Oktoberfest and Kaiser Chiefs
Monday, October 8th, 2007
The beer-luvers have said it all and gone home. The Oktoberfest 2007 unfolded yesterday but it set brand-new records and amusing surprises.
This year, Munich in Germany might have received less visitors but my, they consumed more liters of beer!
Of all the 6,2 millions of visitors, 300.000 didn’t show up compared to 2006. Nevertheless the beer consumption was more than everybody expected.
No wonder the fair stall owners were satisfied: the people were thirsty.
German-speaking local musical heroes of course dominated the music/entertainment scene like the Austrian folk rapper DJ Ötzi, whose catchy “Hey Baby” became No. 1 in Britain and Australia years ago. His song “Ein Stern der Deinen Namen trägt” (A star that your name carries) landed No. 1 before “Lasso-Song” from Olaf Henning.
But the big surprise went to newcomers Kaiser Chiefs. The English rock band from Leeds whose hit “Ruby” off their second album “Yours Truly, Angry Mob” was clearly the drunken crowd’s favourite.
Kaiser Chiefs, you have arrived!
Hear your song being played on German TV, celebrated at the most famous Bacchanalia in the face of the planet Earth.
A short backgrounder, the original Oktoberfest is a three-week festival held each year in Bavaria, Munich, starting from September till October.
It first happened in the year of 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s (Ludwig I) marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. It began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September.
To accommodate Germany’s reunification in 1989 the schedule was modified so it will go on or touch the October 3rd (German Unity Day).
The festival is held on an area called the Theresienwiese (Wiese being meadows in German and Theresia is either Theresa or Therese). The Germans call it “d’ Wiesn” for short. Beer plays a central role in the fair, with every festival beginning with a keg of beer tapped by the mayor of Munich who declares “O’zapft is!” (Bavarian: “It’s tapped!”).
According to the facts and figures, only local Bavarian breweries are allowed to serve this beer in a Bierzelt, a beer tent which is large enough for thousands.
Not only they consume beer but also the visitors consume large quantities of food, such as sausage (Wurst), hendl (chicken), käsespätzle (cheese noodles), and sauerkraut, along with such Bavarian delicacies as roast ox tails and pretzel.
The average visitors might not wear the traditional clothing but men and women of prominence and other enthusiasts either wear a lederhosen (for the males) or Dirndl (for the women). Paris Hilton showed up in 2006 adorning her own rendition of golden modern Dirndl while happily proclaiming that she loves German beer in front of the amused crowd.
This year the Bavarian mayor Christian Ude said that everything was in order. Even the Red Cross and the police reported that the fair was mainly positive this year. It didn’t leave huge accidents but minor ones. Around 7.363 visitors had to be treated, 504 cases lesser than last year. Though last Saturday, the police had to interfere when at least 100 people were arrested.
Other cities around the world also hold their own Oktoberfest. Next year, it will happen again on September 20 till October 5.
To know more about the fair and the region of Munich, check this out.
Oktoberfest, Kaiser Chiefs, Ruby, DJ Ötzi, Christian Ude, Paris Hilton, dirndl, lederhosen, Olaf Henning
