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Subject: Excerpt Of History
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 14:18:37 EDT
October 12
1810 The origin of Oktoberfest
Bavarian Crown Prince Louis, later King Louis I of Bavaria, marries Princess
Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The Bavarian royalty invited the
citizens of Munich to attend the festivities, held on the fields in front of the
city gates. These famous public fields were named Theresienwiese--"Therese's
fields"--in honor of the crown princess; although locals have since abbreviated
the name simply to the "Wies'n." Horse races in the presence of the royal
family concluded the popular event, celebrated in varying forms all across
Bavaria.
The decision to repeat the festivities and the horse races in the subsequent
year gave rise to the tradition of the annual Oktoberfest, which now begins
in late September and lasts until the first Sunday in October. Alcohol
consumption is an important part of the modern festival, and more than 1 million
gallons of beer are consumed annually at Oktoberfest.
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