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The History of Oktoberfest: From Royal Wedding to Worldwide Celebration
July 10, 2023
Discover the history of Oktoberfest, the renowned beer festival held annually in Munich, Germany. From its origins rooted in a royal wedding to its extraordinary global prominence, Oktoberfest stands as an iconic cultural celebration. Join us as we dive into the key milestones that have shaped this remarkable event.
The Birth of Oktoberfest
The inaugural Oktoberfest emerged in 1810 from the grand celebrations of the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. This vibrant celebration took place on the grounds known as Theresienwiese and was concluded after five days with a horse race on the open grounds.
Evolution and Challenges
The following year an agricultural fair was added with booths serving food and drink being introduced. As time passed, Oktoberfest experienced remarkable changes. By the late 20th century, the booths had transformed into expansive beer halls crafted from wood, complete with internal balconies and bandstands.
Traditional Elements of Oktoberfest
Since 1950, the festival has always been opened with the same traditional procedure. It’s customary for the mayor to kick off Oktoberfest by tapping the first keg in the Schottenhamel tent and crying out ‘O’zapft is’!
Traditional Bavarian music reverberates through the festival grounds, infusing the atmosphere with rhythm. Of course, central to Oktoberfest are the magnificent beer tents which play host to the world-famous Bavarian brews, crafted under the festivals strict regulations. Only beer from 6 Munich breweries may be served at Oktoberfest, which are all brewed within the Munich city limits and in accordance with the Purity Law.
Today, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival, drawing around 6 million visitors each year. Bring the atmosphere of Oktoberfest straight to your bar with authentic Oktoberfest beer supplied by us, Cave Direct.
