The world famous Oktoberfest (we Bavarians nicknamed it “Wiesn”) is… well… over… already! This year it took place from September 18 until October 4 and it was a very special one - it was a big birthday year!
On October 12, 1810 the original "Oktoberfest" took place at exactly the same spot as today - the Theresienwiese. It was the public celebration of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Back than it was a horse race that brought the people together to congratulate the happy couple and to have a good time together. It was so successful that it reoccurred in 1811 and since then it has been repeated over and over again – TWO HUNDRED times!
Today this 16-18 day long amusement fair is known around the world for the huge amount of liters of beer that are being sold every year and the millions of people that are getting drunk from tip to toe. 2010 there were about 6.4 million visitors and I was one of them!
I don’t really drink (yes, I am German) and I haven’t been to the Wiesn much before this year (even though that I am Bavarian, yes!) Why? Well, I always said ‘I am just not an Oktoberfest-person!’ Ups. Well, this year I was proven differently and I could be found in that area during those two weeks for a total of 11 times!
No, I still don’t drink but I had an amazing time after all. Thanks to my mom, I ate the most delicious things and watched a great little horse raise at the Historic Wiesn, which was especially organized for this year. Thanks to my brother, I rode the fastest and craziest rollercoasters. Thanks to my dad, I proved myself to be a rifleman you should fear! And thanks to all my good old German friends, I lost my voice from all that shouting and singing along the beautiful, great German ‘Schlager’ songs that we usually run away from during the year but which just sound so amazing at the Oktoberfest! DANKE!
Enjoy watching the video (sorry for the poor picture quality but I would have needed a permission to shoot with my big camera, and of course it wouldn’t have been that authentic ;) !)
PS: The song in the video means: Today is such a beautiful day! It talks about lying in the grass, looking at the clouds, flying, strong tigers, long giraffes…
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