A celebration founded on October 12 of 1810, Oktoberfest is a two-week long festival that hosts attendees from across the globe in the city of Munich.
With a plethora of rides, beer tents and bratwurst stands to choose from, the event is sure to have something for everyone. Unfortunately, this year the event is cancelled due to the coronavirus, but don’t fret. Here are some elements of Oktoberfest you can take to celebrate the festival in the comfort of your own home.
The Beer
Perhaps you hope to have a family vacation to understand the culture of Oktoberfest, but if you’re like most people the beer tents are probably the main attraction. No need to miss out on the delicious German stout. Marzen is the typical beer coined as the Oktoberfest beer and you should be able to find it at most liquor stores. The six main breweries you should look out for when buying beer for your Oktoberfest celebration are: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschor, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spaten and Hofbräuhaus.
Dirndl and Lederhosen
Dirndls for women and Lederhosen for men are the typical outfits worn at the event. What once served as a typical work wear for peasants in the 18th century has become a festive costume that often is associated with the beer garden event. You can find dirndls and lederhosen in many general costume shops and on larger company sites like amazon.
The Food
What is a festival without the delicious food? From bratwurst sausages to pretzels bigger than your head, there are so many options of delicious food that you can chef up to create the perfect pairing for your tall glass of beer. Whether you purchase the dishes from a local German market or get creative in the kitchen, you won’t want to miss out on these festive treats!
Prost!
As probably the most important and most recognized tradition from Oktoberfest, make sure to take part in the act of cheering your glasses together while saying Prost! Be sure to also keep a steady eye contact while you drink from your beer as breaking it is said to bring about bad luck.
While this year is different in regard to the Oktoberfest celebrations, the traditions can still live on in our homes this year as we make the most of our unfortunate events. Perhaps look at it as practice for the future, when the festival opens once again.
