The Meadow

It’s the world’s most famous beerfest. And it used to be strictly Munich. In recent years, though, in the first weeks of autumn, shop windows all over Germany have been displaying an increasingly higher number of traditional Bavarian costumes. What is this Oktoberfestisation?

I must admit I’m writing as something of an outsider, as I’ve personally never attended the jolly celebration which calls itself die Wies’n (‘the meadow’). It sounds very similar to Cologne Carnival: throngs of people dress up and get drunk, and there’s music and dancing and fun and everybody is BFF with everybody else. And the media only ever show you the Schnapsleichen, those who overdid it and passed out in the street.

In fact, the two festivals are rather compatible. I became BFF for a day with many a Bavarian during carnival. Bavarians think our Kölsch glasses are cute. (Yes, they really do drink out of one-litre [or Maß] glasses!) And we Cologners take quite a fancy to wearing Dirndls and Lederhosen. Be warned, though, fellow citizens of Köln! It may offend Bavarians if their traditional outfits are misappropriated for use as silly carnival costumes. (Yes, I’ve been told off in the past. Shame on me!)

When I asked him if he was planning to visit this year’s Oktoberfest, a colleague based in Munich told me that he would probably end up going perhaps just one night because he was so busy. And what is more, he explained, one had to avoid the Italian weekend (one specific Oktoberfest weekend notorious for having half of Italy visit). Sounds just like carnival. When you live in Cologne (also the name of an excellent micro blog making spot-on contributions to the subject, by the way), you tend to take the big crazy celebrations for granted and not go out every single night like you used to as a student.

What we don’t get about Oktoberfest is that it starts in September. I’m sure there’s a good reason to do with tradition and that the people of Munich are tired of responding to this remark – so let’s leave it at that.

However, as you may or may not know, the perfect symbiosis of Cologne and Munich partying tradition has for a while now been distilled into the 1. Kölner Oktoberfest by one of the city’s large breweries Gaffel (with the tag line ‘… but with real beer!’, meaning Kölsch as opposed to Bavarian beer). What more can you wish for?

And speaking of Köln, if you native speakers of non-German and non-Scandinavian languages think the Umlaut is difficult, hear more about another type of dots next week.

Finally, allow me a personal remark: unbelievably, this blog/podcast will be one year old on 1st October! Thank you to all you lovely and devoted readers and listeners for your support, comments, suggestions and encouragement. It’s been an exciting year, and I look forward to many more!

The Pommes Buddha says: Party on, Wayne! Party on, Garth!

Listen to this text as a podcast episode:

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