Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Oktoberfest Cheers!



Hi Puzzlers,

It’s October! This month associated is with the world’s most famous beer bash, Oktoberfest! The beer festival is held annually in Munich, Bavaria and Germany. It runs from late September to the first weekend in October and is one of the most famous events in Germany. It is also the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending each year. Today Oktoberfest isn’t just for Germans; it is celebrated in different towns and cities across the globe.

Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig held the first festival in Munich. The festival was actually a celebration of Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. The prince wanted the citizen of Munich to attend the festivities and help celebrate his marriage. WOW! This guy would have surely gotten my vote. The celebration was held on the fields in front of the city gate. After the first celebration the fields were renamed Theresienwiese ("Theresa's meadow") in honor of the Crown Princess. Today the locals have further abbreviated the name to "Wies'n".

Prince Ludwig an avid historian, modeled the reception after the ancient Olympic Games. Sporting events of all kinds took place throughout the day and a horse race in the presence of the royal family marked the finale. The horse race soon became the most popular event and in 1811 the first Agricultural Show was added as a way to improve Bavarian agriculture. Sadly, horse racing ended in 1960.

The first carousel and swings were set up in 1818, and in 1881 the city council approved the sale of beer and and the first grilled chicken stand. These small beer stands allowed visitors to quench their thirst and quickly became very popular. With the backing of breweries, landlords set up the first beer tents and halls in 1896.

“Since 1850, the statue of Bavaria has watched the Oktoberfest. This worldly Bavarian patron was first sketched by Leo von Klenze in a classic style and Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler romanticised and "Germanised" the draft. The statue was constructed by Johann Baptist Stiglmaier and Ferdinand von Miller.”

So what does one wear to the world’s biggest party? Well anything goes, but if you want to attend with local flair, guys are going to need to sport a pair of Lederhosen leather shorts and the gals needs to wear the traditional Dirndl dress. Drindles ,when worn properly let others know the wearer’s availability. A bow on the right above the apron means she is taken if it is on the left she is available. Ahh! Courtship made easy! Love it!

Oktoberfest celebrated its 200th birthday in 2010! This event is certainly on my bucket list how about you?

Happy Puzzling!

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