Oktoberfest | Definition, History, Traditions, & Facts (2024)

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Oktoberfest | Definition, History, Traditions, & Facts? ›

Oktoberfest

The inaugural Oktoberfest was first celebrated in Munich in 1810 in honor of Prince Ludwig's marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began October 12, 1810, and lasted nearly a week until October 17, ending with an exciting horse race.

Besides the food and beer, the festival is full of traditional Bavarian music, open-air performances, a grand entry and parades, vendor tents, carnival rides, a shooting competition, and traditional German outfits. The two-week fair wraps up in dramatic fashion with a boisterous brass band and a gun salute.

The festival meadow was christened "Theresens-Wiese" in honor of the bride. This is still the name of the Oktoberfest site today: "Theresienwiese" - or "the Wiesn" for short in Munich parlance. Even though there were no beer tents or fairground rides on the Wiesn at the time, this was the birth of the Oktoberfest.

The six brewmasters Andreas Brunner (Augustiner), Rainer Kansy (Hacker-Pschorr), Rolf Dummert (Hofbräu), Bernd Kräußel (Löwenbräu), Christian Dahncke (Paulaner) and Friedrich Geiger (Spaten) are the makers of Munich Oktoberfest Beers 2023.

What is die Wies'n? Wies'n means "field" or "meadow" in the Bavarian dialect (the high German word is die Wiese). The locals in Munich will often refer to Oktoberfest as "die Wies'n” as a short hand for the festival's location, the Theresienwiese.

Oktoberfest is an annual festival held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The festival originates with a party held in celebration of a royal marriage. On October 12, 1810, Kronprinz Ludwig (later King Ludwig I of Bavaria) married the Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen in Munich.

If you want to fit in with the locals, DON'T call it Oktoberfest. Instead, you go to the “Wies'n”. This is actually a nickname for the place where Oktoberfest is actually held - Theresienwiese in central Munich.

"Because the weather in October was usually already cooler and the days are significantly shorter, one let the Oktoberfest begin in September," according to the festival's website. "Since 1872, (it has) always (been held) on the first Saturday after September 15 until the first Sunday in October."

What is the story behind Oktoberfest beer and blood? ›

In 1900, A rich newcomer with a shady past arrives in Munich determined to crash the local Oktoberfest with his own brewery. But when his daughter falls in love with the heir to a rival brewery, a violent chain of events is unleashed that will threaten both families' futures.

Oktoberfest is the biggest beer festival in the world celebrated since 1810 in the town of Munich. Over 6 million beer-loving people rush to Germany every year and consume almost 6.9 million liters of beer. This German beer festival is known for its traditional Bavarian costumes and delicious German food.

On white background symbols of Oktoberfest: mug beer, pretzel, tyrolean hat and maple leaf.

During World War II, from 1939 to 1945, no Oktoberfest was celebrated. Following the war, from 1946 to 1948, Munich celebrated only the "Autumn Fest".

"Because the weather in October was usually already cooler and the days are significantly shorter, one let the Oktoberfest begin in September," according to the festival's website. "Since 1872, (it has) always (been held) on the first Saturday after September 15 until the first Sunday in October."

Contrary to popular belief held by foreigners, Oktoberfest is not all about the beer. In fact in Germany it's not even considered a beer festival, but rather a traditional folk festival for the entire family (you'll even see parents pushing prams!).

Outside of Germany, the largest Oktoberfest is in Kitchener, Ontario (formerly Berlin) and surrounding cities in Waterloo Region, attracting over 700,000 visitors annually.