Wiesn Woche – The Oktoberfest elsewhere

Today I want to talk about the popularity of the Oktoberfest all over the world.

Maybe you thought the Oktoberfest is just something Germans celebrate in Munich. Yeah right. I’ve found the website of Zinzinnati that claims to be America’s largest and most authentic Oktoberfest in the U.S. Happening September 18th and 19th in Cincinnati (took me a while to find that out; I thought Zinzinnati was a real town).

The website made me laugh. Somehow they’re all over the chicken dance and you can watch videos of people dancing it. I mean…. last time I’ve danced the chicken dance was carnival 1986 but they seem to like it. Fun what others think is popular here.

And there are a LOT of people. Ok… they’re not wearing costumes but they’re there anyway. Isn’t that amazing?

The programme is really nice though. They have everything from Musikanten (musicians) to Schuplattler Dancers (guys who dance and clap their hands and on their shoes at the same time – watch this). They have the Schnapps Band (Schnapps is the German word for booze) and they serve typical German food and beer. I’ve even found 2 German beer brands on their list. A typical dish at the Oktoberfest is half a chicken, or white wurst with sweet mustard and radish (delicious!), or wurst with sauerkraut… all things that serve as a basis before you drink liters of beer.

And all that you can get either in Munich but in Cincinnati as well. Isn’t that great? A whole culture with its traditions on a different continent. I think that’s fantastic.

What really made my jaw drop was the fact that even the Japanese have an Oktoberfest. You might say now “Well… the asians copy everything in the world!”… yes but a German Volksfest?! For real? Yes they do. In Tokyo. They have a website and I’ve found out they’ve been doing this for 15 years already. Unfortunately they didn’t show any good pictures but at least they serve Bavarian dishes and specially brewed Oktoberfest beer. In Japan!! Still I can’t believe it. But aren’t those kids lovely in their costumes? :-)

And for last… even Mr. Hugh Hefner couldn’t resist to look for a Wiesn girl in the German issue of his publication each Oktober. There must be a certain attraction toward women with a short blouse and a bucket full of beer. Well. Ok. Let’s just take this as a fact.

So while looking for Oktoberfest facts that are the oddities that I’ve found out and even I was amazed that this fest is so popular all over the world. Man I can’t wait to finally get there.

See you again tomorrow and I must say I’m soooo excited. I’ll have a little sale of things especially made for the Oktoberfest. Handmade, pretty and only while stocks last. :-) Servus!