The Hungarian Girl » Munich

Oktoberfest 2010

The Hungarian Girl — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:45:23 +0000

Oktoberfest celebrated its 200^th anniversary this year. Here are some photos of the event.

Vistiors walking along the street of Wirtsbudenstrabe, where the beer tents and rides are located.

Women selling giant pretzels outside of a beer tent.

In front of the Löwenbräu beer tent. Löwenbräu means "lion's brew".

Lebkuchen hearts at a market stall. These decorative cookies are meant to be given to a loved one and usually have special messages written on them such as Ich liebe dich" (I love you) and "Du bist mein Liebling" (You are my favorite).

The Hippodrome beer tent, which first opened in 1902. It became the first Oktoberfest beer tent to offer amusement along with food and drink.

A beer carousel which is almost as popular as some of the beer tents. The carousel moves at a nice slow pace with the bar in the center.

Toys given out as prizes. Carnival booths were first introduced into the festival in 1816.

Guys dressed in lederhosen having a good time in front of the Hippodrom beer tent.

Visitors drinking at the Schottenhamel beer tent. This is where the traditional Anstich (ceremonial opening of the first beer barrel of the festival) is performed by the city's mayor.

An older woman enjoying her beer at the Schottenhamel beer tent.

A woman dances with her young daughter at the Schottenhamel beer tent. People of all ages come to the festival.

Roast pork with cucumber potato salad.

White sausages which are a specialty of Munich.

A food vendor preparing steckerlfisch (fish on a stick).

Older couples dancing to traditional Bavarian folk music.

Teenagers wearing traditional Bavarian attire at an equestrian performance.

A brave visitor on a thrill ride.

Bavarian men in traditional attire with alphorns.

Amateur horse racing at the track, which was brought back this year in honor of the 200th anniversary celebrations.

Oktoberfest celebrates 200 years

The Hungarian Girl — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:02:51 +0000

Oktoberfest is the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year. The festival traces its roots back to 1810 when the citizens of Bavaria came together to honor the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

On October 12, 1810, the townspeople of Munich came together to honor the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

The following day, celebrations continued with various activities, including concerts, parties, balls, and even a horse race. It was so spectacular and intense that the royals of Bavaria decided to hold another event a year later. Eventually, it was agreed that Oktoberfest would become an annual event which was prolonged and moved forward into September for better weather conditions.

Oktoberfest is now the world’s largest fair with over six million people attending every year. It consists of 30 different tents across the grounds of Theresienwiese Park, each specializing in different beers, food and music.

This year Oktoberfest will mark 200 years since it first began as a royal wedding celebration. Officially Oktoberfest has only taken place 176 times due to cancellations from wars and conflicts. However, organizers still consider this to be an important year and have arranged for some special activities including extending the festival by a day at opening and closing.

Events include a historic reconstruction of the original festival using an antique Oktoberfest tent and exhibition of historical fun fair attractions. Traditional horse races will be held daily twice a day. The last time a horse race occurred was in 1938, after which it was cancelled for political reasons.

The city of Munich will also host a special tribute of its own. The Oktoberfest-Exhibition at the City Museum of Munich will showcase the history of Oktoberfest from its origins as Bavarian celebration with royal overtones to the world’s largest beer and folk festival from July 9 through the end of October. Approximately 800 artifacts are on display including those that were directly involved in the original festivities at one time or another.

Visitors can also purchase an official 200 year jubilee stein handmade by the company Rastal. It features image of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen along with the “Muenchner Kindl” (the coat of arms of Munich). The stein can be purchased from the official Oktoberfest website.

This year’s festivities will run from Friday, September 17th through Monday, October 4th. The official tapping of the first beer barrel will be celebrated on Saturday 18th at noon. Admission to the event is free.

So get ready for two weeks of thigh-slapping-om-pah-pah-merriment!

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Top 10 beer festivals in Germany

The Hungarian Girl — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:12:57 +0000

Germany has several large and well-known beer festivals. The most popular is the Munich Oktoberfest which is the world’s largest fair attracting over six million people each year.

A visit to Germany is incomplete without going to an authentic German beer festival.

Here are the top 10 beer festivals that will have you saying “Prost!”

10) Hanover Schützenfest

The world’s biggest marksman’s festival is celebrated every year in Hannover. It combines a fair with shooting matches among members of the local marksmen’s association, various rides and inns, and lively entertainment. The highlight of Hanover Schützenfest is the 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long Parade of the Marksmen which is is the longest parade in Europe if not the world. Of course, there’s also lot’s of beer!

9) Munich’s Frühlingfest

For anyone who wants to get as close as possible to Oktoberfest while traveling Germany without really being there will find that Munich’s Frühlingfest (Spring Festival) is the ideal choice. This beer festival is a miniature version of Oktoberfest even held on the same fair grounds, called the Theresienwiese in Munich. Beer tents, carnival rides, and oompah-music bands playing traditional German songs set the scene for this lively festival.

8 ) Munich’s Starkbierzeit

Munich’s Starkbierzeit also reffered to as “strong beer time” is exactly as the title suggests. Every year in early spring local breweries produce their strongest beers. The festival’s roots go back to the Paulaner monks who, according to legend, began making an extra-strength beer to sustain themselves during their Lenten fast. The festival is an excellent showcase of Bavaria’s distinctive culture and traditions.

7) Kulmbacher Bierfest

Unlike other festivals, the Kulmbacher Bierfest is exclusively dedicated to beer. The town is the proud home of four breweries that each put up a huge pavilion in the town center to sell their special beers. A variety of typical Franconian food is also available.

6) Barthelmarkt

The Barthelmarkt occurs in Manching near Ingolstadt on the last weekend of August. Though first mentioned in 1354, its roots can be traced back as early as to the first century BC, when the Romans established a cattle market in the area. The name “Barthelmarkt” stems from St. Bartholomew, the patron saint of the local church.

5) Gäubodenvolksfest

Founded in 1812 as an agricultural gathering of the people in the Danube region, the Gäubodenvolksfest is a modern and family friendly festival. Beers from the Straubing-Bogen region are served, and on the first day there is a “bierprobe” meaning “tasting of the beer”, with a parade of 2,000 participants in traditional Bavarian costumes and on horse carriages and wagons.

4) International Berlin Beer Festival

Usually held on the first weekend of August annually, the festival takes place on the Karl-Marx-Allee in Berlin Friedrichshain. The city’s “beer mile” stretches 2.2 km from Frankfurter Tor to Strausberger Platz which organisers claim makes it the world’s longest beer garden. One million visitors attend the International Berlin Beer Festival each year. For anyone seeking to sample a variety of beers will appreciate it’s selection of 2,000 varieties representing 85 countries with a focus on smaller, private breweries.

3) Bremen Freimarkt

First held in 1035, Bremen Freimarkt is the oldest fair in Germany. With more than four million visitors each year, it is also considered to be the biggest festival in Northern Germany. The festival offers a number of beer tents, amusement rides, and entertainment. An annual highlight is the “Freimarktsumzug” (Free Fair Procession) held on the second Saturday of the festival.

2) Cannstatter Volksfest

In terms of size, the Cannstatter Volksfest also known as Stuttgart Beer Festival is second-only to the Oktoberfest in Munich. It began in 1818 as a harvest festival following a famine and has since been taking place at the end of September every year. The fun-filled festival features beer tents, fairground rides, fireworks, a market and much more.

1) Munich’s Oktoberfest

Nothing compares to Munich’s Oktoberfest at least in size and attendance. It is the world’s largest fair with over six million visitors a year. So, if your looking for an excuse to celebrate with beer…this is the place to be!