Germans are notoriously precise with their speech… after all, this is the language that gave us words like Schwangerschaftverhütungsmittel (Pregnancy Preventing Remedy) and and Dudelsack (A bag that makes a doodleing sound aka. Bagpipes)… so it’s incredibly confusing to so many people OUTSIDE Germany that Oktoberfest does not start in October. So, when is the Oktoberfest in Munich? It’s in…
Category: Festivals
German Fest Milwaukee 2018! Thank You & PHOTOS!
UPDATE- Thursday before German Fest weekend is always a fun “gathering” day. 2 Years ago I was there with my family… this year, Covid-19 cancelled the event. Still… there’s always next year! Loving these KIDS!!! Isn’t it funny how time spent having fun just FLIES by? Seems like only yesterday I was packing my bags to go to German Fest…
What is Oktoberfest Beer? And what makes it Special?
During the Fall months, with the arrival of pumpkin spice comes Octoberfest beers. While they are exceedingly delicious beers, the question remains; what is Oktoberfest Beer? And what makes one beer an Oktoberfest beer and another a seasonal ale? Is it the flavor or is it the Season? And is there a rule for making a beer and Oktoberfest Beer? Turns…
Schützenfest- A Marksmanship Competition and Weekend Celebration!
A few years, while visiting family in Germany, everyone was getting ready for the weekend’s Schützenfest. What is Schützenfest? I asked…. ahhhh… It’s a big fest with shooting competitions, drinking, a coronation, and a massive party that lasts the whole weekend. WHAT?? That’s right, a festival involving shooting and alcohol. (What could go wrong?) Nothing! (Remember, this is Germany!) Schutzenfester,…
German Easter Fountains- a Colorful German Easter Tradition
One way towns in Germany prepare for Easter is by decorating fountains. These German Easter Fountains are covered with flowers and colored eggs, making them a festive centerpiece to the city center square. Some places get wildly creative with arches and bundles of plastic hanging eggs. Other towns are more conservative with mostly container plants strung with a few…
What is the Easter Fire in Germany? A Symbol of Light in Darkness
What is the Easter Fire in Germany, and why is it lit? The Easter Fire, or Osterfeuer, is a symbol of light in the darkness. It can be as simple as lighting a candle, or as big as the bonfires which are ignited all over in Germany at Easter. Because fire is a symbol of light, of renewal, it signifies…
What is Maifest? What is a Maibaum? Germany Celebrates May Day!
Maifest celebrates the end of the long dark winter, and the beginning of warm weather and light. It’s a time of reawakening and joy! Best of all… it’s a fun reason to have a party, now that Karneval is behind us, and Oktoberfest is still a few months away. Celebrating the end of winter dates back to the Pagan times,…
Oktoberfest in Germany! A Wedding Celebration, and lots of Beer
Munich, Germany is the home of the ORIGINAL Oktoberfest. The fabulous Festival seeming takes over the city in late September , and just around that time we get these images of a Lederhosen wearing, Beer guzzling, Pretzel eating Man, with his Lusty dirndl wearing Fraulein. This image is only partially true, and doesn’t tell the whole story. Oktoberfest is so…