For those who don't know, Oktoberfest isn't just about beer, foam, and ladies with plunging necklines: here are 15 fun facts about Oktoberfest, the legendary beer festival held every year in Munich!
15 Oktoberfest Facts You Probably Didn't Know
If you're one of the few people in the world who doesn't know what Oktoberfest is, read our guide to Oktoberfest!
1. Oktoberfest was not a beer festival
That's right! Contrary to popular belief, Oktoberfest wasn't born as a beer festival , but to celebrate the anniversary of the wedding between Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Ludwig I , Prince of Bavaria. The first celebration was held in 1810, and from then on, the anniversary was celebrated every year, but without a drop of beer!
Things changed when, in 1819, the traditional horse parade was replaced by one of brewers.
Furthermore, the Oktoberfest is called “Wiesn” , which derives from “Theresienwiese” , the field where the event is held and which is the same place where Princess Therese got married.
2. Oktoberfest has been cancelled 24 times
The main causes were wars and cholera epidemics. In its 100th edition, 120,000 liters of beer were poured, equivalent to about 1,500 bathtubs.
3. Regular beer isn't served at Oktoberfest
The festival doesn't serve regular beer, but special beers called Oktoberfestbier .
Brewed exclusively by Munich's six historic breweries and served in 13 giant tents, these beers are a specialty brewed exclusively for Oktoberfest .
Until 1892, beer was not served in glass mugs but in stone mugs . Now the famous mugs are the souvenirs . In 2010, 130,000 beer mugs were confiscated and taken to their tent owners.
4. The alternative side of Oktoberfest
At the Oktoberfest, it's not just about alcohol flowing freely! Another folkloric feature is its music: In the tents, there are always bands playing traditional Bavarian music , as well as covers of recent songs.
At the Armbrustschützenzelt , you can also gorge on sausages and pork legs, while trying your hand at archery and crossbow shooting!
5. Alcohol Championship
Oktoberfest beer is stronger than the usual beers. Oktoberfestbier is served in a Maß , the classic 1-liter mug, and has an average alcohol content of 6.5% . Despite this, the beer is consumed in rivers like water, and last year, nearly 7 million liters were consumed!
6. Don't drink without permission!
If you imagine Oktoberfest as a free and unrestrained celebration, you're wrong. Drinking is not permitted at Oktoberfest until the mayor of Munich has uncorked the first keg of beer with the "O' zapft is" ("Uncork!") ceremony.
7. Oktoberfest starts in September
Although it's called Oktoberfest , the legendary beer festival doesn't actually start in October! Over the years, the start date has been moved up to September because it's sunnier and warmer than October.
8. Drink to stay healthy!
Behind the fame of the Oktoberfest and its beer lies not only the joy of partying, but above all a matter of necessity. Before the 19th century, there wasn't much drinking water in Bavaria, so to prevent the spread of cholera and plague, locals quenched their thirst with beer, which was safer, more hygienic, and much tastier. Cheers!
9. Paris Hilton was banned from Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest celebration safe , every year many drunk or excited people are bounced from the event: Among the celebrities on the blacklist is Paris Hilton .
Wearing the traditional dirndl , the famous heiress appeared at Oktoberfest in 2006 without prior agreement with the event organizers, promoting a brand of canned wine, “Richprosecco .” After causing quite a stir among the audience, Paris Hilton was definitively banned from the festival for the ages to come!
10. Einstein worked at the Oktoberfest
Albert Einstein once worked as an electrician and helped create one of the beer tents in 1896.
11. Children are welcome
Not just rivers of alcohol, Oktoberfest also has a family-friendly side . The carnival-like aspect of Oktoberfest attracts countless families every year, and its tents host numerous attractions suitable for both adults and children , such as the flea circus, carousels, a Ferris wheel, and a roller coaster. You don't have to get absolutely drunk to enjoy the lively Oktoberfest atmosphere!
12. The lost and found office is a treasure chest
We've all lost something while drunk: try putting 7 million drunk people together! It's easy to imagine that, at the end of the Oktoberfest the Lost Property Office collects hundreds of items of all kinds : on average, 1,000 passports, 500 wallets, 300 cell phones, 300 bags, and 50 cameras are found.
Among the more bizarre objects lost at the Oktoberfest , how could we not mention: dentures, wedding rings, baby strollers, hearing aids, dogs, wheelchairs and even a gravestone!
There's also a lost children's office , for all those careless parents who lose sight of their child after yet another pint of beer.
13. The Oktoberfest has its own post office
130,000 postcards and gifts are sent from here .
145. There is a tent where you can drink wine
Most of the people inside are over 40 years old.
15. The hairier the hat, the richer the wearer
During the Oktoberfest , visitors traditionally wear Bavarian hats (called "Tirolerhüte" ). The more goat hair tufts on the hat, the wealthier the owner is considered. (Today, the tufts are synthetic, so anyone can appear rich or poor, as they please.)
