10.08.2021 |
Oktoberfest was first celebrated during the month of October. However, these days the festival is celebrated the last two weeks of September, primarily due to better weather conditions. Around 12 million people make the trip to Munich, Germany, the location of the first ever Oktoberfest to celebrate and drink traditional German beers. Although Munich is the capital of the celebration, cities around the world host their own celebrations featuring traditional German food, attire, games, and most notably, crisp lager beers. Today we’ll go through a brief history lesson to learn how this cultural phenomenon all began.
Off To The Races
The first ever Oktoberfest took place on October 12, 1810 as part of a celebration for the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. Looking to celebrate in a different manner, a member of the Bavarian National Guard had the idea to kick off the wedding with horse races. The citizens of Bavaria were invited to the reception held at Theresienwiese, named in honor of the princess.
The event was so successful that locals decided to bring it back the following year without the wedding. As the years followed, the city started funding the event and organizing events as a way to promote the Bavarian economy. With this an agricultural fair, carnival, food tents, and beer halls were established. Today, the popularity of the festival has overhauled the globe.
Oktoberfest in Chicago (and at home)
Two-hundred and eleven years later, Oktoberfest celebrations are hosted throughout different cities in the world at a smaller scale. In Chicago, the most popular Bavarian celebration takes place at the St. Alphonsus church in Lake View, Chicago. Following the Bavarian tradition, the celebration takes place on the last weekend of September particularly due to better weather. Although you might have missed out on it this year, you can still try some of the traditional beers and food that are served at the event.
To get the full Munich Oktoberfest experience, make sure to try the Paulaner Oktoberfest and Hofbräu Oktoberfest beers. These are by far the most popular beers served at the actual event. In fact, Paulaner has served their famous beverage at every Oktoberfest since 1818. Accompany one of these with a traditional German recipe for roasted chicken, pork, sausages, and pretzels and you’ll have your own Oktoberfest festivity at home. Revolution Brewing Oktoberfest Lager is another awesome choice for those looking for a local brewer making German-style lager.
We hope you were able to gain more insight into the history of Oktoberfest. It may be a little confusing at first that it is celebrated in September rather than October but with some historical context it makes sense. Let us know what your favorite Oktoberfest dish and beer is below!
