By Pasquale Gianni
In Germany, Oktoberfest spans three weeks and has millions of people attending. Courtesy of Caroline Lebranti.
Ben Franklin once said, “beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” If beer is the formula for happiness, then Oktoberfest is the place where that happiness can be fully realized at the table of brotherhood and celebration. The experience is truly memorable and off the charts. And somehow, much to my own surprise, I was able to see a lot of Munich as well. I hadn’t prepared myself for how wonderful it would be, and I left with appreciation for this jewel of Bavaria.
Oktoberfest is a celebration that traces back to Oct. 12, 1810, where a weeklong feast was held in order to honor the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, and it has been a tradition ever since. Why the bulk of the festival now takes place in September is an awkward question to ask the locals, but the best explanation has to do with the weather, which is much more conducive to outdoor beer-garden fun without getting the chills. Nevertheless, whether you go in September or the beginning of October, it’s remarkable. To this day, my grandfather, who served in the U.S. Army, cherishes the memory of his Oktoberfest experience in 1957. Well, almost 60 years later, I am here to attest to the timelessness of this joyous annual feast.
The traditional costumes worn by locals consist of lederhosen with suspenders and a button up shirt for men, and dirndls meant to purposefully show quite a bit of cleavage for the women. They are a must, because the guy showing up in jeans and a soccer jersey is guaranteed to get some unwanted stares. The food is delicious: sausages, roasted chicken, schnitzel and kaese spaetzle (a German homemade pasta cooked with beer, onion and cheese). Then, of course, there’s the beer. Italy is known for wine, Russia, vodka and Germany, beer. This is the kind of fair that will leave you never reaching for a Budweiser again. Just like most things German, the beer is made to perfection – smooth, balanced and full of hops and flavor. At the festival, each beer has its own tent, but getting there early in the day is a must in order to secure a spot, because latecomers on a Saturday could be waiting for hours to get inside, let alone a seat at a table.
The only thing more enjoyable than the beer may have been the camaraderie. Everyone was warm, welcoming and spirited, all in the name of a good celebration. As they say, “Prost!” – a meaningful personal toast aimed at the heart which is followed by a hearty clink of the one-liter beer mugs in an almost purposeful effort to spill a bit. Be ready for lots of them!
Two days at Oktoberfest is plenty, so a three and a half day trip left me with some free time to explore the city. Although it might be safe to say that Munich is not as aesthetically beautiful as Rome or Paris, it is charming in its very own way, and the efficiency of just about everything is astonishing. The trains are sleek, modern, fast and frequent. Even the escalators function on a motion-sensored basis in order to save energy. Marienplatz, the city center since 1158, was teeming with shops, cafés and historical sights. Here, one can climb the steps at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church for just one euro and catch some of the more spectacular views of the city.
I will now also tuck this experience in my heart for the rest of my life, just as my grandfather has done for all these years. Make it a point to go to Oktoberfest, because it is a noisy and happy testament to mutual sharing and celebration, and you too will have the opportunity to live exhilarating moments and create memories to cherish forever. Prost!
