16+1 things you need to know about Oktoberfest!

The ultimate beer festival is called Oktoberfest and it’s spelled with a k not a c, because it’s a German word, not an English one. So Octoberfest is a misspelling! So when you find yourself in conversation about it, or when you decide to travel to experience it, keep these 16+1 things about Oktoberfest in mind. From its history and importance to what and why you drink it and how many people visit it.

1. The original Oktoberfest has been held for over 200 years in Munich, Germany
2. Its name means “The Feast of October”. It doesn’t matter that it starts in September, the reason for this is to have better weather conditions
3. Oktoberfest lasts 15-17 days, depending on the year it takes place
4. Only the World Wars and famines had not allowed the Oktoberfest to take place. Now also Covid-19 🙁
5. The first Oktoberfest was the wedding celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen
6. The first one was organized in 1810, so it has more than 200 years of history. The institution of institutions that is
7. The first Oktoberfest was mainly political in nature, because of the wedding
8. Only the following six breweries participate in Oktoberfest: Augustinerbräu München, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
9. Boston Brewery claims to be the brewery with the largest production of Oktoberfest beer, because none of the Munich breweries beats it
10. The place where the festival takes place is called Theresienwiese, after Princess Theresa and Wiese the meadow
11. The festival is visited every year by more than 6 million people from all over the world
12. In 1985 a record attendance was achieved with 7.1 million visitors
13. “O’zapft is!” shouts the Mayor of Munich to start Okoberfest, as the first keg of beer is opened, which loosely translates to “Connected, let’s go!” referring to the barrel
14. Smaller-scale Oktoberfests are held around the world, including the US, UK, China, Australia and other German cities
15. The traditional outfit worn by waitresses at Oktoberfest is called a “Dirndl”
16. The glass in which the beers are served has a capacity of 1 liter and is called “Masskrug” or simply “Mass”

And one more thing for football fans: Bayern München, every year gives their presence, also supporting Paulaner, which is their sponsor.