Prost! How to celebrate Oktoberfest in Israel
Traditional Bavarian folk festival offers Israelis a way to restore their sanity after endless Jewish holidays.
It all began in 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I of Bavaria, married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, and decided to invite all the citizens of Munich and the area to attend the festivities held in huge tents on the fields in front of the city gates. The wedding was celebrated for 16 days with performances, horse races, exhibitions, joyful music, a lot of food and lots and lots of beer.
About three years later, the royal family decided to turn the festivities into an annual festival. And so, for the past 200 years, Oktoberfest has been celebrated every year at the end of September for 16 days, drawing some 6 million visitors from around the world who drink about 7.5 million liters of beer.
The beer served during the festival is always lager beer which was consumed in the original festivities and can only be produced by eight veteran breweries from Munich. In honor of the festival, each brewery produces its own festive beer called Oktoberfestbier with an unusually high alcohol level.
Most celebrators wear traditional clothes during the festival - the men in short leather pants with suspenders, long socks and a hat, and the women in traditional dresses showing a lot of cleavage, which helps them carry 10 1-liter glasses of beer.
The entire event, despite the huge amounts of beer consumed in it, is a beautiful, cultural and festive event celebrated by people of all ages with the respect and joy that a real traditional national holiday deserves.
Paulaner, one of the eight traditional breweries participating in the festival in Germany, is bringing the celebration to Israel as well with Paulaner Festbier, a strong fresh lager. Paulaner will celebrate Oktoberfest in Tel Aviv at the Sarona Beer Garden on Wednesday and Thursday from 7 to 11 pm, with live performances, wooden benches for people to sit together, a selection of beers and traditional Bavarian food. Participants will be able to take home the brand's 1-liter glasses after drinking from them.
The main event, Paulaner's Oktoberfest Festival, will be held at Tel Aviv's Hatachana compound on October 21-22 from 7 to 11 pm. Participants will get to sit together and enjoy a beer in special glasses which they will be able to take home with them. Waitresses in traditional Oktoberfest clothing will complete the special atmosphere.
Those who are unable to attend these events but would still like to taste the unique Paulaner Festbier will be able to find it in 50 bars across the country.
