Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve dove into the origin and history of Oktoberfest. In part 1 we explored the very first Oktoberfest celebrations, in part 2 we dissected the popular White and Blue flag that is a festival staple, and for our 3rd and final segment, we’ll showcase the traditions of this beloved German celebration and how we celebrate it today!

As we know, Oktoberfest is a celebration of German culture, food, and (of course) beer, but believe it or not, the history and traditions extend beyond just drinking fall-themed beer, eating sausages, and yelling prost.

The Opening of Oktoberfest

Since 1950, Oktoberfest begins with the ceremony of tapping the first keg traditionally done by Munich’s Mayor. The Mayor gives his best to tap the keg with the fewest possible hits with a hammer, before exclaiming “O’zapft is!” (keg breached). A gun salute is fired in the air to the Bavaria statue. The salute is a sign to all the other tents that they too can now draft their beer!

The Grand Entry

In Munich, about one hour before the “O’zapft is!”, there is a Grand Entry of Landlords and Breweries. A colorful procession of horse carriages and wagons full of beautiful flowers make their way down to the festival ground. The procession is led by the Münchner Kindl (coat of arms of Munich) and is traditionally followed by the mayor’s festival carriage. Behind this come the splendid carts of the landlords and breweries.

The Main Event

Bottoms up! It’s time to head over to the tents for a drink (or 12)! Most tents feature food and music and are packed with picnic tables and benches that fill up quickly. Enjoy delicious beer from 1 of 6 German breweries. It's also you opportunity to try some iconic snacks like Brezl (soft pretzel), Würstl (sausages), Knoedel (dumplings), and Brotzeit (snacks consisting of meats, cheeses radishes, and bread). 

During the 2 weeks of the festival, you can find dancing, cheersing, fair rides, and so much more! 

The Closing of the Oktoberfest

Just like the opening of the festival, the closing also has a traditional gun salute ceremony. On the final day, the traditional gun salute takes place at noon to close out the festival. So, just as Oktoberfest begins with the traditional gun salute after the keg has been tapped, it ends in typical Bavarian fashion with brass bands and lots of saluting guns.

In Conclusion

Today Americans have adopted many of these Oktoberfest traditions so we can partake in celebrating the gGerman culture by dancing, eating, drinking, and all enjoying all kinds of celebrations throughout the months of September and October. Prost!