O'Zapft is! Oktoberfest has started!
Kegs around the world were tapped Saturday to celebrate the beginning of Oktoberfest. North Texas is no exception as it is a wünderschönes land filled with those eager to celebrate the turning of the seasons, good beer and good company.
In order to properly experience Oktoberfest, a little self-education is advised. It has been a German tradition for over 200 years — the least we Americans could do is immerse ourselves in knowledge before imbibing in their beer.
After speaking with Jürgen Mahneke, owner of the Bavarian Grill in Plano, and comparing notes from German Oktoberfest sources and my own memories of living in Munich during Oktoberfest, I have amassed a quick guide to Oktoberfest and how to make the most out of the few weekends out of the year North Texans have to enjoy the festivities.
What is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is known in Bavaria as Weisn and it all began as a wedding celebration. On October 12, 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildberghausen in the fields on the edge of Munich. (The fields were later named Theresienwiese in the princess' honor and remain the site of Oktoberfest to this day.) The citizens of Bavaria were invited to attend the celebration, which in its inaugural year included horse races as a primary attraction. The celebration became an annual event that grew each year.
While the horse races are no longer part of the festivities and the agricultural festival happens every third year, the amusement rides are going strong to this day. The beer offerings at Oktoberfest began with small stands, but by 1896 the beer tents and halls were established by major breweries for the festival. The beer tents are not mere festival tents as we know them. They are large buildings that are constructed on the Theresienwiese in advance of the festival to house thousands of people at a time.
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