10 interesting facts about Oktoberfest

Do you think you know everything about Oktoberfest? Here are 10 facts that you probably didn’t know!

Oktoberfest is almost upon us and everyone is ready to fill their bellies with a good mug of Bavarian craft beer and a frankfurter with freshly-made sauerkraut.

Oktoberfest is famous for its beer which is, in fact, the true protagonist of the whole festival. But what would you think if we told you that, in reality, the origin of the festival has nothing to do with beer?

Actually, there wasn’t even a trace of beer at the original festival!

This is only one of the 10 interesting facts about Oktoberfest that we have decided to reveal to you today, are you ready?

1. OKTOBERFEST WAS NOT INITIALLY A FESTIVAL OF BEER

The first celebration of Oktoberfest was in honour of the marriage between the Prince of Bavaria, Ludwig, with the Princess Teresa von Sachsen-Hidburghausen. The celebration was a kind of wedding banquet combined with a horse race (which was then replaced with the introduction of the master brewers)

2. YOU CANNOT DRINK WITHOUT HAVING PERMISSION FIRST

One true fact about Oktoberfest is that you cannot begin to drink without permission. The festival begins with the shout “O’zapft is”, which means ”it’s tapped”, and it is announced by the mayor after the opening of the first beer stem.

3. EVEN EINSTEIN WENT TO OKTOBERFEST

Yes, even Einstein went to Oktoberfest, but not to drink beer. In fact, in 1896, he worked at Oktoberfest as an electrician and he also helped with the construction of a marquee.

Photo Credit: John Solaro (sooolaro) via Flikr.com

4. THE TRUE NAME OF OKTOBERFEST

The locals do not call the festival Oktoberfest, they call it Wiesn, which derives from the name of the place where the festival is held: Theresienwiese.

5. IT DOES NOT BEGIN IN OCTOBER

The festival is called Oktoberfest but it begins in September… have you ever noticed? This is because the marriage between the prince of Bavaria Ludwig and the princess Teresa von Sachsen-Hildburghausen took place on October 12th 1810, but in 1876 a particularly cold autumn was foreseen and the Bavarians decided to commemorate the occasion in September.

6. PARIS HILTON CANNOT GO TO OKTOBERFEST

Paris Hilton cannot enter Oktoberfest, she was banned in 2006 after trying to sponsor a brand of wine without permission while dressed in typical Bavarian attire.

7. THE BEER AT OKTOBERFEST IS STRONGER

The Oktoberfest beer has a medium gradation of 6.5%, definitely higher than the beer that we are used to drinking normally, which is why there is a Red Cross tent at the festival!

8. THERE IS ALSO A POST OFFICE

Oktoberfest has its own post office inside the festival from which thousands of postcards are sent every year.

9. STRANGE LOST OBJECTS

Every year around 4000 items are lost including passports, wallets, cell phones, jackets and even dentures and hearing aids!

10. THE BAVARIAN HAT

The Tirolerhüte, which is the typical Bavarian hat, once indicated the wealth of the person who wore it. The more tufts of goat hair on the hat, the higher the rank!

If you still have to book your hostel for Oktoberfest, you can do it here: