Talk:Oktoberfest

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I HAVE the sneaky feeling that this article (or at least parts of it) have been written by a non-native English speaker, probably a German-mother-tongue writer actually, judging by the style of writing, which I recognise at being typical in places of a German-speaker writing English. U have therefore made some small changes to adjust the tone of some of the writing.

In addition, the only problem during the Octoberfest is certainly not with drunks but also with attacks on women. I personally know one woman who was raped on the grounds of the Octoberfest. Howver, I won't bother adding this to the article as I'm sure some busy body would remove it.


Nate Silva: Considering the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is the largest in North America, I did feel that it was worth mentioning, but do all that stuff agree that there are dozens of them, and cannot mention them all.

If K-W's is the biggest in North America, why does the article say Cincinnati? Well, I guess I'll go change that... Radagast 01:20, Jan 21, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Photos

I just noticed there are some photos showing the Oktorberfest on this article now. However, I think it would be a good idea to tell people exactly where those fests were held, since there's no info about that in the captions or in the images' pages. I know it's logical to assume they were all taken in Bavaria, but since there are several Oktoberfests celebrated in many different places across the globe, I think it would be a good idea to specify location. In the captions, between parentheses, perhaps. What do you think?

I would do it myself, but since there's no info, I can't really know where they've been taken. – Kaonashi 00:56, 17 Dec 2004 (UTC)

All three photos look genuinely from Munich to me. Simon A. 8 July 2005 10:19 (UTC)

[edit] Wrong pronunciation

The Oktoberfest is never called "Waasn". "Waasn" is short for "Cannstatter Wasen" in Stuttgart, a similar Beerfest. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.69.127.152 (talk) 12:50, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

In the first paragraph, it says the venue Theresienwiese is called "d'Wiesn" or "d'Waasn" for short. I certainly agree with the first one. However, although being born in Munich, I have never heard "d'Waasn". I would say this is an error and would delete the second variant. 83.70.250.165 19:44, 19 July 2007 (UTC)

The pronunciation of Maß is wrong. It isn't pronounced with the long a [Ma:s], but with a short one and with a sharp s. Knows anyone the IPA and can correct it? --141.84.69.20 28 June 2005 10:54 (UTC)

I can certainly help here. To pronounce the German word "Maß" just think of the English word "mass" (as in church ceremony) and there you have it. Pronounce "Maß" as "mass" and you've mastered the pronunciation. I have been living in German-speaking countries now for over 12 years so don't bother correcting me on this anyone! Another important word here is the German word "Krug" meaning mug, but well associated with those German beer mugs you see -- a typical cheesy "tourist" symbol of Germany. You can pronounce "Krug" by thinking of the name of the star of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, Freddy Kruger. OK, lets take his surname "Kruger" and pronounce it. Right?, OK, then drop the "er" from "Kruger" and just say "Krug". Now, if you can slightly lengthen the pronunciation of the "u", lets say that we pronounce it as "Kruu - ger", then you've got it! So, pronounce "Krug" as "Kruu - ger". So "Bierkrug", a German word, is a compound word of "Bier" (German for "beer") and "Krug" (German for mug, as we have just been talking about). So "Bierkrug" is beer mug. Hey! don't say you don't learn anything here in Wikipedia! 00:57, 17 September 2006 (UTC)Bibi999

Well, to change a vowel from long to short, simply delete the colon. I did so. Simon A. 8 July 2005 10:19 (UTC)

Sorry, I do have to argue with the pronunciation of "Maß". It definitely is not pronounced like the English "mass". Rather, it is like "fuss", but with an "m" at the beginning. The poster may have lived in German speaking countries for 12 years, but I'm German, so maybe this is a subtle difference that his ear doesn't pick up (nothing personal) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.70.250.165 (talk)

Well, that is one of the disadvantages of Wikipedia ... all the know-alls on this earth all trying to prove each other wrong! The smart arse German who wrote the above comment must appreciate that I am trying to simplify the pronunciation for English speakers who are trying to pronounce the word Maß.


[edit] Largest outside Munich

I don't know wheter the largest Oktoberfest outside is Kitchener, Ontario (the article says it is Kitchener, but I can't find any sources), Cincinnati, Ohio or Blumenau, SC, Brazil. PT wikipedia says it is Blumenau. Which of them is really the biggest outside Germany?

Leslie Mateus 8 July 2005 05:51 (UTC)


Altered slightly to reflect the claims of the various festivals and added links to the official sites which have claimed attendance numbers. Kitchener-Waterloo's government representative seems to claim in excess of 1 million for their festival. I cannot translate the Blumenau festival's official page, but I have reflected the 600,000+ number already in the article.

FDeziel 15:52, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What's this supposed to mean?

From a German tourist guide to Munich, about Oktoberfest:

und schon wieder fliegen es nicht mehr gebrauchte Büstenhalter durch die Gegend.

In English:

and once again brassieres that are no more needed fly throughout the area.

What is this supposed to mean? I couldn't find anything about this in the article or the official Oktoberfest website. — JIP | Talk 17:54, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

It's most likely not meant in a literal sense; it just refers to the fact that the festive atmosphere and alcohol cause women to be more open to advances. AxelBoldt 17:12, 11 September 2005 (UTC)

I'd say that it is meant in a literal sense, drunken people sometimes are taking off pieces of clothing, so among other things there are also brassieres flying, but this is not essential for the Oktoberfest. 213.6.238.237 20:37, 22 September 2005 (CEST)

Sounds like one more reason to go to Oktoberfest then. =) Although it is of course no guarantee that such a thing will always happen. — JIP | Talk 10:05, 25 September 2005 (UTC)

No, literally, bras and panties FLY. I was at Oktoberfest this year, in Munich, and the guys will surround you and harrass you until you take off bras and panties "for the Oktoberfest Gods". You're basically not allowed to wear them. They will RIP them off iff they have to.

- Kat (kattish_angel@yahoo.com)

I guess they don't have sexual assault in Germany. MafiaCapo 15:33, 14 May 2006 (UTC)

There are certain tents that lend themselves to this kind of behaviour, such as the Hofbräu, which has a huge tourist ratio. There are tents with a more traditionally Bavarian atmosphere and where locals tend to go - these still have a high flirt factor, but you won't have the types of experiences described above.

[edit] 600 million

doesn't the number of visitors in 2002 seem a little high?

- Indeed, its supposed to be 500 or 600 thousand, not million. Changed it.--Vattenmelon 20:07, 23 September 2005 (UTC) Changed it again, it even says 6-7 million visitors under statistics. --Vattenmelon 08:56, 24 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Oktoberfests outside Germany

How similiar are the Oktoberfests not taking place in Germany? Are there as on the Oktoberfest in Munich many transportable rides or are there just beer tents?

Yes, there are lots of rides.

[edit] Märzen

The beer at the Oktoberfest is not a Märzen, although it's pretty similiar to it. It's a sweet beer with more alcohol and it's brewed by the munich main breweries for the Wiesn only.

True, the beer at the Oktoberfest is Wheat_beer (Weizen)

Certainly not Weizen! Agathoclea 22:09, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

The beer at Oktoberfest is definitely NOT wheat beer (known as Weissbier in Bayern, and by various other names - e.g. Hefeweizen - in other parts of Germany). While it is possible to find Weissbier at the Wiesn, it is actually available at only a few locations, such as the Weinzelt. The beer during Oktoberfest is generally referred to as Wiesnbier - I'm not enough of a beer expert on beer production to explain the difference from standard issue beer during the rest of the year, but you can certainly feel the difference and its effect is more in line with Starkbier, which is released at a different Fest earlier in the year.

[edit] Links

The external link to Oktoberfest Shop is just a commercial link and not at all informational. Does that fit with the rest of the information on this page? It seems strange that the first external link is to a commercial site selling steins rather than an actual Oktoberfest celebration.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 65.29.18.29 (talk • contribs) .

Sorted. That one tries and get in under of number of webaddresses (=resellers). Agathoclea 15:35, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Relevance of other Oktoberfests

The evergrowing list of "other Oktoberfests" is starting to worry me. I have the feeling that this article turns into a linkfarm on the subject. Agathoclea 21:51, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

Agreed. Irondequit, New York? I think most of the links here - commercial links and little wee celebrations - should go. Should we link to every town that celebrates Halloween next? It isn't appropriate or useful. - Corporal Tunnel 16:13, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
Maybe a "largest of which are ..." would suffice. Agathoclea 22:07, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
I think this article should be about Munich, since that's what everyone automatically thinks about when you say Oktoberfest, and that's what the intro says it's about. So I thought I'd be bold, and make a more generic page called Oktoberfest celebrations. I think it fits well here, but we'll see what others think. -Steve Sanbeg 16:48, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

Shouldn't the official parody, Scotchtoberfest, be mentioned? —Vanderdecken∴ ∫ξφ 19:55, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

If we don't keep this article about Munich, all sorts of stuff will creep in. Notable non-Munich items could go in Oktoberfest celebrations, although this doesn't seem too notable. -Steve Sanbeg 18:07, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

There is a reference to the Frühlingsfest being known as Little oktober fest. This is not strictly true. There is indeed another Volksfest in munich in July in the old American neigbourhood called little Oktoberfest. I have not changed the article since I do not live there anymore. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.23.84.229 (talk) 15:58, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Purpose of the Holiday

Glancing at the introduction to see what Oktoberfest is, I have no clue. While very specific, the intro does not say what the purpose of the holiday is. It would be nice if the intro said something along the lines of "Oktoberfest is a two-week festival to celebrate..." Bcem2 20:02, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

Nothing, it is just a fest nothing more, not a holiday and not a celebration of something(maybe beer and life). The first one was for a royal wedding and it was so successful, that first the king and later the city council organized one every year. --Volker —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.177.238.201 (talk) 13:57, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] 200 Year Anniversary

i think there should be a section for this with info, seems kinda weird that its not there, only 3 years left.

[edit] Unclear and Unencyclopedic

"Note: the words 'stein' and 'lager' do not mean what many English speakers think they do so instead use 'Mass' or 'Helles' respectively.

In general, encyclopedia articles should be informative in tone, not directive. Second, this statement it unclear. What do "many English speakers" think they mean? As far as I know, stein is short for "steinkrug" an earthenware mug, lager is a bottom-fermented beer. I really can't see how this sentence is is pertinent or helpful, so I am going to delete it.Mmyers1976 18:05, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

"

[edit] G'zapft is

Just noticed that Its says that at the official opening is called G'zapft is. It should be O'zapft is. See official oktoberfest site. Or just compare writing O'zapft in google with G'zapft. U'll notice the G'zapft doesnt exsists. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.98.249.38 (talk) 11:15, 11 March 2008 (UTC)


[edit] 1980 Pipe Bomb Incident

Please check to verify the appropriateness of this entire segment in the article. The pipe bomb went off in September, but Oktoberfest begins mid-October. It does not appear to have relevance to an article about Oktoberfest. If is is appropriately placed, perhaps its association with Oktoberfest festivities needs to be clarified. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.121.15.15 (talk) 02:07, 3 April 2008 (UTC)