How to celebrate Oktoberfest
How to celebrate Oktoberfest
The Munich Oktoberfest, one of Germany’s favourite and most famous festivals, got under way in the capital of Bavaria last Saturday. Despite its name, Oktoberfest takes place during the last two weeks of September and can be celebrated just about anywhere.
It’s all about the beer! The way you serve it and how much beer you drink. The Oktoberfest is Germany’s answer to mankind’s three natural craving: beer, pork and exposed flesh of the opposite sex (cleavage).
Beer anyone?
1) Tight budget and no time to travel, this is no reason to stop you celebrate God’s gifts to mankind – BEER. Easy, attend an Oktoberfest closer to home.
Here are a few places you might find are celebrating Oktoberfest near you. German clubs or pubs, language schools (great pick up places), universities and beer gardens in your locate area.
2) There is one rule you must not break. Don’t ask for a pint of beer as that is a sure recipe for scorn or possibly violence. To keep celebrations to its traditions always have a maß or maßkrüge (mug), a one-liter volume glass-drinking vessel with a handle. Can’t handle this, word of advice: stay home you are not fit for an Oktoberfest celebration.
3) Or why not host your own Oktoberfest party? Get some German polka music; remember to stock up on German beer, soft pretzels, and German sausages, sauerkraut and sweet mustard. Invite your beer-drinking crowd and ‘Bob’s your uncle’.
4) There is one superstition you must uphold during Oktoberfest, people. German’s look each other in the eye when clinking glasses so don’t look away or you’ll have 7 years of bad sex. Now that is a superstition you don’t want to challenge.
Did you know that originally, Oktoberfest was the celebration of the marriage between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810? The citizens of Munich (Munchen) were invited to the royal event, which took place on the very same fields where Oktoberfest is celebrated today. Needless to say it was a great celebration then and still going strong today.
Prost (cheers), everyone and happy Oktoberfest.
