Cinco de Mayo

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Not to put a damper on the festivities, but Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that is in fact more beloved by Americans than Mexicans.

As is the Octoberfest a much bigger event in the US than it is in Germany. Heck, most of Germany (all of it if one considers that Bavaria is not really German to begin with) doesn't even do an Octoberfest.

but someone had to bring the celebrations with them in the first place....

Not necessarily. Maybe some silly folk just happened to travel to munich in October, got hammered and thought: Hey, that was fun! Let's do that at home, too.

ok, whatever....y'all just want to be cynical on ethnic celebrations... that's fine, to each their own.

Please. The Octoberfest is NOT an ethnic celebration. The only one in Germany that I am aware of is the one in Munich. That's it. The Octoberfest is about as German as the Lederhosen (which are traditionally worn in parts of Bavaria only as well). There's nothing German about the Octoberfest. I never go to any of them around here either.

What! You mean to tell me that National Lampoon's European Vacation was all a lie? Next somebody will be telling me that English television consists of more than documentaries on cheese.

Sorry for bursting that bubble.

[Marilyn. 340]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest (lit. October Festival) is a two-week festival held each year in Munich (München), Bavaria, Germany, during late September and early October. It is one of the most famous events in the city and the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year. Other cities across the world also hold fairs, modeled after the Munich event, called Oktoberfest.

The first "Oktoberfest" took place on October 12th 1810: For the commemoration of their marriage, Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen (hence: "Theresienwiese") organized a great horse race (the marriage took place on October 12th, the horse race on Oktober 17th, therefore there are different dates named as being the first Oktoberfest).

In the year 1813 the Oktoberfest was called off as Bavaria was involved in the napoleonic war. In 1816, carnival booths appeared. The main prizes were silver, porcelain, and jewelry. In 1819, The town fathers of Munich took over festival management. They decided that the Oktoberfest should be celebrated every year without exception. Later, it was lengthened and the date pushed backward. The reason being that the end of September in Bavaria often has very good weather. The high temperature in the first week of Oktoberfest nears 30° Celsius which stimulates the thirst of the visitors. However, today the last week of Oktoberfest is still in October.

Since 1850 The statue of Bavaria has watched the Oktoberfest. This worldly Bavarian patron was first sketched by Leo von Klenze in a classic style and Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler romanticised and "germanised" the draft. Johann Baptist Stiglmaier and Ferdinand von Miller made the statue. In 1853, the Bavarian Ruhmeshalle was finished.

In 1854 3,000 residents of Munich succumbed to an epidemic of Cholera, so the festival was canceled. Also, in the year 1866, there was no Oktoberfest as Bavaria fought in the Austro-Prussian War. In 1870, the Franco-German war was the reason for concelation of the festival. In 1873, the festival was once more canceled due to a Cholera epidemic. In the year 1880, the city government approved the sale of beer. The electric light illuminated over 400 booths and tents. In 1881, booths selling bratwursts opened. In 1892, beer was first served in glass mugs. At the end of the 1900's, a re-organization took place. Until then, there were games of Kegelen, large dance floors, and trees for climbing in the beer booths. They wanted more room for guests and musicians. The booths became beer halls.

In the year 1910, Oktoberfest celebrated its 100th birthday. 120,000 liters of beer were poured. In 1913, the Bräurosl was founded, which was the largest Oktoberfest beer tent of all time, with room for about 12,000 guests. Today, the biggest tent is the Hofbräu-Festhalle which holds 10,000. From 1914 through 1918, World War I prevented the celebration of Oktoberfest. In 1919 and 1920, the two years after the war, Munich celebrated only an "Autumn Fest." In 1923 and 1924, the Oktoberfest was not held due to inflation. In 1933, the Bavarian white and blue flag was replaced with the standard swastika flag

From 1939 to 1945, due to World War II, no Oktoberfest took place. From 1946 to 1948, after the war, Munich once again celebrated only the "Autumn Fest." The sale of proper Oktoberfest beer was not permitted. The guests had to make due with beer that had an alcohol content under 2%. Since its beginnings the Oktoberfest has thus been canceled 24 times due to war, disease and other emergencies.

Since 1950, there has been a traditional festival opening: A twelve gun salute and the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer at 12:00 by the current Mayor of Munich with the cry "O'zapft is!" opens the Oktoberfest. The first mayor to tap the keg was Thomas Wimmer.

By 1960, the Oktoberfest had turned into an enormous world-famous festival The first Japanese, Americans, and New Zealanders discovered the festival and stumbled with beer mugs alongside Bavarians. They spread the word of Munich worldwide. After this foreigners began to picture germans as wearing the Sennerhut, Lederhosen, and the girls in Dirndl. Horse races ended in 1960.

On September 26, 1980, a bomb explosion near the entrance killed 13 visitors and injured 200 more. The bomb had been placed by a 21-year-old Neo-Nazi who died at the scene. It has been related to Gladio, NATO's secret paramilitary organizations.

There are many problems every year with young people, who overestimate their ability to handle large amounts of alcohol. Many pass out due to drunkenness. These especially drunk patrons are often called "Bierleichen" (German for "beercorpses"). They are brought by staff to a medical tent where drunks as well as sick people are treated.

To make the Oktoberfest, and especially the beer tents, once again friendly to older people and families, the concept of the "quiet Oktoberfest" was developed in 2005. Until 6:00 PM, the tents only play quiet music, for example traditional wind music. Only after that will Schlager and pop music be played, which has led to more violence in earlier years. The music played in the afternoon is limited to 85 decibels. With these measures, the organizers of the Oktoberfest hope to curb the over-the-top party mentality and preserve the traditional beer tent atmosphere.

Oktoberfest in other cities

* The second largest genuine Bavarian festival is the Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing. The festival is similar like Oktoberfest but it has an own history and it is not a copy of the Oktoberfest.

* The largest Oktoberfest outside Germany is Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, held in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, around the time of Canadian Thanksgiving; the twin cities have a large ethnic German population.

* Another large event is in Cincinnati, Ohio; over 500,000 people visited during the 2002 Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati.

* The pseudo-Bavarian village of Leavenworth, WA holds Oktoberfest during the first two weeks in October yearly.

* There is an Oktoberfest in Hannover, Germany, but the larger festival in that city is the Schützenfest Hannover, the largest Schützenfest in the world.

* The Bremer Oktoberfest is known as Freimarkt.

* The town of Wieze, Belgium.

* The city of New Braunfels, Texas also holds an Oktoberfest, as does San Francisco, California, Addison, Texas, Mount Angel, Oregon, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Panama City, Florida, Minster, Ohio, Lake Worth, Florida[1], Frankenmuth, Michigan, Hays, Kansas, Baltimore, Maryland, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Clarksville, Tennessee and the Bavarian-reproduction town of Helen, Georgia.

* A huge Oktoberfest is held in the Brazilian city of Blumenau (more than 600,000 visitors in 2004), and many other Brazilian cities founded by Germans have their own Oktoberfest, such as Santa Cruz do Sul (more than 500,000 visitors in 2004), Rolândia, São José do Cedro, Seara and Itapiranga.

* In Argentina, a town called Villa General Belgrano in the Córdoba Province has an Oktoberfest that is well-known and the biggest in the country.

* In Mexico, in the cities of Puebla, Mexico City, Mazatlan and Tapachula Oktoberfest is celebrated by the descendants of German immigrants in these cities. The largest ones are held in Puebla and Mexico City where the German community is very important and one can hear German music and be delighted by German food and folk dresses. (This surprised me I didn't know there were Germans in Mexico... you learn something new every day)

* In Trondheim, Norway, an Oktoberfest is held every second year during the student festival UKA.

* Hong Kong has celebrated the 3-week Oktoberfest since 1991 and it is organized by the Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel (German Beerfest Hong Kong). Many other clubs, hotels and restaurants have an Oktoberfest celebration evening or weekend.

* Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has celebrated Oktoberfest since 1992 and it is held at the Hotel Equatorial.

* In the Philippines, the Oktoberfest is celebrated all throughout the archipelago. The Philippine Oktoberfest starts every first of October and ends thirty days later. The event is marked by concerts and parties usually sponsored by San Miguel Corporation and Asia Brewery, the top two beer companies in the Philippines.

* Brisbane, Australia has many small celebrations of Oktoberfest. Mainly supported across the local university populations, it has spilled over into local restaurants and pubs, looking to join in the festival.

Not called "Oktoberfest", but very similar in character, is the Cannstatter Wasen in Stuttgart which starts one week later and is the second largest fair in the world. Smaller beer festivals similar to the Oktoberfest are common in Germany and take place throughout the year in most bigger German cities. Some of them go on later into the night than the Oktoberfest.

Many other places have beer festivals, but the name "Oktoberfest" is generally reserved for the Munich event. Inspired by a joke on The Simpsons, there is now a Scottish version called the Scotchtoberfest.

[*Robert* 2]

Thank you MP for researching Octoberfest and restoring it's blemished name!!!

I loved seeing two of the places I have also attended festivities... New Braunfels and Addison, Texas!! (there are a lot of German decendants in Texas, including part of my family! )

Prost!!!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Thank you MP for researching Octoberfest and restoring it's blemished name!!!

She only confirmed what I said. That the Oktoberfest is a Munich tradition. Munich is the capital of Bavaria and Bavaria is not really Germany. The bubble is still busted.

[*Robert* 2]

Thank you MP for researching Octoberfest and restoring it's blemished name!!!

She only confirmed what I said. That the Oktoberfest is a Munich tradition. Munich is the capital of Bavaria and Bavaria is not really Germany. The bubble is still busted.

Oh Reinhard, you Bavarian hater you!!!

At least the Bavarian Brewmasters know how to make good bier!!!

[almaty 19]

Thank you MP for researching Octoberfest and restoring it's blemished name!!!

She only confirmed what I said. That the Oktoberfest is a Munich tradition. Munich is the capital of Bavaria and Bavaria is not really Germany. The bubble is still busted.

Oh Reinhard, you Bavarian hater you!!!

At least the Bavarian Brewmasters know how to make good bier!!!

wasn't hitler from bavaria?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Thank you MP for researching Octoberfest and restoring it's blemished name!!!

She only confirmed what I said. That the Oktoberfest is a Munich tradition. Munich is the capital of Bavaria and Bavaria is not really Germany. The bubble is still busted.

Oh Reinhard, you Bavarian hater you!!!

At least the Bavarian Brewmasters know how to make good bier!!!

Yea, I gotta give them that. They do make a good beer down there. But if you're from Berlin (like myself) you have no business liking Bavaria. Nor does Bavaria have any business liking you. I learned the latter the hard way during my one and only visit to the place. It was just wrong.

My brother had equally bad experiences down there. He's been there for business a few times and will never forget this story (It's much better in German but I'll try):

He and his co-workers went out to grab some dinner after work and he ordered some item from the menu. The waitress said in a rather rude tone of voice: "That's not available". To which my brother replied (pointing to the menu): "But I see it right here". The waitresss said: "So, what? You see me right here, too. And I am not available either".

That's Bavaria for you...

[sparkofcreation 0]

Heck, my job is having a celebration (well, giving out chips and salsa). We had a big thing for St. Paddy's too, and there're a lot more people of Mexican descent than Irish around here. My co-workers claim the fuss is because "Nothing ever happens in New Mexico, so we have to take advantage where we can."

[moondancer627 0]

Cinco De Mayo sounds almost like a anti-climax to Uno De Mayo... The Americans will be eating and drinking in Mexican Resturants, and all the workers who took Monday off will be working over time...

[Ban Hammer 13,901]

Thank you MP for researching Octoberfest and restoring it's blemished name!!!

She only confirmed what I said. That the Oktoberfest is a Munich tradition. Munich is the capital of Bavaria and Bavaria is not really Germany. The bubble is still busted.

Oh Reinhard, you Bavarian hater you!!!

At least the Bavarian Brewmasters know how to make good bier!!!

wasn't hitler from bavaria?

thought he was from austria. just the bier haus revolt he tried was in munich (which failed)

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Thank you MP for researching Octoberfest and restoring it's blemished name!!!

She only confirmed what I said. That the Oktoberfest is a Munich tradition. Munich is the capital of Bavaria and Bavaria is not really Germany. The bubble is still busted.

Oh Reinhard, you Bavarian hater you!!!

At least the Bavarian Brewmasters know how to make good bier!!!

wasn't hitler from bavaria?

Austria.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Not to put a damper on the festivities, but Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that is in fact more beloved by Americans than Mexicans.

As is the Octoberfest a much bigger event in the US than it is in Germany. Heck, most of Germany (all of it if one considers that Bavaria is not really German to begin with) doesn't even do an Octoberfest.

but someone had to bring the celebrations with them in the first place....

Not necessarily. Maybe some silly folk just happened to travel to munich in October, got hammered and thought: Hey, that was fun! Let's do that at home, too.

Most of the real Octoberfest happens in September anyways. So we get the October part of it wrong in the US.

[Dixie_Peach 1]

That's nothing Merc. Javier is from Mexico and he asks me all the time, "Why do Americans celebrate cinco de mayo?" All I can come up with is, it's just another excuse to drink.

same reason people celebrate St. Patrick's Day....because there are a lot of people who brought their homeland celebrations with them when they migrated....nothing wrong with that. I think it adds to the flavor of the country. I LOVE ethnic celebrations.

I have to admit, it seems like Americans love to celebrate any kind of holiday that showcases drinking!!!

St. Patty's Day, October Fest, Cinco de Mayo. They are all holidays that beer and liqour distributers promote... shamelessly!!!

I love a good party.....ethnic or otherwise. Summer around here is ethnic party central.....Italian Fest, Irish Fest, German Fest, etc, etc

i need to move to your part of the country! lol

where i'm at... we have onion festivals, blueberry festivals, watermelon festivals...

dang it... i am missing it all!

Edited May 4, 2006 by Dixie_Peach

[mercuryroad 0]

That's nothing Merc. Javier is from Mexico and he asks me all the time, "Why do Americans celebrate cinco de mayo?" All I can come up with is, it's just another excuse to drink.

same reason people celebrate St. Patrick's Day....because there are a lot of people who brought their homeland celebrations with them when they migrated....nothing wrong with that. I think it adds to the flavor of the country. I LOVE ethnic celebrations.

I have to admit, it seems like Americans love to celebrate any kind of holiday that showcases drinking!!!

St. Patty's Day, October Fest, Cinco de Mayo. They are all holidays that beer and liqour distributers promote... shamelessly!!!

I love a good party.....ethnic or otherwise. Summer around here is ethnic party central.....Italian Fest, Irish Fest, German Fest, etc, etc

i need to move to your part of the country! lol

where i'm at... we have onion festivals, blueberry festivals, watermelon festivals...

dang it... i am missing it all!

move up to WI anytime

We do have all kinds of festivals though....and many are right on the lake front. The larger one in my city is called Harbor Fest. They always have bands that were good 10 years ago. Recent artists have been Joan Jett, Gin Blossoms, Everclear......

We even have some African festivals and in Milwaukee they have Bastille Days....which is nothing like Paris at all, but they try.

Of course, there is the big daddy of them all for us in WI......Summerfest. It is one of, if not the largest music festival in the world.

http://www.summerfest.com/

The festival season is coming up soon! Can't wait.....

[Sister Fracas 5]

The festival season is coming up soon! Can't wait.....

Same here in Chicago...loads of fests in the summer....including all of the "fake" ethnic ones...

I'll have to remember though when, for instance, the city throws the Puerto Rico Day parade and fest, that's the celebrants are really just all gringas/gringos (?) looking for an excuse to have Puerto Rican beer...........

Edited May 4, 2006 by Frances