It’s Zicke Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi…..ok? — Land of Sky Beer Waters (2024)

Ah yes, it’s almost time for the famous beer drinking season in the entire world, Oktoberfest!

I personally look forward to this time of year because well, Märzen beers are my all time favorite… aside from a good Lager or a proper Pale Ale.

But, at the same time I also dread this time of year. Why do you ask? I’ll start by declaring I’m no literary genius ….(you’ve all read my posts) and I also don’t claim to be an expert in the German language (but I do know quite a few Germans in Germany and here in Minnesota that I get corrections from) it’s because year after year people just cant seem to get the Oktoberfest drinking song right….or correct…er right-ish.

Everyone knows the song ….

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit

Which is then followed up by either “Eins, Zwei, Drei” or “OANS! ZWOA! DREI! G’SUFFA!” and then the famous chant begins of Zicke Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi.

It’s Zicke Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi…..ok? — Land of Sky Beer Waters (1)

Ok now here’s where it starts to bug me aka grind my gears. I have heard and seen so many incorrect versions of the last part of the song in live events, in printed text, on signs for events (banners and webpages etc) and this year even on a beer can……yep.

So here are some incorrect examples -

Ziggy Zaggy Oi Oi Oi, Zigge Zagge Hoi Hoi Hoi, Ziggy Socky Hoy Hoy Hoy, Siggy Saki Hoy Hoy Hoy or Ziggy Zoggy Oy Oy Oy.

It’s Zicke Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi…..ok? — Land of Sky Beer Waters (2)

So what the hell does Zicke Zacke mean anyways? Well it basically can mean “A Toast, A cozy Place” or “A Toast to Fellowship” or “You’re the best person ever, go buy me a beer”…ok the last one was made up but it never hurts to get a free beer right?

So why am I all wound up on you people mispronouncing a German phrase you basically only use one time a year? It’s because I’m trying to help you all not embarrass yourselves….and also I’m a perfectionist…even though I’m not perfect…ZING.

Hey I hate when people start out sentences with a lowercase letter and I let them know about it, so why wouldn’t I mention this?…haha. But really what’s all this Oi Oi Oi stuff, you aren’t at a British punk show skan*ing it up so why would you say it at a German beer fest?

And also what’s all this ziggy zaggy stuff? The song isn’t implying that everyone is drunk and cant walk straight….even though most people are at these things, but hey goddamn it, at least get your lyrics right ..(correct) while you are doing it.

So this post was mainly for a joke and I haven’t posted in a month so I figured I’d throw it out there and also I like to help people out here and there, but really I have witnessed some bad grammar while people have been intoxicated so I had to finally bring up the topic.

Cheers! …….or I mean Prost!

It’s Zicke Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi…..ok? — Land of Sky Beer Waters (3)

It’s Zicke Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi…..ok? — Land of Sky Beer Waters (2024)

FAQs

What does "zicke zacke hoi" mean? ›

Every so often, the band would stop its number and bid us raise our glasses with this refrain: “Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi!” (meaning something like “A toast, a toast, a cozy place! One, two, three, drink!”)

What does ziggy zaggy ziggy zaggy oi oi oi mean? ›

“Ziggy Zaggy, Ziggy Zaggy, Oi Oi Oi!” What's all that gibberish about? It's the ending to a song called “Ein Prosit” a traditional German toast to health and well-being.

What is the German beer chant? ›

Ein Prosit song lyrics (German)

After the band plays this song, everyone raises their glasses and says: “Oans, zwoa, drei, Gsuffa!” meaning “one, two, three, drink!”. You must sing this song, and drink after each song. It's the law. Raise your beers and sing along to Ein Prosit.

What do they yell at Oktoberfest? ›

O'zapft is, in particular, is the most iconic of Oktoberfest sayings. This is the cry you will here once the Mayor of Munich has tapped the ceremonial keg, thus kicking off the entire two-week-long event.

What do Germans say before a toast? ›

Prost! Translation: Cheers! Toss on an “Ein Toast!” at the end to encourage a celebratory “bottoms up!” before drinking your Märzen with friends.

What does Ogi Ogi Ogi Oi Oi Oi mean? ›

Tin-miners' wives or pasty sellers supposedly shouted "Oggy Oggy Oggy" – the response from any hungry miner or labourer would be Oi!, Oi!, Oi!. The chant is also the chorus of a folk song and has always been heard at Cornish rugby matches so this seem another possible origin.

What does OI OI mean in slang? ›

(UK, slang) hey; look; drawing attention to something quotations ▼

Why do Australians say oi oi oi? ›

"Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi" is a cheer or chant often performed at Australian sport events. It is a variation of the Oggy Oggy Oggy chant used by both soccer and rugby union fans in Great Britain from the 1960s onwards. It is usually performed by a crowd uniting to support a sports team or athlete.

What does Tiki Taki Oi Oi Oi mean at Oktoberfest? ›

Ein Prosit ends with the band asking if you are having fun with either “Zicke Zacke Zicke Zacke?” or “Ticky Tocky Ticky Tocky?” and you respond “Oi Oi Oi” meaning yes we are.

What is beer German rule? ›

Reinheitsgebot, also known as the 'purity law', is said to be the oldest, still-enforced food regulation in the world. It was ordered by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria in the year 1516. The Purity law required that “nothing other than barley, hops, and water” be used to produce beer.

What is the meaning of Zicke? ›

1. nanny goat. 2. ( pej inf: = Frau) silly cow (pej inf)

What does hoi hoi mean? ›

[Hawaiian Dictionary (Hawaiian)] hoi.hoi. nvi. Pleased, interesting, entertaining, happy, joyful, amused; pleasure, happiness, joy, delight, enjoyment, interest, cheerfulness (Rom. 12.8).

What is the meaning of zigga zagga? ›

The "zigger zagger" is a derivative of the oggie, oggie, oggie chant. An oggie is Cornish slang for a Cornish pastie and legend has it that this was called out by Cornish woman to make their menfolk aware that they were about to drop the freshly baked pasties down the tin mine.

What is the German drinking toast? ›

An important one to note is “Prost! ', your German version of “Cheers!”, which you can use in all types of situations. And don't forget your please and thank you in German when ordering a round.

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