200th Celebration of Oktoberfest has Greek Theme

With great pomp, the 200^th Jubilee of Oktoberfest was celebrated  Saturday in Munich. Oktoberfest is the world’s largest folk festival, known as the “Beer Festival”. This year the festival had Greek color in its theme. For the first time in the history of the festival, the Greek Female Lyceum of Munich participated at the musical and dance celebration.  They performed at the beginning of the event along with the Bavarians.

The history of the festival counts 200 years and started on October 12, 1810.  This marks the date when Ludwig, the heir of the royal throne of Bavaria, celebrated his marriage to Princess Teresa (Teresia).  As Louis was an admirer of classical antiquity, he offered his people to hold a five day competition after his wedding in the model of the Olympic Games. On October 17, 1810, the first official games in honor of the royal couple were held followed by a plentiful supply of beer. The Bavarians liked the celebration so much that the king promised to celebrate this popular festival every year in October.

This was the beginning of Oktoberfest which is celebrated annually and lasts two weeks. It offers a rich entertainment program with Bavarian music and dancing and games for kids and adults.  The celebration consumes an enormous amount of beer and roasted chicken.  Bavarians and visitors from around the world celebrate this huge festival.  Japan, America, Australia, Canada and Italy citizens participate annually along with many other nationalities.

In 1832 the start of Oktoberfest was postponed for one week in order for the people of Munich to accommodate a Greek delegation.  The Greek delegation arrived in Munich following Otto’s coronation as King of Greece.  This postponement was the only one in history of Oktoberfest and demonstrated the Bavarian society’s philhellenic climate.

On this occasion the Vicar Bavarian Protopresbyter Malamousis Apostolos wrote the first mayor of Munich Christian Ude.  He offered to give Greek color to this year’s celebration and to present the dance group of the Greek female lyceum of Munich.

The mayor accepted the proposal and the official opening of the dancing celebrations were followed by the Greek Lyceum’s dance.  It left an excellent impression to the Bavarians due to its presentation and colorful Greek traditional costumes.

The Protopresbyter Apostolos Malamousis invited Ude and dragged along the kalamatianos.  He was applauded by the thousands of Bavarians present at the celebration. Among the 80 Munich city councilors, there was also a Greek city councilor present; Kostantinos Gianakakos.. The Greek dances were followed later by Bavarian dance groups.

It is worth mentioning that only Greeks and Bavarians participated in the Bavarian musical and dancing event of Jubilee.  Former Apostolos Malamousis thanked the mayor in particular for the honor he made to the Greeks of Munich, showing once again the great respect he and the Bavarians have for the Greeks.

” Congratulations to the Greek Female Lyceum of Munich, to the dancers, the chairman Katharina Fthenakis, secretary Helen Voulgaris-Pop, to the Takos pair of instructors and to all Board members for their excellent presentation of dances and the wonderful promotion of Greece” former St. Malamousis said.