Oktoberfest Over the Centuries

Oktoberfest is an annual festival celebrated with German beer, live music and sausages. The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 and looked very different from what we see around the world today. There were no beer tents or fairground rides, but rather horse races and royalty.

History Professor Dr. Micheal O’Sullivan focuses much of his research on modern Germany and offers some clarification on common misconceptions about Oktoberfest. 

“It is a regional festival. Oktoberfest is not celebrated outside of Bavaria,” said Dr. O’Sullivan. Bavaria comprises the entire southeast portion of Germany and is home to lederhosen, German beers, the Alps and, of course, Oktoberfest. Munich is the largest city in Bavaria and the birthplace of Oktoberfest. Dr. O’Sullivan lived in the northwest region of Germany where Oktoberfest was not celebrated. 

“Carnival, which takes place from February to March, is one of the largest festivals in Cologne,” said Dr. O’Sullivan. A prevalent mixup is that Oktoberfest is celebrated throughout the whole country when, in reality, Germany is a regional country, each with its specific customs and traditions. 

 “Oktoberfest is named for when it ends, the first Sunday in October,” said Dr. O’Sullivan. While named after October, most of the festival actually occurs in September, celebrated from mid-September to the first Sunday in October.

Oktoberfest has a deep-rooted history in Bavarian culture. The first Oktoberfest was a royal wedding celebration.

“It started when King Ludwig married Queen Teresa,” Dr. O’Sullivan explained. All citizens of Munich were invited to celebrate the newlyweds with a feast and horse races. It was such a great success that Oktoberfest became an annual tradition in Munich. The second Oktoberfest in 1811 was used as a way to promote agriculture and the Bavarian economy. 

“It really became internationally recognized after the 100th anniversary,” said Dr. O’Sullivan. The 100th anniversary of Oktoberfest was celebrated with 120,000 liters of beer, a record for the time. After 1910 Oktoberfest transformed into what we know it to be today. On average, six million people attend the festival and two million gallons of beer are consumed each year in Munich. Oct. 3 is the public holiday that attracts big crowds of visitors. 

While the traditional Oktoberfest is celebrated in Germany, there are local celebrations throughout the United States. Local Oktoberfests are a way for German Americans to connect with their heritage. The Hudson Valley is home to a variety of Oktoberfests ranging from one-day to week-long celebrations. 

Oktoberfest photo creds: Greenville Daily Photo, Flickr