- Title: O'zapft is! Oktoberfest kicks off in Munich
- Date: 22nd September 2018
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 22, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MUNICH MAYOR, DIETER REITER, TAPPING FIRST KEG AND CRYING "O'ZAPFT IS!" (IT'S TAPPED!) VARIOUS OF REITER POURING BEER AND HANDING OUT TO PEOPLE VISITORS IN TENT VARIOUS OF REITER AND BAVARIAN STATE PRIME MINISTER, MARKUS SOEDER, SAYING CHEERS TO OTHERS AND DRINKING BEER CROWD WATCHING M
- Embargoed: 6th October 2018 16:30
- Keywords: Oktoberfest Wiesn beer festival O'zapft is Theresienwiese festival Munich
- Location: MUNICH, GERMANY
- City: MUNICH, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0018YPKAQH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The world's largest, wildest and most famous beer festival opened in Munich on Saturday (September 22), as visitors from around the globe trotted out for the start of the annual Oktoberfest.
Revellers dressed in traditional lederhosen and dirndl corseted dresses descended on Munich as mayor, Dieter Reiter, kicked off the festivities by tapping open the first beer keg with a traditional shout of "O zapft is!" ("It's tapped" in English).
Visitors were keen to arrive early at the festival to secure spaces at the coveted long communal tables in tents, where they can swig beer, munch on sausages, pretzel or pork knuckle, and listen to oompah bands.
Oktoberfest has its origins in a horse race that took place in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.
The public festivities on the Theresienwiese open ground - named after the bride - became more elaborate as time went on, with stalls and amusement rises and it gradually turned into a folk festival.
Oktoberfest attracts around six million visitors every year, with some travelling from abroad for the experience.
This year's festival runs from Sept. 22 to Oct. 7. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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