The biggest drinking party in the world. The biggest folk festival in the world! Festival of Lights in Japan
The 181st Oktoberfest 2014 has begun in Munich - the largest folk festival in the world, which will last 16 days, it will be visited by more than 6 million people, while the price of a liter mug reaches € 10.67 (~ 530 rubles, last year - € 9.66 and 415 rubles).
According to tradition, it was opened by the mayor of Munich: at noon, after a salvo of 12 artillery pieces, he hit the first keg of beer with a mallet and knocked the plug out of it with the traditional cry “O`zapft is!” - translated from the Bavarian dialect as “Open!”, but is perceived by everyone as “Pour!”
1. As a rule, Oktoberfest begins in September for rational reasons: the weather in Germany at this time is better, and the nights are not so cold. 
2. Over 16 days, the festival will be visited by more than 6 million people, and 1 million beers were drunk during the opening weekend alone, according to the organizers. 
3. Knocking the plug out of the first beer barrel by the current mayor of Munich takes place exactly at 12:00 under the gun of cameras. This action is performed with the characteristic exclamation “O’zapft is!”, which means “Open!”
The first mug is the most honorable. Oktoberfest 2014, September 20. 
4. The waitresses demonstrate miracles of dexterity and carry 10 or more mugs at a time. By the way, the mugs are liter. 
5. Oktoberfest is not just about drinking, there are a large number of attractions - from carousels, which you can ride for more than 80 years, to ultra-modern structures like carousels or roller coasters. 
6. Real Bavarians are colorful personalities, September 21, 2014. 
7. Gingerbread. Munich September 20, 2014. 
8. The Oktoberfest beer festival was first held in 1810 in honor of the wedding of Crown Prince and future King of Bavaria Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Wedding celebrations were celebrated for 5 days with parades, fireworks, music and a wide feast. The first carousel appeared at Oktoberfest in 1818, and the first beer tent appeared in 1867.
Oktoberfest features the world's tallest mobile free fall simulation tower. The height of the tower is 66 meters, and the falling speed is more than 79 km/h. 
9. Munich Oktoberfest is held in a special area called Teresa's Meadow, which is located in the center of Munich, near the Main Station. There are 14 beer pavilions and a total of about 100 thousand seats on Teresa's Meadow. The largest pavilion has been the famous Hofbräu for many years - 10,000 seats, including beer gardens adjacent to the pavilion. 
10. In accordance with the Oktoberfest rules, only Munich beer brewed in accordance with the Munich Beer Purity Law of 1487 and the German Beer Purity Law of 1516 can be poured at the festival. 14 large and 15 small tents are open to visitors. 
11. Fried chicken is very popular as a beer snack. About 500,000 of them are eaten per festival. 
12. Of the 180-year history of Oktoberfest, there were 24 years when this festival was not held: the war and early post-war years, as well as during the cholera epidemics in 1854 and 1873. 
13. The main drink of the holiday is specially brewed Oktoberfest beer, which can only be purchased at this time of year. It is aged longer than regular light beer, has a distinct malt flavor and an ABV of 5.8 to 6.3%. 
14. Tired on the lawn in Munich. According to statistics, everyone who attends Oktoberfest will drink 1.33 liter glasses of beer. This is on average. Surely someone comes just to watch various parades and visit attractions, while others drink beer for five. 
15. The area of Teresa's meadow, where it passes, is 26 hectares. About 70% of visitors are residents of Bavaria. There are a lot of visitors from Italy and other members of the European Union, as well as from the USA, Japan, and Australia. In recent years, residents of Russia and other countries of the former USSR have been coming. 
16. Many German families attend Oktoberfest with only their children. After all, the festival is not only about beer. There is a special day during Oktoberfest - every Tuesday from 14:00 to 18:00 - when there are discounts for children on all events and attractions. 
17. One of the problems of modern Oktoberfest is the excessive consumption of alcohol, in particular, that brought to the festival by its visitors. This problem especially affects young people, who are often not ready to buy fairly expensive beer and prefer to bring inexpensive and strong alcoholic drinks with them. The result of excessive alcohol consumption is the so-called “beer corpses”. They are collected into a Red Cross tent and brought to their senses there. 
18. Another attraction. This year's Oktoberfest 2014 opened on September 20th. 
19. 
20. Passage to the Ferris wheel. 
21. In recent years, theft of beer mugs (which is a criminal offense) has become such a big deal that it can already be called the most popular sport at Oktoberfest. For this reason, security personnel can check any suspicious visitors to see if they have taken mugs from the tents. In 2004, 210,000 mug thefts were prevented in this way. 
22. This was a report from Oktoberfest 2014 - the largest folk festival in the world. 
According to tradition, it was opened by the mayor of Munich: at noon, after a salvo of 12 artillery pieces, he hit the first keg of beer with a mallet and knocked the plug out of it with the traditional cry “O`zapft is!” - translated from the Bavarian dialect as “Open!”, but is perceived by everyone as “Pour!”
This year, the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival will be visited by about 6 million people coming to Munich from all over Germany, as well as from other countries. In 17 days, 6 million liters of beer will be drunk here and 500,000 fried chicken will be eaten, while the price of a liter mug reaches € 9.20 (~ 390 rubles).
Oktoberfest begins in September solely for practical reasons: the weather in Germany at this time is better, and the nights are not so cold.
Oktoberfest first took place in 1810 in honor of the wedding of Crown Prince and future King of Bavaria Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. According to a high decree, wedding celebrations had to be celebrated for 5 days with parades, fireworks, music and a wide feast. The first carousel appeared at Oktoberfest in 1818, and the first beer tent appeared in 1867.
The lion sculpture is the logo of the Lowenbrau brewery (German: Lion Brewery). This is one of the oldest beer brands from Bavaria. (Photo by Christof Stache | AFP | Getty Images):
In fact, Oktoberfest is not only a celebration of beer, but also of Bavarian girls in traditional dirndl dresses. (Photo by Alexandra Beier | Getty Images):
Of the almost 180-year history of Oktoberfest, there were 24 years when this festival was not held: the war and early post-war years, as well as during the cholera epidemics in 1854 and 1873.
Well, this is the largest mug of beer in the world with a height of 7 meters. It was installed in one of the 14 beer tents at the festival, it rotates and is illuminated from the inside. (Photo by Norbert Millauer | AP):
Beer isn't the only thing consumed at Oktoberfest. These are, for example, gingerbread cookies.
During Oktoberfest there is a carnival of costumes, military bands and a parade of riflemen in historical uniforms. This is one of the best and brightest manifestations of Bavarian culture and tradition. Equestrians on thoroughbred horses also take part in the procession. (Photo by Michaela Rehle | Reuters):
The Munich Oktoberfest is held in a special area called Theresa Meadow, which is located in the center of Munich, near the Main Station. (Photo by Alexandra Beier | Getty Images):
On the northern side of Theresa Meadow is the Munich metro station of the same name. (Photo by Joerg Koch | AP):
There are 14 beer pavilions and a total of about 100 thousand seats on Teresa's Meadow. The largest pavilion has been the famous Hofbräu for many years - 10,000 seats, including beer gardens adjacent to the pavilion. (Photo by Johannes Simon | Getty Images):
A giant Ferris wheel with the Alps in the background, September 17, 2011. The Ferris wheel first appeared at Oktoberfest in 1880 and was 12 meters high. Since 1978, it has been 50 meters high and its capacity has increased to 192 people. In sunny weather you can see the Alps from here. (Photo by Johannes Simon | Getty Images):
The tapping of the first beer barrel by the current mayor of Munich takes place exactly at 12:00. This action is performed with the characteristic exclamation “O’zapft is!”, which means “Open!” After this, Oktoberfest begins, Saturday, September 17, 2011. (Photo by Joerg Koch | AP):
The first liter mug of beer is free. There is a special excitement around her. The price of a liter of beer at Oktoberfest usually increases every year. So, in 2007 it ranged from €7.30 to €7.90, in 2008 from €7.80 to €8.30, and in 2011 the price of a liter mug reached €9.20 (~ 390 rubles). (Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach | Reuters):
The first day of the Oktoberfest festival is traditionally Saturday, and the duration of the beer festival this year is 17 days. (Photo by Lukas Barth | AP):
The main drink of the holiday is specially brewed Oktoberfest beer, which can only be tasted at this time of year. It is aged longer than regular light beer and has a distinct malt flavor. The strength is usually from 5.8 to 6.3%. (Photo by Matthias Schrader | AP):
During the 17 days of Oktoberfest, approximately 6 million visitors will drink more than 6 million liters of beer. (Photo by Matthias Schrader | AP):
(Photo by Matthias Schrader | AP):
The waitresses demonstrate true skill by carrying 12 mugs of beer at a time. (Photo by Matthias Schrader | AP):
The largest beer tent at Oktoberfest is the Hofbräuhaus brewery tent, which has 6,518 seats, 1,000 standing places inside, and an additional 3,022 seats in the garden. Today it is the most popular beer tent among tourists and celebrities. Well, in the photo is the Hacker-Festzelt tent, which has 6,950 seats, 2,400 standing places inside. Don't overcrowd. (Photo by Michael Dalder | Reuters):
Fried chicken is very popular as a beer snack. About 500,000 of them will be eaten at Oktoberfest this year. Traditional dishes include huge pretzels, Munich sausages, pork butts, spit-roasted oxen and baked fish on a stick. (Photo by Johannes Simon | Getty Images):
If you don't have space in the beer tent, you can sit on the lawn. This is what most locals do when they have nice family picnics. The festival has a large number of attractions - from carousels, which you can ride for more than 80 years, to ultra-modern structures like roller coasters. (Photo by Michael Dalder | Reuters):
(Photo by Matthias Schrader | AP):
Many German families attend Oktoberfest only with their children. After all, the festival is not only about beer. There is a special day during Oktoberfest - every Tuesday from 14:00 to 18:00 - when there are discounts for children on all events and attractions. Oktoberfest features the world's tallest mobile free fall simulation tower. The height of the tower is 66 meters, and the falling speed is more than 79 km/h. (Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach | Rueters):
The total area of Theresa Meadow, where Oktoberfest takes place, is 27 hectares. This holiday is visited by many tourists, but still about 70% of visitors are residents of Bavaria. (Photo by Matthias Schrader | AP):
Since 1950, Oktoberfest has held a costume parade, which is one of the most important events of the beer festival, as well as one of the largest processions of its kind in the world. On the first Sunday of the holiday, about 8,000 people, dressed in historical and national costumes, take part in the parade, Munich, September 18, 2011. (Photo by Michaela Rehle | Reuters):
The main participant in the events. (Photo by Michael Dalder | Reuters):
Gingerbread cookies in the shape of hearts. (Christof Stache | AFP | Getty Images):
The volume of beer sold in a mug should not differ from 1 liter by more than a tenth. Compliance with this rule is monitored by a special German society. (Photo by Matthias Schrader | AP):
Only 6 breweries have the right to take part in the holiday - Spaten, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hakker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus and the “lion” brewery Lowenbrau. (Photo by Joerg Koch | AP):
Even the dogs at Oktoberfest are dressed in traditional clothes. (Photo by Matthias Schrader | AP):
Beer mug fights happen at Oktoberfest. So, on the opening day of the festival on Saturday, September 17, one drunk 17-year-old girl threw her beer mug at her neighbor. In another tent, a 35-year-old man hit his opponent with a mug. Both victims of the attacks were hospitalized. In 2010, 62 beer mug fights were recorded at Oktoberfest. Well, those who are especially tired can lie down on the lawn. (Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach | Reuters):
A few more facts about Oktoberfest. The main beer festival in the world employs more than 12,000 people. Oktoberfest's turnover is more than half a billion euros. (Photo by Lukas Barth | AP):
Swing-carousel. (Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach | Reuters):
Night Oktoberfest. (Photo by Christof Stache | AFP | Getty Images):
There's something for everyone at Oktoberfest, the world's largest folk festival. (Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach | Reuters):
On July 20, the next Oktoberfest meeting was held, at which it was decided that the beer festival would be held in Munich for the 173rd time from September 16 to October 3, 2006. Oktoberfest is the most democratic, noisiest and most popular holiday in Germany.
Currently, it is the world's largest “beer festival”; about six million beer lovers from all over the world visit it annually.
This grandiose holiday dates back to October 12, 1810, when Prince Ludwig I (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Theresa of Saxony were married. The people of Munich were invited to the wedding celebration, which was held in the meadows opposite the city gates. At the end of the holiday, horse racing took place, which was sure to be repeated next year.
Subsequently, in 1850, in honor of this holiday, a statue of Bavaria was unveiled, which became a kind of “overseer” of the October festivities. And in 1881, a chicken fryer appeared at the festival for the first time. Since then, it is impossible to imagine Oktoberfest without traditional ones.
In 1892, beer was first sold in glass liter mugs, and in 1896 beer tents and fortresses were built.
The First and Second World Wars brought a forced break to the fun in the meadows. But with the advent of peace, the tradition was invariably renewed.
In 1957, because of this holiday, parliamentary elections were even postponed by a week: politicians waited for the people to catch up.
Every year (this year on September 16), at exactly noon, the mayor of the city uncorks the first keg of beer and utters the traditional phrase: “O`zapft is!” This moment is considered the official opening of the holiday.
This is an incredibly beautiful sight. Festively decorated carriages and carts with beer from all regions of Germany and especially from Bavaria drive past the gathered crowd of thousands. This procession is traditionally led by the "Munchner Kindi" - a young girl riding a decorated horse with a large bell in her hand. She is dressed in yellow and black monastic robes. Behind her are the festively decorated carriages of the mayor of Munich, the head of the Government of Bavaria and members of the Munich City Council.
The costumed procession has taken to the streets of the capital every year since 1835. The length of the route is 6 km. In this theatrical procession you can see not only residents of Germany, but also guests from Russia, Holland, France, Italy, Portugal, Ukraine, the Baltic States, Belgium and other countries.
This procession heads to Terezin Meadows, where fourteen giant tents have been erected - branches of German beer halls, the number of which does not change.
The total area occupied by this holiday exceeds 30 hectares.
The bulk of the five thousand varieties of German beer are still brewed by monks. For beer lovers, this is truly an indescribable expanse..
In 1999, Oktoberfest was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest beer festival in the world.. That year it was visited by 7 million people, who consumed 5.8 million liters of beer in 11 giant tents set up over an area the size of fifty football fields!
Having long ago gained worldwide recognition, the beer festival is considered the biggest drinking party of the year. And there is hardly a beer lover in Moscow or St. Petersburg who has not heard about this mass celebration.
For reference:
1. This festival features over 200 attractions and concert stages.
2. All tents can accommodate about 100,000 people at a time.
3. The number of service personnel is 12,000 people.
4. About 5 million liters of beer are drunk, 380,000 sausages and 650,000 chickens are eaten.
5. This year, a liter mug of beer will cost from 6.95 to 7.50 euros, table wine (which can also be purchased at the holiday) - 5.5 euros per liter.
The world's largest beer festival opened on Saturday and as soon as the first keg was uncorked, the 16-day extravaganza began. More than six million revelers from around the world will take part in this year's festival, drinking freely of beer in one of 35 giant tents spread across more than 26 hectares of land. You can also sleep on them:
Last year, 8 million two-pint (liter) glasses of beer were consumed by visitors. This year the mug, called "Mass" in Germany, retails for €9.50 (£7.50). They serve special Oktoberfest beer exclusively from Munich breweries:
EPA/FELIX HOERHAGER
Oktoberfest guests last year ate about 500,000 chickens, 120 bulls and thousands of large pretzels:
CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/GettyImages
And it all started completely harmlessly: with a wedding. On October 12, 1810, in honor of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig (future King Ludwig I) and Princess Theresa of Saxony-Hildburghaus (the meadow where the holiday is held is named after her), mass public festivities were tripled. People really liked all this, and they decided to repeat it every year. I’m sure everyone is looking forward to this holiday, probably even more than New Year or Christmas:
REUTERS/Michael Dalder
This year the event will last from September 22 to October 7. This is the 179th Oktoberfest. This photo was probably taken at the very beginning of the celebration, since after drinking enough beer it is no longer so easy to ride on such carousels:
CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/GettyImages
Munich Mayor Christian Uhde shouting “Uncorked!” According to tradition, at exactly noon, the holiday of the Bavarian capital was officially opened by the symbolic driving of a special tap into the barrel:
FRANK LEONHARDT/AFP/GettyImages
View from inside one of the beer tents on the square. Yes, this is truly a massive celebration. Each tent can accommodate up to 10,000 people:
CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/GettyImages
Yarmorochnaya Square is clearly visible from the giant Ferris wheel. And twilight gives an even more bewitching view:
Johannes Simon/Getty Images
For those who in the evening still retained good spirits and body, we invite you to test your vestibular apparatus for strength:
EPA/FELIX HOERHAGER
A couple in traditional Bavarian clothes kisses against a background of heart-shaped holiday gingerbread cookies. Romance, it takes place everywhere:
EPA/KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND
Girls in traditional Polish costumes froze in character at the parade in honor of the opening of the festival. The event brings together people from all corners of our big world:
Johannes Simon/Getty Images
Members of the brass band march victoriously along the road in funny half-socks:
Johannes Simon/Getty Images
There is usually an opening parade through the city. The procession is attended by orchestras, shooting societies, national costume societies and about 40 festively decorated teams. This sweet woman is just taking part in it. And I am incredibly happy about this event:
Matthias Schrader/AP
An artist with a painted face jumps like a real acrobat in a circus. And this is just a parade of costumes. But I'm sure he attracted a lot of attention to himself:
EPA/ANDREAS GEBERT
Another health test. But it seems there is no end to those who want to ride. Almost all places are occupied:
Joerg Koch/AP
It may seem like a painted picture of ball lightning or a looping rainbow. But these are the skillful hands of the photographer or not quite skillful ones, who knows... It turned out beautifully:
Johannes Simon/Getty Images
Here's someone taking a time out and sleeping right on Terezin Meadow:
CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/GettyImages
No Moscow metro, even at rush hour, can compare with the number of people who attend Oktoberfest. So, when you enter the subway in the morning, remember this photo and you will feel better:
Johannes Simon/Getty Images
Some people don’t even part with beer in their sleep:
Matthias Schrader/AP
A little girl takes part in the Oktoberfest parade. She still doesn’t quite realize all the delights of this event:
Matthias Schrader/AP
Even the Munich rain that overtook the revelers on September 22 cannot restrain the desire to enjoy beer and the festive atmosphere. Thanks to whoever invented the umbrella:
Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
Matthias Schrader/Associated Press
And finally, an excitingly beautiful shot from above. Even at night, when the lights have long gone out in the houses, life is in full swing here, beer is flowing, and adrenaline is rising:
author unknown
On September 17, 2011, the largest folk festival in the world, the famous beer festival Oktoberfest, started in Munich.
Every year up to 6 million guests from all over the world come to Oktoberfest. The holiday lasts no less than 16 days, so only the most persistent beer lovers stay here until the end.
True, for those who do not particularly appreciate the foamy drink that made Germany famous, there will be entertainment at Oktoberfest.
But first, a short excursion into history. The first Oktoberfest took place on October 12, 1810 in honor of the wedding of Crown Prince and future King Ludwig and Princess Theresa of Saxony-Hildburghaus, after whom the meadow where Oktoberfest is held to this day is named.
Since 1819, it was decided to hold Oktoberfest every year. Since then, this has been the case, exceptions were made only during war years, when neither the state nor ordinary citizens had time for holidays and fun.
The cold October weather was not very conducive to the holiday, so in 1872 it was decided to hold Oktoberfest at the end of September - beginning of October, when it was “Indian summer” in Europe. The holiday was postponed with the condition that the last Sunday of the holiday would fall in October. Since then, this has been the case, and taking these requirements into account, the first day of Oktoberfest is set.
The holiday began to acquire its grandiose scope at the end of the 19th century, when the first traders of fried chicken and other foods appeared, and beer began to be poured into traditional glass liter mugs, which have survived unchanged to this day. Every year, the Oktoberfest organizers came up with more and more new attractions and entertainment that attracted more and more visitors.
In 1950, Mayor Thomas Wimmer proposed to begin the celebrations with twelve cannon shots into the sky and the uncorking of the first barrel of traditional Oktoberfest beer. True, the first time the mayor had to make 19 blows to open the barrel.
The sixties of the twentieth century made Oktoberfest a real international holiday. Tourists from all over the world flocked to Munich to take part. True, not only tourists came here, but also terrorists. For example, in 1980, a terrorist attack at the entrance to Oktoberfest killed 13 and injured more than 200 visitors. But even this tragedy did not cause the holiday to be cancelled.
Oktoberfest is famous not only and not so much for its famous strong beer, which is specially brewed by all the country's brewers, but also for various processions and events. Apart from the aforementioned ritual of uncorking the first barrel, it is impossible to imagine Oktoberfest without a procession of beer tent owners.
This procession is led by the mayor of Munich and the symbol of the city - a small child. They are followed by orchestras that will play in beer tents, and the brewers themselves, carrying huge barrels of their beer on carts.
After the procession of brewers, there is a ritual of knocking the cork out of the first barrel. All festival guests are watching with interest how many blows the current mayor will need to uncork the barrel. This year, Christian Uhde was able to do it on the second hit, just short of his own record from 2006, when he was able to open the barrel with just one hit.
Another important ritual of Oktoberfest is the costume parade, which is one of the largest processions in the world. On the first Sunday of the holiday, thousands of people dressed in costumes walk along the route from the Bavarian parliament building to Theresa's Meadow.
By the way, Oktoberfest visitors are also recommended to dress up in traditional Bavarian costumes. For girls, this is a Dirndl - a dress with a deep neckline, an apron and a cape, and for men - leather short pants with bristles, a white shirt, knee socks, boots and, of course, a Bavarian cap with a feather.
However, the main attractions of the holiday are the beer tents, without which, in fact, there would be no Oktoberfest. These tents are truly huge, sometimes accommodating up to 10 thousand people at a time. As already mentioned, each brewery considers it its duty to present its products at the festival, so listing them all would be a long task. Let's focus only on the most iconic beer tents of the festival.
The Augustiner-Bräu tent is famous for the fact that it still pours beer from real wooden barrels, while other brewers have switched to metal barrels lined with wood.
The Hofbräu-Festzelt brewery can rightfully be proud of the festival's largest tent. This huge tent, whose area reaches 7 thousand square meters, can accommodate 10 thousand people at a time. During the two weeks of the festival, 550,000 liters of beer are drunk here, 70,000 chickens, 5,500 pigs and 8,500 portions of pork sausages are eaten. In addition, the Hofbräu-Festzelt tent is the most popular among foreign guests.
In addition to these two, the festival has 12 more beer tents that can accommodate more than a thousand people, and a huge number of smaller tents.
In addition to beer and food, Oktoberfest offers other entertainment. All kinds of attractions are installed on the festival grounds, ranging from small carousels to giant roller coasters and a Ferris wheel.
