Germans loosen their pockets at Oktoberfest despite rising prices
That. The German festival par excellence reaches its halfway point with a consumption of 5.6 million liters of beer and nearly 3.5 million people have already passed through the fairgrounds.
Who. Nationals and foreigners enjoy the traditions of this event: the jug is held only by the handle, it is obligatory to toast with everyone who is sitting at the same table or the different meanings of the bow on the women's apron.
Bavaria nothing these days in beer. Prices have risen at the Oktoberfest, but when the weather is good and the first liter has been drunk, which is how beer is served, by the liter, your pocket is loose.. About 14.5 euros per jug and the nearly 3.5 million people who have passed through the fairgrounds have already drunk 5.6 million liters.
To experience Oktoberfest you have to put on some leather shorts or a dirndl, the little outfit they wear, and drink like there is no tomorrow.. But it's not enough. You should know, for example, that the Oktoberfest is inaugurated by the mayor of Munich with the exclamation O'zapft!, something like “you can take advantage” once the first keg of beer has been opened with a mallet and tap.. The event always takes place on a Saturday and has its ritual. It is counted with scrupulous precision how many hits it takes for the city boss to open the barrel.. Mayor Thomas Wimmer, founder of the tradition in September 1950, needed 17 strokes. Record holders Christian Ude and his successor Dieter Reiter only scored two hits.
Whoever goes to the Oktoberfest should know that the large Munich breweries produce a special variety with more alcohol. The correct technique for holding the heavy glass carafe is important: do not put your hand over the handle or palm the glass, but simply hold the handle. In this way, one avoids crushing one's fingers when toasting one's neighbor because toasting everyone sitting at the same table is obligatory, especially when the music band encourages guests to drink by singing Prosit (“Ein Prosit, ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit. On. Zwoa. G'suffa!”) – a very successful way to increase beer sales but impossible to pronounce.
It is easier to deal with the grammar, because in Bavaria, which, like the rest of the country, does not go by the first name if the oldest person does not expressly say so, it is allowed during the Oktoberfest to leave oneself at home.. For this reason, waiters wear a clip with their name on their dirndl or on the straps of their pants.. For those who do not like beer, the Oktoberfest is also a suitable place, since wine has always been and is part of the festival.. Since 1984 there has even been a wine tent offering more than 15 types of wine, sparkling wine and champagne.. The maximum time spent in that tent is four hours.
The atmosphere at Oktoberfest is boisterous, happy and tipsy. The conditions for flirting are met because, since the tradition is sexist, men are given clues.. For example, if the bow of the apron that women wear is tied on the left, it means that they are single.. If it is on the right it means that she has a partner or is married and if the bow is on the back it means that she is still a virgin.. There are visitors who have never heard of this custom and tie their aprons at random, but that's what the tent bullies are for, guys like closets who act mercilessly against harassment, neutralize anyone who gets out of hand, prevent people from dancing. on top of the tables and give the waitresses and waiters free access to the customers, loaded as they are with mugs of beer and platters of sausages, meatballs and knuckles.
They say this year's Oktoberfest is the safest. The Police have mobilized 650 officers and a hundred civilians, including pickpocket specialists. When the party is over, there will be statistics.