The Origins of Oktoberfest: A Royal Bavarian Wedding

The Wedding That Started It All

On October 12, 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. To celebrate, the citizens of Munich were invited to a grand horse race on the meadows outside the city gates. The event was so successful that it was repeated the following year, and the grounds were named Theresienwiese -- Therese's meadow -- in the princess's honour. Locals still call it the Wiesn.

From Horse Race to Folk Festival

In the early years, the festival centred on agricultural shows and horse racing. Beer was present but not the main attraction. Gradually, the focus shifted. By the 1880s, electric lighting allowed evening festivities, and the first permanent beer halls replaced the temporary stalls. In 1896, the large beer tents that define modern Oktoberfest appeared, erected by Munich's major breweries. A critical rule established in 1896 remains in force: only beer brewed within Munich's city limits may be served at Oktoberfest. Today, this restricts the festival to six breweries: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbrau, Lowenbrau, Paulaner, and Spaten. The beer served is Oktoberfest Marzen, a slightly stronger amber lager originally brewed in March and lagered through the summer.

Cancellations and Resilience

Oktoberfest has been cancelled 26 times in its history. The Napoleonic Wars disrupted the early editions. Cholera outbreaks halted it in 1854 and 1873. Both World Wars led to extended cancellations -- 1914 to 1918 and 1939 to 1948. Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the festival in 2020 and 2021, the first peacetime cancellations since the cholera era.

The Post-War Revival

When Oktoberfest resumed in 1949, it served as a symbol of Munich's recovery. The festival grew steadily through the economic miracle years, becoming a major tourist attraction by the 1960s. International visitors now make up roughly 20 percent of the total attendance.

Traditions and Rituals

The Opening

The festival begins with the mayor of Munich tapping the first keg in the Schottenhamel tent, declaring "O'zapft is!" (It is tapped!). Only after this ceremonial tap can beer be served anywhere on the grounds. The number of strikes needed to open the barrel is closely watched -- two strikes is considered excellent.

Clothing and Music

Traditional Bavarian clothing -- lederhosen for men and dirndl dresses for women -- has experienced a renaissance at Oktoberfest. Live brass bands play traditional Bavarian music alongside popular songs. The festival also features amusement rides, shooting galleries, and food stalls serving roast chicken, pretzels, and pork knuckle.

Oktoberfest Goes Global

German immigrants brought beer festival traditions to the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia. Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, hosts one of the largest outside Germany. Blumenau in southern Brazil, founded by German settlers, has held its own Oktoberfest since 1984. Chinese cities including Qingdao, where a German colonial brewery still operates, host their own versions.

By the Numbers

Modern Oktoberfest runs approximately 16 days, ending on the first Sunday in October (despite the name, most of the festival falls in September). Around six million visitors consume roughly seven million litres of beer, 120 roasted oxen, and 400,000 sausages. Revenue exceeds one billion euros, making it one of Bavaria's most important economic events. What began as a royal wedding celebration on a muddy meadow has become one of the world's most recognisable cultural exports, proving that some of the best traditions start by accident.