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Oktoberfest 2006
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I know that I have said it before... last year in
fact... but it's that time of year again, when a large number of us congregate
for our annual pilgrimage to the Munich Oktoberfest, well about 6 million to be
precise. It is basically our form of Mecca, where the beer really is king, and
you have to be a god to last out! This year should be another unforgettable
experience, and this is why... Oktoberfest is a two-week festival held
each year in Munich, Bavaria, Germany during late September and early October.
It is one of the most famous events in the city and the world's largest fair,
with some six million people attending every year. Other cities across the world
also hold fairs, modelled after the Munich event, also called Oktoberfest.
Here is this years logo and tent map...
Well here we go again...
173rd Oktoberfest 2006
Smith in preparation for the BIG Day! Here we go again...
The Fest The first "Oktoberfest" took place on October 12th 1810: For the commemoration of their marriage, Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen (hence: "Theresienwiese") organized a great horse race (the marriage took place on October 12th, the horse race on October 17th, therefore there are different dates named as being the first Oktoberfest)
The Arrival of the Irish Lads to... The Tents
We spent the Friday at the Schottenhamel Festhalle, where we had a table booked to take in the atmosphere of the oldest tent at the fest... Welcome to the oldest tent at the Oktoberfest... It all began in 1867 with only a little wooden barn behind the "Königszelt" at the Theresienwiese. Not even 50 people would fit in to the new constructed "Oktoberfest restaurant" of Michael Schottenhamel. But soon there should be by far more capacity. With an entertaining attraction the new Oktoberfest host used the recesses of its military orchestra, to let his newly engaged artists perform in his tent. He therefore had the only Oktoberfest tent that had a show running all evening long and in that, the greatest atmosphere was to be seen and felt. Due to this fantastic idea the "Schottenhamel" tent soon developed to be the most popular meeting place for Munich's wealthy citizens as well as students, officers, princes and artists Schottenhamel (Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu) - Reckoned to be the most important
tent at the Oktoberfest, mainly because it is where it starts. On the first
Saturday of the event, no beer is allowed to be served until the mayor of Munich
(currently Christian Ude) taps the first keg, at 12pm. Only then can the other
tents begin to serve beer. Very popular amongst younger people
Hippodrom (Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu) - One of the smaller tents, it's the first
tent that many visitors see at the fest. As well as serving normal Wiesn beer,
it has a Sekt (sparkling wine) bar and Maß of Weißbier. Considered one of the
trendiest tents, and attracts the occasional celebrity
Hacker-Festzelt (Hacker-Pschorr) - One of the largest tents on the Wiesn, they
have a rock band that plays from 5:30 each evening (as opposed to the
traditional brass band). This tent is also known as "Himmel der Bayern" (Heaven
for Bavarians)
Winzerer Fähndl (Paulaner) - This tent is noted for its huge tower, with a Maß
of Paulaner beer sitting atop it
Löwenbrau-Festhalle - Above the entrance is a 4.50 meter (15 foot) lion who
occasionally drinks from his beer. This is overshadowed by another tower where
another drinking lion sits.
Augustiner-Festhalle (Augustiner Bräu) - Considered by many elderly locals to be
the best tent, due to the fact it sells the favourite local brew, Augustiner.
Bräurosl (Hacker-Pschorr) - Named after the daughter of the original brewery
owner (Pschorr), this tent has the usual brass band and a yodeler. Ochsenbraterei (Spaten) - True to its name, this tent offers a great variety of
ox dishes. chützen-Festhalle (Löwenbräu) - This is a mid-sized tent. Situated under the
Bavaria statue, the current tent was newly built in 2004. Armbrustschützenzelt (Paulaner) - Translates as the "Crossbow Shooters Tent", a
competition that has been a part of the Oktoberfest since 1895. Hofbräu Festzelt (Hofbräu München) - The counterpart to the famous Hofbräuhaus,
this tent is especially popular with Americans and Antipodeans. Käfers Wiesen Schänke (Paulaner) - The smallest tent at the Oktoberfest, it is
frequented by celebrities, and is known for its especially good food. In
contrast to the other tents (which must close by 11pm), it is open until 0:30am,
but it can be very difficult to get in. Weinzelt (Nymphenburger Sekt, Paulaner Weißbier) - This tent offers a selection
of more than 15 wines, as well as Weißbier. Fischer Vroni (Augustiner) - Another of the smaller tents. Fisch is the German
word for fish and this tent carries a huge selection in its menu.
You're Fit In 1887, the Entry of the Oktoberfest Staff and Breweries took place for the first time. This event showcases the splendidly decorated horse teams of the breweries and the bands that play in the festival tents. This event always takes place on the first Saturday of the Oktoberfest and symbolises the official prelude to the Oktoberfest celebration
Hats off to em' In the year 1813, the Oktoberfest was called off as Bavaria was involved in the Napoleonic war. In 1816, carnival booths appeared. The main prizes were silver, porcelain, and jewellery. In 1819, The town fathers of Munich took over festival management. They decided that the Oktoberfest should be celebrated every year without exception. Later, it was lengthened and the date pushed backward. The reason being that the end of September in Bavaria often has very good weather. The high temperature in the first week of Oktoberfest nears 30° Celsius which stimulates the thirst of the visitors. However, today the last week of Oktoberfest is still in October
The Gaelic Drinking Team
Between The Rock and a Hard Pace The Oktoberfest is known as the Largest People's Fair in the World. Year after
year, about six million people visit the 64 acre large Theresienwiese. 70
percent of the people are from Bavaria. Numerous visitors come from other
countries, especially Italy. But a lot of guests also come from other
non-European countries like Japan and Australia
Drinking Partners On account of the duration of the festival and the nice weather, the Oktoberfest has begun in September since 1872. It always opens on a Saturday and its duration varies depending on the days of the week each year (Approximately 16 days). The festival has traditionally ended on the first Sunday of October, but if this day is the 1st or 2nd day of October, the festival will go on until the October 3rd (German Unity Day)
Well Oiled
My Eyes are Burning... The Cigar Smoking 4 Leaved Clover
Watching the girls go bye In 1854, 3,000 residents of Munich succumbed to an epidemic of Cholera, so the festival was cancelled. Also, in the year 1866, there was no Oktoberfest as Bavaria fought in the Austro-Prussian War. In 1870, the Franco-German war was the reason for cancellation of the festival. In 1873, the festival was once more cancelled due to a Cholera epidemic. In the year 1880, the city government approved the sale of beer. The electric light illuminated over 400 booths and tents. In 1881, booths selling bratwursts opened. In 1892, beer was first served in glass mugs. At the end of the 1900's, a re-organization took place. Until then, there were games of Kegelen, large dance floors, and trees for climbing in the beer booths. They wanted more room for guests and musicians. The booths became beer halls
Attack on Oktoberfest On September 26th 1980 at 10:19 PM, a bomb was set off at the showers at the main entrance. The bomb consisted of an empty fire extinguisher filled with 1.39 kilograms of TNT and mortar shells. Thirteen people were killed, over 200 were injured, 68 seriously. This was the worst terrorist attack in the history of Germany. The official inquiries found that the right-wing extremist Gundolf Köhler from Donaueschingen, a social outcast who killed himself in the explosion, was the lone perpetrator. This account is doubted vehemently by various groups
Costume Parade To honour the marriage of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria, a parade took
place for the first time in 1835. Since 1950 this has been a yearly event and an
important component of the Oktoberfest. 8,000 people, mostly from Bavaria, in
traditional costumes walk from Maximilian Street, through the centre of Munich,
to the Oktoberfest. The march is led by the Münchner Kindl
In the year 1910, the Oktoberfest celebrated its 100th birthday. 120,000 litres of beer were poured. In 1913, the Bräurosl was founded, which was the largest Oktoberfest beer tent of all time, with room for about 12,000 guests. Today, the biggest tent is the Hofbräu-Festhalle which holds 10,000. From 1914 through 1918, World War I prevented the celebration of Oktoberfest. In 1919 and 1920, the two years after the war, Munich celebrated only an "Autumn Fest." In 1923 and 1924, the Oktoberfest was not held due to inflation. In 1933, the Bavarian white and blue flag was replaced with the standard swastika flag
Another Maß One of the biggest
talking points among citizens of Munich in the lead up to the Oktoberfest each
year is how much a litre of beer will cost. In 2006 the official price range is
between €6.95 and €7.50, as opposed to €6.65 and €7.10 the year before. In the
past price hikes have been a contentious issue
You can leave you're Hat On Oktoberfest beer mugs are made from heavy glass and typically have a decorative brewery logo on the side, thus making them very popular souvenirs among visitors. It is however strictly forbidden to steal the mugs, but they can be purchased in the tents at a reasonable price. Visitors are strongly advised to keep the receipts because police are known to search them for stolen mugs even away from the fest area. Often when police catch someone stealing a beer mug, they are fined up to €50
That apparently was... Paris Hilton! From 1939 to 1945, due to World War II, no Oktoberfest took place. From 1946 to
1948, after the war, Munich once again celebrated only the "Autumn Fest." The
sale of proper Oktoberfest beer was not permitted. The guests had to make due
with beer that had an alcohol content under 2%. Since its beginnings the
Oktoberfest has thus been cancelled 24 times due to war, disease and other
emergencies
Robert & Sean
Oh Ladies... By 1960, the Oktoberfest had turned into an enormous
world-famous festival. The first Japanese, Americans, and New Zealanders
discovered the festival and stumbled with beer mugs alongside Bavarians. They
spread the word of Munich worldwide. After this foreigners began to picture
Germans as wearing the Sennerhut, Lederhosen, and the girls in Dirndl. Horse
races ended in 1960
Making a Stand On September 26, 1980, a bomb explosion near the entrance killed 13 visitors and injured 200 more. The bomb had been placed by a 21-year-old Neo-Nazi who died at the scene. It has been related to Gladio, NATO's secret paramilitary organizations
Shorts
I wonder what they are qeueing for ??? 30% of the year's production of beer by Munich breweries will be consumed in the
two weeks of Oktoberfest.
Whose dressed to kill here! There are many problems every year with young people, who overestimate their
ability to handle large amounts of alcohol. Many pass out due to drunkenness.
These especially drunk patrons are often called "Bierleichen" (German for
"beercorpses"). They are brought by staff to a medical tent where drunks as well
as sick people are treated
Bavaria-Statue above the TheresienwieseSince 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. Johann Baptist Stiglmaier and Ferdinand von Miller made the statue. In 1853, the Bavarian Ruhmeshalle was finished
If you have ever been on a session with Smithy... you will have seen this stance many times before!
Big Wheels
Illegal Alien
Goodbye to Oktoberfest 2006, see you again next year... and the year after... and the year after...
Post Fest Beer with Smithy at Paulaner Brauhaus
Mind your step
Lovebirds
Goodnight Munich
The Day Before the Night Before...
Cailan at the Hofgarten
Concerto
Cailan and Korina
Marienplatz
All things Bavarian... Korina having here shoes cleaned by some Traditional Bavarian Males... ...Gosh and look at those Gal's too!
Resting after some Mind Games
Departure to Italy from Munich Airport
Is this the NEW A0 Audi ???
All photographs were taken in Munich - Germany from the
22nd to 24th September 2006. |
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