| Oktoberfest and Oompah bands go together like | | | | the brewers advertising material alongside the |
| good German beer, German Sausage and good | | | | traditional blue and white chequerboard decoration of |
| friends. Oktoberfest is a traditionally German festival | | | | Munich. |
| with world-wide appeal. Every year millions, yes | | | | The beers of Oktoberfest nowadays are |
| millions, of people enjoy Oktoberfest both in | | | | concentrated on two styles; Light beer or Pils which |
| Germany and abroad. | | | | is referred to as Helles, the German word for light |
| The largest Oktoberfest celebrations are held in | | | | and the more traditional Oktoberfest darker beer or |
| Munich the capital of Bavaria in Germany. And rightly | | | | Dunkel, you've guessed it, the German word for |
| so as this was the area where the original | | | | darker. There is even a special Oktoberfest beer |
| Oktoberfest celebrations took place. To examine the | | | | called Wiesnbier which is even darker and more |
| roots of this now mammoth extravaganza we must | | | | potent than Dunkel. |
| travel back to the start of the 1800's and the | | | | All of these beers are traditionally served in a 1 litre |
| wedding union between Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to | | | | stein, a traditional glass beer mug. Made from heavy |
| his bride the Princess Therese of | | | | glass to prevent too many breakages it is a sight to |
| Saxony-Hilburghausen in 1810. In-order to share in the | | | | see the serving waitresses charging around the beer |
| couple's happiness, celebrations which included an | | | | tents carrying numerous full steins in each hand. |
| agricultural fair, horse racing, food and beer were | | | | Definitely somebody you wouldn't want to get in the |
| arranged to take place on grounds which became | | | | way of. It is usual to see these waitresses dressed in |
| known as Theresenwiese which translates to | | | | traditional costume. |
| Therese's fields. Through time, Oktoberfest has | | | | A trip to the Munich Oktoberfest is a once in a |
| taken the local slang name 'Wies'n'. | | | | lifetime event but for many those who will not make |
| During the late 1800s carousels and other fairground | | | | it, Oktoberfest will still be celebrated. There are |
| attractions started to be added and the humble beer | | | | thousands of local Oktoberfest celebrations being |
| stands started to be replaced by the huge beer | | | | planned from small domestic parties through to whole |
| tents that are such a feature of the modern day | | | | town celebrations. If you don't know of one of |
| Oktoberfest. Today's Oktoberfest is almost as | | | | these, plan your own. It's easy as many local stores |
| famous for the excess as it is as a celebration. Millions | | | | and internet retailers have traditional German |
| of litres of beer are drunk in the huge circus sized | | | | costumes and Oktoberfest decorations readily |
| beer tents and latterly these have been sponsored | | | | available. Some good quality beer, some pretzels, |
| by the major breweries serving their own labelled | | | | some sausage and some good friends - a perfect |
| beer and providing entertainment and endless | | | | celebration. |
| quantities of food. Nowadays it is not unusual to see | | | | |
