Wondering how this great celebration got started? Prince Ludwig
of Bavaria, who was later crowned King Ludwig I, wanted his people
to share in the celebration of his marriage to Princess Therese of
Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Ludwig organized a horse
race and invited all the people of Munich. The royal party drew
about 40,000 guests a major rager, by ordinary standards, but only
a small fraction of the 6.4 million people at Oktoberfest in
2010.
Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held each year in Munich,
Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to early October. It
is one of the most famous events in Germany and the world's largest
fair, with some six million people attending every year. The
Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture. Other cities
across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after
the Munich event.
The Munich Oktoberfest, traditionally, takes place during the
sixteen days up to and including the first Sunday in October. In
1994, the schedule was modified in response to German reunification
so that if the first Sunday in October falls on the 1st or 2nd,
then the festival will go on until October 3 (German Unity Day).
Thus, the festival is now 17 days when the 1st Sunday is October 2
and 18 days when it is October 1. The festival is held on an area
named the Theresienwiese (field, or meadow, of Therese), often
called d’ Wiesn for short. Visitors also eat huge amounts of
traditional hearty fare such as Hendl (chicken), Schweinsbraten
(roast pork), Haxn (pork knuckle), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a
stick), Würstl (sausages) along with Brezel (Pretzel), Knödeln
(potato or bread dumplings), Kaasspotzn (cheese noodles),
Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Sauerkraut or Blaukraut (red
cabbage) along with such Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda (a fatty,
spiced cheese-butter concoction) and Weisswurst (a white sausage).
History The original "Oktoberfest" occurred in Munich, on October
18, 1810: For the commemoration of their marriage, Crown Prince
Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of
Saxe-Hildburghausen (namesake of the Theresienwiese festival
grounds) organized a great horse race (the marriage took place on
October 12; the horse race on October 17—therefore, there are
different dates named as being the first Oktoberfest). Oktoberfest
numbers (2007) * Area: 0.42 km2 (103.78 acres) * Seats in the
festival halls: approx. 100,000 * Visitors: 6.2 million * Beer:
appr. 6,940,600 litres(126,900 litres non-alcoholic) * Wine: 79,624
liters * Sparkling wine: 32,047 litres * Coffee, tea: 222,725
litres * Water, lemonade: 909,765 ½ litres * Chicken: 521,872 units
* Pork sausages: 142,253 pairs * Fish: 38,650 kg * Pork knuckles:
58,446 units * Oxen: 104 units * Expenditure of electricity: 2.8
million kWh (as much as 14% of Munich's daily need or as much as a
four person family will need in 560 years) * Expenditure of gas:
about 205,000 m³ * Expenditure of water: about 90,000 m³ (as much
as 27% of Munich's daily need ) * Waste: 678 t (2004) * Toilets:
about 980 seated, more than 878 meters of urinals and 17 for
disabled persons * Telephones: 83, also for international credit
cards * Lost property: about 4000 items, among them 260 pairs of
glasses, 200 mobile phones, wedding rings, and even crutches.
Crowned Prince Ludwig was AB(-7) years old and Princess Therese
Charlotte Luise of Saxony-Hildburghausen was FG(+3) years old at
the time of their marriage. Prince Ludwig became king in 1825 and
his Reign lasted CD(+12) years (Hint: watch the months and ONLY use
full complete years). Once crowned he became Ludwig E(+2) of
Bavaria. The marriage lasted for HI(+6) until Queen Therese died.
She was 6J(+6) years old at her death. Her husband lived till 1868
at the age of 81 years old.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.