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Every year, the legendary Oktoberfest festival in München attracts millions of tourists. However, the locals call it the Wies’n, which in the Bavarian dialect means “meadow”. That isn’t surprising… traditionally, the venue of the festivities is a special area in the city centre called the Theresienwiese.
The history of Oktoberfest dates back to the 19th century, when the first festival honoured the wedding on 10 October 1810 of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Thérèse of Saxe-Hildburghausen, after whom the meadow where the modern event is held is named. Later, due to the peculiarities of weather in München, the authorities decided to change the date of the traditional celebration to the end of September. However, of necessity, the last Sunday of Oktoberfest must take place in October. The locals have strictly honoured this tradition up to our day. The modern Oktoberfest lasts 16 days. Each year, not less than 6 million visitors visit this colourful event, and München brewers brew up special Oktoberfest Beer for the holiday, with an alcohol content of 5.8 to 6.3 percent. If there’s no such beer, well, there can’t be a festival.
21 September 2012
RIA-Novosti
Voices from Russia 
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