Oktoberfest - Bavaria's National Beer Festival, So Good They Start in September!
Here is the strangest thing about one of Germany's best celebrations - and they have some of the Europe's best - the Oktoberfest (translation: October Festival), actually starts in September. Having thought about this for years, mostly through a thick head, I can only conclude that this has come about because it's so good that no-one can wait for October to arrive and therefore everyone starts early!   Oktoberfest originates from the wedding celebrations surrounding the marriage of the Crown Prince, later to become King Lugwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hilburghausen. The marriage took place on October 17, 1810 and was celebrated with horse races and other popular entertainments of the day. These celebrations were soon incorporated with the agricultural show held around the same time and they have grown enormously ever since.   Nowadays there are huge fairgrounds with shooting galleries, fairground stalls and side-shows along with all manner of other amus...