29 September 2013. A Photo Essay. From the Russian Web… It’s the 180th Oktoberfest in München!

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It’s a beer marathon! This weekend Mayor Christian Ude of München opened the first keg of beer with the traditional “O’zapft is!” (“It’s uncorked, now!”). Every year, this ritual starts Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival. This year, it’s the 180th such party in the Bavarian capital. For 16 days, the partiers will guzzle special Oktoberfest beer in litre mugs served by buxom barmaids. This time around, there’s some ouch… the beer went up in price from 9.40 Euros (410 Roubles. 12.75 USD. 13.10 CAD. 13.65 AUD. 7.90 UK Pounds) per stein to 9.85 Euros (430 Roubles. 13.35 USD. 13.75 CAD. 14.30 AUD. 8.25 UK Pounds).

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30 September 2012. A Point to Ponder… I’ll Drink to That!

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You can always tell the terminally-earnest… they’re the ones who give you a lecture if you offer them a beer…

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25 September 2012. From the Russian Web… Oktoberfest! Let the Good Times Roll!

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I saw this image on one of my fave Russian sites… and it led to another lightning flash of inspiration. The German is translated in the title above. Oh, yes… do save a litre or two for me…

BMD

23 September 2012. RIA-Novosti Infographics. A River of Beer at Oktoberfest

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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

http://en.ria.ru/infographics/20120921/175932784.html