The "wiesn", the world-famous Munich Oktoberfest


before we really start to tell you about the "Wiesn" some Canaletto-cats show what happens if you have too much "wiesn"-beer.. ))

lets get started



but now earnestly))

 

the "Wiesn", the Oktoberfest starts in mid-September only the last weekend really is in
October so we can participate from the milder early autumn weather..
200 years ago, when the first Oktoberfest was celebrated it really was in October -
the reason for this occasion being a royal wedding.

Today, in the absence of a king, Bavaria celebrates itself here:
in national costume (or what some people believe it to be) and with much joy.
The lord-mayor of Munich will open the "Oktoberfest" by and the
number of strokes he needs to drive the first tap into the first barrel ,
from where he traditionally the first "Mass" proffers to the Bavarian Prime Ministers,
are an important state supportive thing ... in 2009 he needed only two- less is impossible..

Before tapping, however, the formal entry of the "Meadows hosts",
their waitresses and waiters and the bands precludes everything.
The highlight of the train are of course the magnificent teams of the breweries,
beautiful big horses towing tons of beer barrels..:


















..on the following day, the first Wiesn -sunday the big "Fest und Trachten"-parade
is taking place- not only Bavarians but quite a lot of groups from other
european countries display their uniforms and national costumes..
In 2009 there were Greeks and Italians, Swedish and Georgian, Swiss and Dutch
- and lots of others from the german speaking communities of the "old" eastern europe .



























and then of course the "Wiesn" itself:
beertents, scooters, people..
if you go there on a saturday morning at eight you will be astonished:
thousands of people waiting for entrance to the beertents:
they open at nine and serve beer not before eleven.. so ist foll on one side and quiet as once..
the world biggest party..

and later on its full.. really crowded. and fun.

How international the Oktoberfest is  nowadays nowhere  is shown as good 
as at the ATM-Terminals at the fair. Because every Oktoberfest-visitor 
needs Euro-replenishment, whether he comes from Munich or from Mexico. 
An Oktoberfest-ATM registered withdrawals from the following countries:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, 
Brazil, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Canada, Cayman Iceland, Costa Rica, 
Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, 
Finland, France, Greece, Hong Kong , Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, 
Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, 
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New 
Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, 
Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South 
Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab 
Emirates, United States, Venezuela/Bolivia, Belarus, Belize, Uruguay, 
Namibia, Paraguay, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

 













































Since 2010 - the 200th anniversary of the "Wiesn" - there's also the old, the "oide" Oktoberfest,
a a little quieter, a bit cozier, "somewhat more munichstyle part at  the Oktoberfest,
where the newest ride, the "Calypso" is  from 1962 and all crowd about an old style chain carousel or "Eve ride to paradise",
the ancestor of the fast rides "out there" from 1932.
In the two beer tents the beer is still served in a stone jug, the music is traditional,
the "folk singer tent „ called „beauty queen," has a dance floor  which is always well attended, whether it be
polka, waltz or Bavarian dances such as the Landler and "Zwiefache".
And if there are Trachtler, people waring bavarian national costume a.e.,
or folk dance groups among the guests, then there's also been quite spontaneously „Schuhplattln“, or "Goaslschnoizn".
Somehow, you feel a bit like a guy from the "Royal Bavarian Country Court",
a TV series from the 60es playing during the late 1890/early 1900 whose opener was as follows:

"these were the dear, good old days before the year ‘14. Especially here in Bavaria.
Back then, His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent reigned, one art-loving monarch. For the king was depressed.
The beer was still dark, the people typical, the young men dashing, the girls modest,
and the dignitaries were a bit distinguished and a bit casual. 
During this time not much was wrong. 
Because peace and order was provided by the police and  justice by the Royal Bavarian County Court. "

typical and modest, a little casual and a little grand -this it is.. ..
and hopefully it will stay and stay so..








On the last Sunday of the Oktoberfest the annual "kings" of the Bavarian Riflemen
(them having a tradition dating back to the late 15. century)
are honored with a silver salute and the playing of the
Bavarian national anthem before the backdrop of the Bavaria -
also one of the nearly 200-year old traditions of Oktoberfest.







In the evening, when the end is approaching it is getting a bid sad in the
tents in which then a lot fewer tourists and much more the locals are
gathered than all the two weeks earlier, a final song is sung, sparklers burn - up to the final "aus is"- (it's over)
- until the next year, because after the Wiesn is before the Wiesn))



Foto von Ingo v.Zydowitz (who was there long enough in 2012)


..and this is the link to the "official Wiesn-Webpage":


____________________________________


back to


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Henning Müller - Rech
Waisenhausstr. 57
80637 München
Tel.: 089/ 157 88 73
Mobil: 0171/88 58 950
e-Mail: mueller-rech.muenchen@gmx.de