EQ2_Bloggers
09-22-2010, 06:01 PM
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This year marks the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest, which takes place in Munich, Germany from September 18 to October 4th.* Many of us have undoubtedly heard of Oktoberfest, but do we know why the Germans celebrate it?
Of course, “beer “would be the obvious answer and it clearly plays a huge role at the festivities. The Mayor opens Oktoberfest by tapping the first keg and shouting “O’Zapft is!”* The Bavarian phrase “O’Zapft is” comes from “Es ist angezapft,” which can be translated as “it’s tapped.”** The Mayor not only has the honor of tapping the first keg, but also the honor of giving the first Oktoberfest beer to the Minister-President of Bavaria.
200 years ago, however, Oktoberfest was very different. The newly married Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen celebrated their love with the people of Munich by organizing a huge a horse race.* Not just an average horse race; about 40,000 guests were there to honor the couple. To commemorate his marriage, the Crown Prince turned this wedding celebration into an annual event, in essence celebrating his anniversary with all of the people of Munich.* This yearly celebration gradually evolved into the modern-day Oktoberfest.
Although the horse race is not part of Oktoberfest anymore, many characteristics of the early Oktoberfest celebrations are alive and well today.* For instance, the festivities are still held in the same location.* Named for Princess Therese, the “Theresienwiese” also called “Die Wiesn’” is a vast and beautiful beer garden that can accommodate the increasing numbers of festival-goers.** Also, those who attend Oktoberfest looking for a taste of history will be happy to find that reminders of the original Oktoberfest are plenty, perhaps best exemplified in a parade featuring classically-adorned horses, reminding all in attendance of the origins of this rich festival.
These days the Oktoberfest is known as the biggest beer festival in the world. On average, there are six million people visiting Oktoberfest every year and boosting the economy in and around Munich by 830 million Euros. A big portion of that money comes from the sales of delicious Bavarian beer. In 2009 6,643,600 liters of beer were sold to the Oktoberfest guests. Good thing that there are almost 2,000 toilets at the Wiesn.J **Although 324 million Euros are spent directly at Oktoberfest, an equal or larger amount is spent on shopping, travel and transportation, thus making Oktoberfest very significant to the German economy, both directly and indirectly.* On average Oktoberfest creates 8,000 fulltime jobs and 4,000 temporary jobs every year.
During these two weeks every year, the Wiesn becomes a world of beer, food, amusements, roller coaster, tents, live music, dance, Bavarian traditions, Lederhosen and Dirndl.* What’s Dirndl, you ask?* Well, that’s for another time.* Cheers!
By Shirra – German Community Relations Rep
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This year marks the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest, which takes place in Munich, Germany from September 18 to October 4th.* Many of us have undoubtedly heard of Oktoberfest, but do we know why the Germans celebrate it?
Of course, “beer “would be the obvious answer and it clearly plays a huge role at the festivities. The Mayor opens Oktoberfest by tapping the first keg and shouting “O’Zapft is!”* The Bavarian phrase “O’Zapft is” comes from “Es ist angezapft,” which can be translated as “it’s tapped.”** The Mayor not only has the honor of tapping the first keg, but also the honor of giving the first Oktoberfest beer to the Minister-President of Bavaria.
200 years ago, however, Oktoberfest was very different. The newly married Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen celebrated their love with the people of Munich by organizing a huge a horse race.* Not just an average horse race; about 40,000 guests were there to honor the couple. To commemorate his marriage, the Crown Prince turned this wedding celebration into an annual event, in essence celebrating his anniversary with all of the people of Munich.* This yearly celebration gradually evolved into the modern-day Oktoberfest.
Although the horse race is not part of Oktoberfest anymore, many characteristics of the early Oktoberfest celebrations are alive and well today.* For instance, the festivities are still held in the same location.* Named for Princess Therese, the “Theresienwiese” also called “Die Wiesn’” is a vast and beautiful beer garden that can accommodate the increasing numbers of festival-goers.** Also, those who attend Oktoberfest looking for a taste of history will be happy to find that reminders of the original Oktoberfest are plenty, perhaps best exemplified in a parade featuring classically-adorned horses, reminding all in attendance of the origins of this rich festival.
These days the Oktoberfest is known as the biggest beer festival in the world. On average, there are six million people visiting Oktoberfest every year and boosting the economy in and around Munich by 830 million Euros. A big portion of that money comes from the sales of delicious Bavarian beer. In 2009 6,643,600 liters of beer were sold to the Oktoberfest guests. Good thing that there are almost 2,000 toilets at the Wiesn.J **Although 324 million Euros are spent directly at Oktoberfest, an equal or larger amount is spent on shopping, travel and transportation, thus making Oktoberfest very significant to the German economy, both directly and indirectly.* On average Oktoberfest creates 8,000 fulltime jobs and 4,000 temporary jobs every year.
During these two weeks every year, the Wiesn becomes a world of beer, food, amusements, roller coaster, tents, live music, dance, Bavarian traditions, Lederhosen and Dirndl.* What’s Dirndl, you ask?* Well, that’s for another time.* Cheers!
By Shirra – German Community Relations Rep
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Visit This Blog Page... (http://stationblog.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/oktoberfest/)
Visit StationBlog (http://stationblog.wordpress.com/)