Discover Munich with your ears — now you can with our “simply Munich” podcast. Episode 10 is all about Munich’s fifth season: Oktoberfest.
How does a tradition actually come about? Cultural anthropologists love to debate this question, as evidenced by countless research studies. You could read those—or you could visit Oktoberfest. After all, there are traditions there in such diverse forms that you probably won’t find anywhere else. There are the old, well-established traditions that are cherished and preserved. Or the recurring rituals, still fresh and new, just on their way to becoming traditions. And finally, every year there are a few new trends, and it’s hard to tell yet: Will they become traditions, or are they just a passing fad?
“Every first Sunday of Oktoberfest since 1983, around 8:30 a.m., I wake up to the sound of brass band music outside my window. In this case, it’s the Dachau Boys’ Band, but I don’t really care at that point, since I’m still in bed and would love to sleep a little longer—because, as always, the first night of Oktoberfest is still taking its toll on me.”
In this episode of “simply Munich – Der Podcast,” our reporter Flo Schairer sets out to discover the origins of some of the Oktoberfest traditions. In the process, he not only learns a lot about the history of the world’s largest folk festival, but also throws himself into the thick of the action—and witnesses a beheading. Flo also finds out what it takes for a band to get a beer tent rocking, where traditional dress actually comes from—and just how exhausting a server's job really is.
Siblings Theresa and Xaver Portenlänger come from a long-established family of innkeepers in Grünwald and are experienced Oktoberfest servers. For many years, they have been serving customers in the beer garden of the Augustiner Festzelt at the Oktoberfest, and they also run the popular Xaver’s Inn on Rumfordstraße.
www.xaver-s.de | Instagram
Traudi Siferlinger is the musical program director at the “Schützenlisl” folk singer tent at the Oidn Wiesn. The well-known BR expert and host regularly takes the stage herself to encourage the audience to sing along.
www.stiftl-oktoberfest.de | Instagram
Thomas Wohlschläger is the general manager and bandleader of the “Kirchdorfer,” the band that has been livening up the Hacker festival tent for more than 30 years. The band tours all over the world, and since 2018, it has also been performing at the Starkbierfest on the Nockherberg.
www.oktoberfestband.com
Sabine and Caroline are active members of the Heimat- und Brauchtumsverein Lechler München e.V., an association dedicated to preserving and reviving the so-called “Münchner Gwands.”
www.lechler-muenchen.de
As an official city tour guide, she especially enjoys leading tours through the places where Munich's beer culture is most vibrant, such as the Oktoberfest.
www.bier-und-oktoberfestmuseum.de | Instagram
Toni Schleifer is from the Rhineland and is a carnival operator. At the Wiesn, he runs the “Fahrt ins Paradies” roller coaster, a ride dating back to 1939 that evokes a sense of nostalgic joy among riders.
Once you've listened to this episode, you'll know what to keep in mind and what to experience on a trip to Oktoberfest. Looking for even more (insider) tips, background information, city history, itineraries, and details than you'll find in this audio guide? You can read about them on our website.
