50 epic photos from Oktoberfest that prove it's one of the most misunderstood celebrations in the world

Rachel AskinasiSep 19, 2018, 04:49 IST

Visitors toast with beer mugs during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany.Alexandra Beier / Stringer / Getty Images Europe

The 185th Oktoberfest celebration starts September 22 and runs through October 7.
The tradition started as an annual way to celebrate the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The pair were married in 1810.
Thousands of people gather at Theresienwiese every year to drink beer and honor traditional Bavarian culture.

When you think of Oktoberfest, you're probably thinking about three things: Germany, lederhosen, and beer.

Whether you've actually been in Munich for the festivities or you've taken part elsewhere around the world, you know it's essentially one giant party.

It's also been commercialized over the years with lederhosen and dirndl Halloween costumes and Oktoberfest-inspired craft beers.

But there's a whole lot more to the festive celebration than you might think. These epic photos will show you just what we're talking about.

See 50 epic photos from Oktoberfest that prove it's one of the most misunderstood celebrations in the world >>

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50 epic photos from Oktoberfest that prove it's one of the most misunderstood celebrations in the world

In 1810, Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig — he would later go on to become King Ludwig I of Bavaria — married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.

The Bavarian royalty threw an epic wedding celebration on the fields in front of the city gates and invited the citizens of Munich to join them.

Those who weren’t in Munich were celebrating the wedding all across Bavaria.

The public fields were named Theresienwiese, or "Therese's fields," to honor the crowned princess.

And the wedding festivities ended with horse races.

The royal family decided to repeat the celebration one year later, which sparked the annual tradition now dubbed Oktoberfest. This year will be the 185th celebration.

There have only been a few times throughout history — times of war, cholera epidemics, and hyperinflation — when the country skipped the celebrations.

From the beer to the costumes to the food, there are tons of traditions spread out across all aspects of the festival.

At the start of the festivities, more than 7,000 people join musicians and farm animals — predominantly horses and oxen — in the streets.

If you've never been to Munich for the festival, you probably didn't know there's an opening ceremony.

It's complete with a parade of horse-drawn floats.

You'll also witness Bavarian bands playing traditional music.

The festival doesn't officially start, though, until the mayor of Munich taps the first keg of beer and yells "O’zapft is!" ("It's tapped!") He serves the first glass of Oktoberfest to Bavaria's minister president.

Before the mayor taps the keg, there's also a traditional 12-gun salute.

And at the closing ceremony, there's another salute on the steps of the Bavarian monument.

What says "family-friendly" more than a Costume and Rifleman's parade?

If you're doing Oktoberfest right, you won't just be drinking any old beer. And you can forget about ordering a Guinness.

In 1810, Dunkel — a dark lager — was the reigning beer of Munich.

But by the late 1800s, Oktoberfest revelers were introduced to a lighter beer, called Märzen or Märzenbier. These beers are more reddish in color and slightly sweet to taste, and they're similar to the Oktoberfest beers we tend to brew stateside.

Throughout the years, the festival beer has grown lighter in color. Now, typical Oktoberfest beer has got more of a golden hue.

Today's Oktoberfest beers also have a higher alcohol content than they used to as a result of the brewing process.

The beer is served in a giant mug dubbed a "mass," which is German for "measure." Each mass holds up to one liter of beer.

If you're in Munich for the on-site celebration, you’ll find beers from only six local breweries:

Augustiner-Bräu...

... Hacker-Pschorr...

... Hofbräu München...

... Löwenbräu...

... Paulaner...

... and Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu.

Each of these breweries sponsors a tented beer hall, for which you should probably make a reservation if you plan on attending. They set the model for all the local beer gardens you love to visit on Saturdays with your friends year-round.

These giant sponsored tents we know today replaced smaller stands in 1896, which were there so festival-goers could quench their thirst.

While the beer tents are where you'd go to grab your drinks, they also play traditional Bavarian music.

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone dressed in anything other than lederhosen and dirndl at Oktoberfest. But these are more than just festival costumes.

Originally, and during the time of the wedding, dirndls were plain, worn exclusively by servant girls, and typically paired with a set of lederhosen.

It's estimated that around 7 million people take part in Munich’s Oktoberfest each year.

That's a massive crowd, making it the largest beer festival in the world.

And a lot of people means a lot of beer consumption. On average, the crowd consumes around 7 million liters of it.

But, contrary to popular belief, the festival isn't just for drunk adults. Local families go with their kids and enjoy candy apples and schnitzel sandwiches. They ride roller coasters and take part in all the traditional festivities.

It's common for families to swing by the fair and enjoy a classic Bavarian lunch of obatzda and brezn (cheese dip and a pretzel). You may be more likely to find us hanging out there than by the beer tents, if we're being honest.

The crossbow competition you'll find over at the Armbrustschützen tent has been going on since 1895.

Music is an integral part of the festivities, too. Some tents even host Yodeling groups.

While others switch it up and showcase some rock and roll.

Yes, you'll even get to see the Alphorn blowers — they're the musicians who play those instruments you've seen in any Ricola commercial.

If you’re feeling traditional, you can stop at one of many tents hosting the classic brass bands.

Back in 2010, Oktoberfest celebrated its 200th anniversary. Organizers paid homage to the original festival with an "historic" celebration. It was called the "Historical Wiesn" and featured classic rides, horse races, and older style beer.

Remember the horse race we mentioned? Well, you won't be able to see one of those at the festival today. But, if you plan it right, you'll be able to catch the Agricultural Show.

The Agricultural Show was introduced to the festival in 1811 as a way to boost the Bavarian agriculture industry, and it now takes place every three years.

In being seen as just a giant day drink, Oktoberfest has become somewhat of a destination and meeting place for students studying abroad throughout Europe.

And when you’ve been tossing back liters of beer all day, it’s hard to take in the culture or learn about the history.

So next time you think about pulling on those lederhosen and sloshing a mass of brew with your friends — and a couple thousand strangers — be sure to make a toast to the happy couple, and the royal family that started it all. "Prost!"