The A-Z of Oktoberfest Tips
Here’s an amusing alphabetical guide to Oktoberfest where you might even pick up some Bavarian words:
A: Augustiner-Festhalle
This beer tent is loved by local Bavarians and is the only tent to still use wooden barrels to serve beers.
B: Bavaria
This not only denotes the German state Munich resides in, but is also the tag for the gigantic Amazonian woman featured at Oktoberfest. Unsurprisingly, she’s the patron saint of the land.
C: Costume parade
On the second day of Oktoberfest, there’s a parade of about 10,000 costumed revellers who are led by Munich child-monk mascot, the Münchener Kindl.
D: Dirndl
The frilly dress donned by most female festival-goers is known for its plunging neckline. They range from the traditional modest ankle-length style to the mini-skirted, revealing ‘porno-Dirndl.’
E: Eyes
When toasting across the table, be sure to look at your fellow toasters in the eye. Otherwise, according to local belief, you’re cursed with seven years of bad sex!
F: Fischer-Vroni
This relatively smaller tent serves a range of Munich’s best Augustiner beer along with fish on sticks..
G: Gemütlichkeit
This is the German word for cosiness, acceptance and merriment: this is what Oktoberfest’s all about!
H: Hofbräu-Festzelt
With a capacity of 10,000, this is one of the biggest beer tents, and a favourite among foreigners.
I: ‘I mog di narrisch gern’
This is a way to say ‘I’m sweet on you!’ in German. Positive results not guaranteed.
J: Janker
You’ll see lots of men wearing these traditional jackets worn along with lederhosen.
K: Käsespätzle
A Bavarian specialty meal which consists of egg noodles with grated cheese and fried onions.
L: Lederhosen
The short, leather pants men wear. They usually come with suspenders and a flap at the front which can be loosened when nature calls.
M: Maß
The name of the beer steins.
N: Noagerl
The name for the dregs of beer at the bottom of the stein.
O: O’zapft is!
‘It’s tapped!’ This is what the mayor shouts to officially start each Oktoberfest. It happens on 12pm on the first day.
P: Pork
The Bavarians can’t get enough of their swine. The Germans use every part of the pig for meals. A favourite at Oktoberfest is Schweinshaxe (pork knuckles) served with gravy and potato.
Q Quartl
Bavarian for a 250ml beer glass (quarter-litre). Ideal for the light-weights.
R: Reinheitsgebot
This is the 500-year old German purity law which restricts brewers to only use water, barley and hops in their beer.
S: Schlager
Looks suspiciously like ‘lager’ but is actually just a type of upbeat German pop music often featured in tents.
T: Toilets
These are scattered across the Wiesn and probably the only place quiet enough to make a phone call.
U: Uaviech
The German word for either a ‘primal animal’ or a ‘real man.’ You might fancy yourself as one after your first stein of beer.
V: Vareckt
The German word for either dead or insidious. Let’s hope you don’t feel this way by the end of the night.
W: Weinzelt
This is a smaller tent which can hold 1300 people. They serve wine as well as beer.
X: X-ray
You may need one if you swallow a fork at Oktoberfest, which does happen! Sorry, there aren’t many words which start with x!
Y: Yodelling
Fans of The Sound of Music may be tanked enough to try this and why not? It’s about the only place in world where you can without fear of scorn or derision.
Z: Zzzzzz
Need to take a power-nap? The grassy hill around the Bavaria statue is a popular nap spot in the mid-afternoon to rest off one too many.
