Identity and Tradition?

Bavarian National Festival

Bavaria, the kingdom by "Napoleon’s grace", was a young state formed out of many once independent territories. For the royal family of the Wittelsbach dynasty, it was therefore all the more important to make a "state" for themselves – the people of Altbayern, the Palatinate, Franconia and Swabia were to become a single Bavarian nation.

Under the leading minister Maximilian de Montgelas (1786-1868), the initial focus was on an egalitarian, enlightened rule based on the French model, which was deliberately intended to break with tradition, the second Bavarian king in particular, Ludwig I, took a different path. Not enlightenment, but history and tradition were to be the basis of the new Bavarian identity. The districts (government districts) were given historical names and were included in the national coat of arms, and a glorious history was commemorated with monuments, mints and festivals.

Until World War I, Bavarian rulers (with the exception of the reclusive Ludwig II) saw the Oktoberfest as an ideal annual event to present themselves to their subjects and symbolically celebrate the unity of the people and the ruling family. Until the end of the monarchy, the festival’s centrepiece was therefore always the large ruler’s marquee, and it was no coincidence that a tent seized by Elector Max Emanuel (1662-1726) from the Ottomans was used for this in the beginning. Tributes, processions, presentations or horse races, everything started and ended here.

Friedrich Röhrer-Ertl

Oktoberfest Traditions?

Tradition and customs are brought to life in many ways during the Munich Oktoberfest. As part of the celebrations over two weeks, there are rituals, some of whose roots date back to the 19th century. However, some of them are not as old as they appear at first glance, as they only evolved during the course of the 20th century. How does the world-famous folk festival manage to retain its character as a Bavarian national festival that creates a sense of identity to this day and what is the history behind the well-known and sometimes supposed Oktoberfest traditions?

Julia Misamer, Stefan Schnupp

To chapter: Theresienwiese