we checked out of curiosity - as of October, even then there was not a single available apartment/room on Airbnb closer than 70 km from Munich. So, if you are planning to visit this beer festival, book your accommodation well in advance. The same applies to seats at tables in tents - they can also be reserved online to be sure that you will definitely be seated.
• Not only waitresses, but also many festival guests (regardless of their nationality) come to the festival in traditional Bavarian clothes. A women's Bavarian dress with ruffles that so seductively reveals the chest is called a “dirndl”. And almost every girl here wears such clothes - all that remains is to be happy for the male guests of the festival :) I noticed that people in national costumes look very funny, but at the same time with acid-colored hair and tattoos all over their bodies - you get such a mix of tradition and modernity.
• A few more words about the dirndl. There is a real cult in Germany national costume, it is not perceived as something from the past (like a sundress in Russia), but has become part of the modern fashion industry countries - there are fashion designers and boutiques that specialize only in dirndls, new collections are released every season, shows and fashion shoots are organized.

Folk costume in Germany is not a relic, but something stylish, sexy and always relevant. These dresses are worn not only at Oktoberfest, but also just “out” - to a restaurant, bar, night club. A dirndl costs on average from 60 to 300 euros (of course, there are exclusive models that are more expensive).

Conclusion

In 2019, Oktoberfest will take place from September 21 to October 6. The detailed program of the festival can be viewed on it. And if they ask me if I recommend coming here, then I will answer that yes, I certainly do, because this holiday is so original, so bright and cheerful that here you can really just relax or “walk your demons” having a blast. And if you combine the fun of Oktoberfest with other things like a trip to the autumn Bavarian Alps, which are just an hour's drive from Munich, it will be an unforgettable adventure.

October 12, 1810 Crown Prince Ludwig, who later became king Ludwig I was legally married to Princess Theresa of Saxony-Hildburghaus. All the citizens of Munich were invited to celebrate this event in the fields that were located at the city gates. In honor of the princess, these fields were named “”, Teresa’s Meadow, also known as “Wies’n”. At the closing ceremony, horse racing was held on Teresa's Meadow; it was a real holiday for the whole of Bavaria. IN next year it was decided to repeat the race, and this is what served as the beginning of the tradition.

This is where the history of Oktoberfest begins, a grandiose event, invariably held from year to year, with the exception of 24 cases when the holiday had to be postponed due to wars or epidemics. Oktoberfest is a symbol of the pulsating life of Bavarian Munich and all of Germany.

History of Oktoberfest - from 1811 to 1900

In 1811, an agricultural exhibition was also organized to boost Bavaria's agriculture and economy. The race that started it all is no longer held today, the last time was in 1960, but the agricultural exhibition is still organized every 4 years and is located in the middle part of Wiesn. In 1813, the celebration was not held due to the Napoleonic War. In 1818, the first attraction and two swings were installed at the festival. Since 1819, the organization and management of the holiday was placed in the hands of the Munich city council, and it began to be held annually. Subsequently, the holiday period was extended and its start was moved to an earlier date to take advantage of the longer and warmer days of September.

In 1850, the Statue of Bavaria appeared on Theresa Meadow, created by Johann Baptist Stieglmeier and his nephew Ferdinand von Miller, designed by the architect Leo von Klenze and the sculptor Ludwig Schwanthaler. In 1854, Oktoberfest was canceled due to a cholera epidemic. In 1866, the celebrations were canceled again as Bavaria, along with Austria, participated in the war against Prussia. In 1873, the cholera epidemic returned and the holiday was postponed again. In 1885, electricity was installed in the pavilions.

In 1887, the tradition of the procession of the owners of beer pavilions at the opening ceremony was resumed, just as it was at the very first celebration of Oktoberfest in 1810. Since then, the “” (Procession of the Beer Pavilion Owners), led by the Munich Child, has been an integral part of official ceremony discoveries. Since 1892, beer has been bottled in glass glasses (Maß). Since 1896, on the initiative of the festival owners and with the assistance of beer producers, the very first large Oktoberfest pavilions were erected on the site of the old barracks.

History of Oktoberfest - from 1900 to the present day

In 1910 Oktoberfest celebrated its centenary, where about 120,000 liters of beer were consumed... this was a real record for those times! In 1913, the largest pavilion with 12,000 seats was opened. From 1914 to 1918, the outbreak of the First World War prevented the Oktoberfest celebration. In 1919 and 1920, only the so-called “Autumn Festival” was held. In 1923 and 1924 the holiday was again not held due to inflation.

In 1933, the swastika flag replaced the Bavarian blue and white flag. 1939 and 1945 were the years of war and Oktoberfest again faded into the background and, accordingly, was not held. From 1946 to 1948, as in the years after the First World War, Munich only held an "autumn festival" using beer with a lower alcohol content. In 1950 was first held the ceremony of opening the first barrel of beer, which later became traditional, famous ceremony: “ “. The first Mayor to break a keg of beer was Thomas Wimmer.

In 1960, horse racing was completed. In 1960 Oktoberfest has become a huge festival, as we know it today. In 1970, local associations of sexual minorities organized so-called “Days for Gays and Lesbians.”

On September 26, 1980, at 22:19, a homemade bomb exploded near the main entrance in one of the trash cans of a public place. The bomb was constructed from a fire extinguisher filled with 1.39 kilograms of TNT. Thirteen people were killed and more than 201 people were injured, 86 of them very seriously. It was the second deadliest terrorist attack in German history, after the Munich massacre. Responsibility for the attack was attributed to right-wing suicide bomber Gundolf Köhler, who allegedly acted alone. This statement is still being questioned and there are many unclear aspects in this whole story. In 1984, tin barrels for storing beer were covered with wood, thus combining ease of storage with respect for ancient traditions. Since 2005, in order to make Oktoberfest hospitable and comfortable for older people and families with children, the following restrictions have been introduced: the volume of music until 18.00 does not exceed 85 decibels.

Since 2008, smoking in public areas has been prohibited by law. An exception was made for Oktoberfest in 2008, but the sale of cigarettes and tobacco in the pavilions was prohibited. In 2009, Bavaria's smoking ban sparked heated debate and political controversy, and exceptions for Oktoberfest were extended. In 2010, through a popular referendum held in Bavaria, it was decided to extend the 2008 law to the Oktoberfest pavilions, i.e. Smoking inside the pavilions was finally banned.

In 2010, Oktoberfest celebrated its 200th anniversary. On this occasion, on the opening day of the festival, horse racing was held using historical costumes. “Historische Wiesn” ( historical Oktoberfest), inside which a special beer specially brewed for this event was poured. The organization of this anniversary celebration made it possible to reproduce the atmosphere of past centuries, and visitors received a unique opportunity to relive and feel how Oktoberfest was celebrated many centuries ago.