10/3/2025 1:00:00 AM
by Stacey Potter - ALGCC
Lederhosen. Tankards of beer. Polkas. Pretzels. Warm potato salad. All these things make us think of one of the most beloved of German holidays—Oktoberfest. It is a celebration of the masses, of heritage, music, and food, that began in a somewhat unusual way.
Oftentimes, the holidays we celebrate today (like Halloween and Christmas) originate in long-held traditions of the citizenry of an area, based on culture, change of seasons, agriculture, and other regional quirks. Oktoberfest, however, began at the behest of royalty. In 1810, Prince Louis, the Crown Prince of Bavaria (now part of Germany), was married to Bavarian Crown Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The royal family decided to enlist its citizenry in the nuptials, hosting a feast and horse races on the fields in front of the city gates. The event was so enjoyed by citizens and royals alike that it was held again the following year, and then subsequent years after that, eventually morphing into what we now know as Oktoberfest.
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