Enlarge image
1/12
The first guests were spotted at 5 a.m. in front of Theresienwiese in Munich.
Shortly after nine, they were allowed onto the premises – and rushed off to get a seat in the beer tent.
Photo: LUKAS BARTH / REUTERS
Enlarge image
2 / 12
The guests had to be patient in the tents until they could quench their thirst.
Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) tapped the first keg at twelve o'clock - only then was there beer.
Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa
Enlarge image
3 / 12
The joy is huge: It was quiet on the Theresienwiese in Munich for two years, the festival was canceled due to Corona.
Now there is celebration again.
Photo: Michaela Rehle / REUTERS
Enlarge image
4 / 12
The mass event lasts until October 3rd.
Before the pandemic, around 6 million people came to Munich every year.
Of course, beer is one of them – but also gingerbread hearts.
Photo: Alexandra Beier/Getty Images
Enlarge image
5/12
Four gentlemen in smart costumes: one of the biggest misconceptions about the folk festival is that costumes have a long tradition there.
Until the 1990s, dirndl and lederhosen were hardly worn at the Oktoberfest.
Photo: jo_simon / Getty Images
Enlarge image
6 / 12
"The compulsory costume at the Wiesn has no historical correspondence," said Alexander Wandinger from the costume information center for the Upper Bavaria district of the "Abendzeitung".
The Wiesn dirndl is primarily “party wear”.
A "party attire" that has caught on.
Photo: Johannes Simon / Getty Images
Enlarge image
7/12
United in costume: These men take part in the procession of the Wiesn landlords.
Photo: Johannes Simon / Getty Images
Enlarge image
8 / 12
The hacker tent, also known as the "Heaven of Bavaria".
7.3 million liters of beer were served at the last Oktoberfest in 2019.
Photo: Philipp Guelland / EPA-EFE
Enlarge image
9/12
Decorated horse: This year the Oktoberfest will take place without corona conditions.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach says that is "justifiable".
Photo: jo_simon / Getty Images
Enlarge image
10/12
This man is obviously happy - and probably millions of others with him.
Those responsible are looking forward to the number of visitors.
Will money worries or fear of a pandemic dampen the rush?
Photo: jo_simon / Getty Images
Enlarge image
11/12
So far it doesn't look like it, the tents are full - and so are a number of visitors.
A custom, or rather a bad habit, is exing in front of everyone.
The »press measure drinking« works like this: The thirsty person stands on the table and waits until as many people as possible have noticed.
Then he or she drinks a whole beer in one gulp - to the applause of the other guests.
Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa
Enlarge image
12 / 12
The Wiesn landlords have often complained about this behavior and said they would throw out such people.
As the former Löwenbräu landlord Wiggerl Hagn said: "Beer is a luxury, not an intoxicant!"
Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa
