Fun and festivities in Germany - celebrations, festivals and cultural events

The most famous holiday in Germany is Oktoberfest held in Bavaria in autumn. Oktoberfest is the largest and oldest beer festival in the world. It is organized by the Munich administration and traditionally takes place in Munich. Only local breweries are allowed to participate. They brew special sorts with 5-7% ABV. The first festival was held in honor of the silver wedding of the king and queen. It took place in the meadows near the center of Munich in 1810. The festival lasts about two weeks, until the first Sunday in October. Oktoberfest begins with a solemn festive procession of the owners of the tents of the Munich breweries, after which the first crane is set in the beer barrel.

In the meadow, there are 14 large tents with a capacity of up to 10 thousand people and 15 small tents designed for 1 thousand people. Life in these tents is boiling. People try different kinds of beer, eat local food, have fun, participate in competitions, and listen to music. There are rides on the square including a huge observation wheel and a free fall simulation tower. Those who accidentally got drunk, can reckon on help of doctors who are always on duty nearby. Except beer, you can taste other alcoholic beverages, buy souvenirs or just find new friends. Oktoberfest is not the only beer festival in the country. The joyful and colorful beer festival take place in Stuttgart, where it is called Volksfest, and in Berlin, where it is Beer Mile.

One of the most important public holidays in Germany is the Day of German Unity associated with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the unification of the country. It is widely celebrated on October 3. Official celebrations are held every year in different cities. In the capital, at the Brandenburg Gate, tents and stages are set up. Folk festivities in Germany are a way to relax; they make locals feel proud for their country and its history. During such holidays, Germans do not stint on emotions and really have fun. Christmas in Germany is another wonderful holiday, a time of miracles and magic. The houses are decorated four weeks before the holiday. The less time remains before it, the more lights and candles fill windows, storefronts, and streets. Throughout the country, the famous Christmas markets open, where you can buy souvenirs, decorations for the Christmas tree, gifts, and Christmas cookies. The most important fair is held in Nuremberg. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Another typical festival for Germany is the Berlin Film Festival or Berlinale, which takes place in February. Every year, the top and most famous representatives of cinematography from more than 100 countries come to take part in it. The overwhelming majority of films participating in the festival represent the category of indie cinema. During the whole event, about 400 movies are shown. In November, star representatives of the world of jazz come to Berlin to participate in the Berlin Jazz Festival. Another proprietary musical festival is the summer Wacken Open Air near Hamburg. Tickets for it are sold out in just a couple of days. Hard rock sounds on several stages of the festival from morning till night.

Germans are very fond of carnivals. The Carnival of culture takes place in Berlin. That’s a symbol of tolerance and respect for people of different races or skin colors. Another carnival is Fastnacht; it takes place before the start of Lent. During the celebration, everything is allowed to women and men. They can eat any food in unlimited quantities, drink alcohol, have fun and entertain in all conceivable ways. According to one tradition, women can attack men and cut off their ties, usually in bars. For the carnival procession, citizens of the country dress up in costumes of devils, buffoons, wild people, yeti, witches, and fairy-tale characters.