What is Oktoberfest? The origin, and meaning?

Answer 1

Be Happy... Drink Beer

So how did this global party get started? (And why didn't anyone think of it sooner?) Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, who was later crowned King Ludwig I, wanted his people to share in the celebration of his marriage to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810.

Ludwig organized a horse race and invited all the people of Munich. The royal party drew about 40,000 guests—a major rager, by ordinary standards, but only a small fraction of the 6.4 million people at Oktoberfest in 1997. A good time, and copious amounts of beer, were apparently had by all that first year. It was decided that the horse race would be held again in 1811, this time in conjunction with the state agricultural show.

Modern Munich celebration
Although the horse race was eventually abandoned, many characteristics of the early Oktoberfest celebrations have been retained, if not expanded upon. Munich's annual celebration is still held on the original site, dubbed Theresienwiese ("Theresa's fields"), in front of the city gates.

The agricultural show continues to be a feature, though it is only held every third year now. The tradition of beer and food stands, begun in 1818, continues today and is perhaps the most significantly developed aspect of Oktoberfest.

16 days, six million people, and some great big tents
The modern celebration has replaced the small tents with giant brewery-sponsored beer halls that can hold up to 5,000 people apiece. The party has also grown in length, to become a 16-day extravaganza ending the first Sunday in October.

The Oktoberfest in Munich has been cancelled at times in the past due to war and cholera. The festival opens with a grand parade of the Oktoberfest "landlords" and breweries, and features traditional dancers and costumed performers, the Riflemen's Procession, music...and, most definitely, beer!

Oktoberfakts
In 1997, Oktoberfesters consumed more than 5 ½ million liters of beer, about 45,000 liters of wine, and almost 165,000 liters of nonalcoholic beer.
The local name for Oktoberfest, "Wies'n," is derived from Theresienwiese, the name of the field on which the festival is held.
The festival halls in Munich can seat 94,000 people.
The beers that the Munich breweries produce specially for Oktoberfest contain 4.5 percent alcohol.
Cincinnati, Ohio, which claims to hold the "largest authentic Oktoberfest" in the U.S., draws about 500,000 people to its celebration.
Information Please® Database, © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Answer 2

Oktoberfest Origin

Answer 3

"I ain't your momma" pulled the correct off the net. But from someone who gets on a plan for 11-12 hours to go to Oktoberfest each year, its all about the celebration of Munich and the beers it produces. USA could NEVER do a celebration like this. Hundreds of thousands of people from 12 - 90 years old drinking LITERS of beer and i have never see one problem. This year i was able to be seated near the tapping of the first keg (Spaten) to start the celebration. It was better than New Years Eve @ 11:59 in1999!

Your Answer in short. "momma" techs are correct but what it is, is the biggest state fair you'll ever see.

Answer 4

It's a beer festival. My German is a tad rusty but I would guess it means the October Festival (even though it's held in September).
Don't know about the origins, apart from Germany being a beer loving country & autmun would be a big part of the year for brewing.
The discrepency n the naming could be from the several changes we've had to the calender over the centuries.

Answer 5

RE:
What is Oktoberfest? The origin, and meaning?

Answer 6

it started in germany..i hope this helps!

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

Answer 7

a german celebration in fall of the harvest and the new beer

Answer 8

a darn good time

Answer 9

SOUNDS LIKE YOU EAT IN OCTOBER