The Origins of Oktoberfest: from Munich to London
It is this time of year again when Londoners get together in droves to celebrate Ludwig and Therese’s wedding. You may wonder what I am talking about. The Oktoberfest, of course, became a tradition in Munich, Bavaria, after King Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Theresa got married. Their wedding in 1810 was followed by a horse race, which was a great success and has continued annually ever since. Horse racing has since fallen by the wayside and been replaced with beer tents and fairgrounds.
Practice Your German at London’s Oktoberfest Venues
The Oktoberfest is also becoming increasingly popular in London with Mass, Wurst, Schweinshaxe and all the bells and whistles. There are many venues to choose from: Old Billingsgate Fishmarket in London, just a ten-minute walk from our office, celebrates with The London Bier Fest. Then there is the German Gymnasium next to St Pancras International, also not far from our office, with only a ten-minute ride on the Metropolitan line from Moorgate to Kings Cross. This venue is a disused fitness club now functioning as a bar and restaurant, which derives its name from its function in the olden days, a place for Germans in London to get fit. The London Oktoberfest promises to transform Walpole Park near Ealing Broadway into an authentic Oktoberfest venue; the same goes for Saint Paul’s Green in Hammersmith. South of the river, Bermondsey Bierkeller celebrates the Oktoberfest, and on Clapham Common, the Oktoberfest takes over the entire park.
Timeout London has a complete list of venues where Londoners can emulate ze Germans by wearing their full traditional clothing: Lederhosen for men and Dirndl for women, or vice versa. Whatever takes your fancy.
Essential German Phrases for Oktoberfest in London
Apart from emulating Germans in their garb, how about emulating Germans at this year’s Oktoberfest celebrations in London by speaking their language? Here are a few phrases you may find helpful should you come across a German or should you wish to insist on ordering your drinks and food in German:
German Language Tip: Ordering Drinks at Oktoberfest
‘Ein Bier, bitte.’ = 1 beer please
Should you order drinks for your mates simultaneously, you would still use the singular for Bier but add a different number: zwei, drei, vier, fünf. How many beers can you carry in one run?
German Grammar in Action: Ordering Food at Oktoberfest
You can use the same formula when ordering food: the number followed by the food in the singular. If the grammatical gender of the food you order is feminine (die), as is the case for Wurst, then you’d say ‘eine Wurst’ instead of ein. If the food or drink is a masculine noun (der), then you’d say ‘einen Schnapps’. The grammatical gender in German for all alcoholic drinks is masculine, whereas, for beer, it is neuter. Remember to add ‘bitte’ to keep things courteous.
Improve Your German: Making Connections at London’s Oktoberfest
Should you take a shine to someone German at the Oktoberfest, you can ask for their telephone number by saying, “Was ist deine Telefonnummer?” Having been successful in obtaining their number, you need to seriously start thinking about communicating with prospective in-laws in German, and that is when you get in touch with German Language Coach for bespoke German lessons to put you on the right footing!
Why Learn German in London with German Language Coach
Enjoyed practising your German at Oktoberfest? Why not take your language skills to the next level? At German Language Coach, we offer the following:
- Business German classes on-site for professionals in London
- Personalised German lessons in London
- Native German-speaking tutors
- Flexible schedules across London
- Courses for all levels, from beginners to advanced
Prosit!