Spring Break
Oktoberfest toasts German culture
Autumn festival has historical roots
Melissa Crowe
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
The two-week-long annual celebration of beer, brats and Bavaria comes to a close Sunday, marking the 175th Oktoberfest.
"In Germany, if you say you are going to Oktoberfest, they know you are going to Munich," said Monika Campbell of the foreign language faculty.
She said she thinks it is strange when people celebrate their own Oktoberfest outside Munich since that is the site of the festival.
"It's not something that is celebrated at home," Campbell said. "They must be looking for a reason to drink. They are trying to copy the Germans."
The first Oktoberfest commemorated the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810. Since that date, the festival has been canceled nearly 25 times because of war, disease and other emergencies.
Now, when people go to Munich to celebrate the festival, Campbell said they go because it is connected with beer and food.
"They come because they like to drink," said Austin Heisch, an English senior who studied abroad in Germany in summer 2007. "Since the wedding celebration, it has become some big, German drink festival."
On Saturday, Fry Street will host its own Oktoberfest with help from Cool Beans, Lucky Lou's and Riprocks from 2 to 4 p.m. Participants can buy a wristband for about $12 and move from bar to bar throughout the day, sampling different German beers. Each bar will have its own $3 souvenir mug.
Tulsa, Okla., will host its own Oktoberfest Oct. 16 to 19, and Wurstfest in New Braunfels will celebrate its 48th "Salute to Sausage" Oct. 31 to Nov. 9.
"Tulsa is so good because they fly authentic German bands in," Campbell said. "They have brought bands here who I have seen in Germany."
German bands Alpenritter, Pepperoni and Topsis will play in Tulsa's festival. Brandon Giles, Brave Combo, Mixed Company Western Dance Band, Thomas Martinez and the Radio Disney Dance Troupe will also be on the stage throughout the weekend.
Denton residents can also hold their own celebrations at home.
Homemade sausage can be bought from Metzler's Barbeque, with two Denton locations on University and Teasley drives. Campbell also suggested authentic German restaurant Kuby's Sausage House in Snider Plaza in Dallas. Kuby's offers homemade sausages from its German meat market and deli.
Heisch recommended drinking German beer, such as Paulener or Franziskaner, from a Bavarian-style beer mug, which holds exactly one liter of beer. Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbrau and Paulaner German beers are available at Central Market in Plano, Costco in Lewisville, Whole Foods Market in Dallas and World Market in Denton, as well as at Fry Street Oktoberfest.
Participants can dress the part by wearing traditional German clothing like a gamsbart, which is a decoration on a man's hat, and lederhosen, or leather trousers. Women can wear a dress called a dirndlgwand.
"In Germany, if you say you are going to Oktoberfest, they know you are going to Munich," said Monika Campbell of the foreign language faculty.
She said she thinks it is strange when people celebrate their own Oktoberfest outside Munich since that is the site of the festival.
"It's not something that is celebrated at home," Campbell said. "They must be looking for a reason to drink. They are trying to copy the Germans."
The first Oktoberfest commemorated the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810. Since that date, the festival has been canceled nearly 25 times because of war, disease and other emergencies.
Now, when people go to Munich to celebrate the festival, Campbell said they go because it is connected with beer and food.
"They come because they like to drink," said Austin Heisch, an English senior who studied abroad in Germany in summer 2007. "Since the wedding celebration, it has become some big, German drink festival."
On Saturday, Fry Street will host its own Oktoberfest with help from Cool Beans, Lucky Lou's and Riprocks from 2 to 4 p.m. Participants can buy a wristband for about $12 and move from bar to bar throughout the day, sampling different German beers. Each bar will have its own $3 souvenir mug.
Tulsa, Okla., will host its own Oktoberfest Oct. 16 to 19, and Wurstfest in New Braunfels will celebrate its 48th "Salute to Sausage" Oct. 31 to Nov. 9.
"Tulsa is so good because they fly authentic German bands in," Campbell said. "They have brought bands here who I have seen in Germany."
German bands Alpenritter, Pepperoni and Topsis will play in Tulsa's festival. Brandon Giles, Brave Combo, Mixed Company Western Dance Band, Thomas Martinez and the Radio Disney Dance Troupe will also be on the stage throughout the weekend.
Denton residents can also hold their own celebrations at home.
Homemade sausage can be bought from Metzler's Barbeque, with two Denton locations on University and Teasley drives. Campbell also suggested authentic German restaurant Kuby's Sausage House in Snider Plaza in Dallas. Kuby's offers homemade sausages from its German meat market and deli.
Heisch recommended drinking German beer, such as Paulener or Franziskaner, from a Bavarian-style beer mug, which holds exactly one liter of beer. Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbrau and Paulaner German beers are available at Central Market in Plano, Costco in Lewisville, Whole Foods Market in Dallas and World Market in Denton, as well as at Fry Street Oktoberfest.
Participants can dress the part by wearing traditional German clothing like a gamsbart, which is a decoration on a man's hat, and lederhosen, or leather trousers. Women can wear a dress called a dirndlgwand.
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