Stunde 14

Monday, September 29, 2025

die Baumwolle - cotton
der Baum (tree) and die Wolle (wool)
Oktoberfest 2025
O'zapft 2023
Beer Tents
Oktoberfest outfit
Eat and drink at the Oktoberfest
German beer culture
What did you learn about Bavarian culture from Oktoberfest? Apart from drinking beer, why do you think this folk festival won broad appeal all over the world? What do you think rituals do for cultures? How does the modern tourism industry shape what was has historically been a regional folk festival?
There is definitely something meaningful in this folk festival building the culture. In particular, it feels like the exact opposite of what we have built (or destroyed) in the 21st century. Oktoberfest feels like the antithesis of Facebook, for example. People gathering in the real world to celebrate a shared identity seems so refreshing compared to our present situation where people are continuously being delivered garbage in their own corner of the internet.
I am traveling to Munich in May, and when I started planning this trip, I had no interest in Oktoberfest. This look at the festival definitely made it seem more appealing than I would have considered. I have never drank alcohol in my life. I am not sure that I was so convinced that I will necessarily plan a second trip to the region during September, but I think if I found myself in Europe around the time I might consider checking it out in person.