The History Of Oktoberfest - From Wedding Party To The World's Largest Beer Fest

The First Oktoberfest The history of Oktoberfest evolved from a wedding celebration and grew over the years to become the world’s largest volksfest (people’s fair) and an important part of German culture.

The first Oktoberfest in Germany was not intended to be the type of mega beer fest that it is today. The Oktoberfest in Munich is the first and the original.

History of Oktoberfest

The First Oktoberfest or Wiesn as the locals call it, started almost 200 years ago on October 12th, 1810.

Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I of Bavaria, (Grandfather of “Mad” King Ludwig II) was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810.

All the citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event.

Oktoberfest horse races The celebration lasted several days and concluded with a horse race on October 17th. The decision to repeat the horse races the next year gave rise to the Oktoberfest tradition.

The first royal wedding party drew about 40,000 guests - a major turnout for the event.

Everyone had such a good time that the king issued a royal proclamation making Oktoberfest an annual event. And, the history of Oktoberfest began.

The fields of the first Oktoberfest were named Theresienwiese ("Theresa's Meadow") to honor the Crown Princess. Muncheners have since abbreviated the name to "Wiesn".

In 1811, the first Agricultural Show was added to the horse races. The Agricultural Show was designed to boost Bavarian agriculture.
The horse races, which were the oldest and the most popular event of the festival are no longer held today. The last horse races were held in 1960. The Agricultural Show is still held every four years during the Oktoberfest on the southern part of the festival grounds.
In 1812 the Oktoberfest was canceled. Bavaria was involved in the Napoleonic War and at the time there was neither the resources nor the will for a celebration.
Few choices of amusement were available the first years in the history of Oktoberfest. In 1816, the first carnival booths appeared. Prizes for winning games included jewelry, silver and porcelain.
The first carousel and two swings were set up in 1818. Small beer stands on the grounds grew rapidly in number.
As the event grew, organization and management of the event was handed over to the citizens of Munich.
In 1819, the citizens decided to extend Oktoberfest to more days and the starting date was moved up to September.
The date change was due mostly because the weather in September is warmer than in October. The warmer weather is better for beer drinking and outdoor celebrations. But, the name “Oktoberfest” was kept because the last days of the fest are still in October.
In 1835 the first parade took place in honor of the marriage of Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria. The Munich Costume and Riflemen’s Parade marks the beginning of the Oktoberfest and has become one of the most important Oktoberfest traditions.
The Oktoberfest in Munich continued to grow over the years and in 1850, “Bavaria” was dedicated as the secular patron saint of the Land of Bavaria. The huge bronze sculpture (one of the largest in the world), commissioned by Ludwig I of Bavaria was erected at Theresienwiese. The Ruhmeshalle (Hall of Fame) was completed in 1853 and they have since been a major focal point of the Oktoberfest.
Unfortunately, in 1854 an epidemic of cholera swept through Munich, killing 3,000 people. The Oktoberfest was once again cancelled.
Other cancellations occurred in later years: In 1866 - due to the Austro-Prussian War; In 1870 - due to the Franco-Prussian War and in 1873 - due to another outbreak of cholera.

Toward the end of the 1800’s, major improvements to Oktoberfest were made:

In 1880, electric lights illuminated the 400 booths and tents and in 1881 bratwurst booths opened.
The festival site quickly grew to a midway style fair. The range of rides, games and food stands was increasing rapidly in the late 1800s as the fairground trade continued to grow and develop in Germany.
1887 marks the beginning of The Grand Entry of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries as the official prelude to the opening of the Oktoberfest.
On the first Saturday of the Oktoberfest, a parade of about 1,000 participants, including the landlords' families in decorated carriages, the splendidly decorated horse teams of the Munich breweries, bierfraus on decorated floats and all the beer tent bands.
In 1892 beer was served in glass mass (mugs).
In 1896 the beer stands were replaced by the first beer tents and halls set up by enterprising landlords with the backing of the breweries.

History of Oktoberfest in the 20th Century

In 1913, the Bräurosl was founded, which was the largest Oktoberfest beer tent of all time, with room for about 12,000 guests (today, the biggest tent holds about 8,500 people).
From 1914 to 1918, Oktoberfest was again cancelled due to WW 1.
In 1919 and 1920, after the end of the war, Munich celebrated an "Autumn Fest."
In 1923 and 1924, the Oktoberfest was not held due to inflation.
In 1933, due to the rise of Hitler, the Bavarian white and blue flag was replaced with the swastika flag.
From 1939 to 1945, the events of World War II canceled Oktoberfest.
From 1946 to 1948, after the war, Munich once again celebrated only the "Autumn Fest." The sale of proper Oktoberfest beer was not permitted and the guests drank beer with 2% alcohol content.Since the beginning, The Oktoberfest has been canceled 24 times due to war, disease and other emergencies.
As Germany rebuilt after the War and became prosperous once again, the love of the Oktoberfest traditions and celebration spread worldwide and steadily grew to the beer fest that it is today.
1950 began the Oktoberfest tradition of the festival opening. A twelve gun salute followed by the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer by the Mayor of Munich at 12:00 noon. The Mayor exclaims "O'zapft is!" ("It's tapped!") and the Oktoberfest begins.

Oktoberfest entry