Chapter 4 Partying like the Bavarians

The Oktoberfest welcomes guests from around the world for one of the planet’s biggest parties. Yet despite the international environment, if you really want to be a part of the festivities, there are a few local customs you should find out about. Bavarians value a collective and communal atmosphere, so get involved and get to know the people around you.

One of the simplest ways to join in and avoid misunderstandings is to master a few of the most frequent words in use at the fest. What is more, ladies should make sure they know what message they are sending by how they tie the bow of their dirndl aprons: if it’s tied on the left (seen from the front), then that means “I’m in a relationship“; tied on the right says “I’m single“.

There are a few rules about drinking beer, too. The last few sips at the bottom of the tankard are not generally drunk, for instance (Bavarians call that a Noagl – which translates roughly as “slops“). Another rule is to make sure you sway left and right with your neighbours when the music gets going (Schunkeln) and to sing along as soon as you can. Don’t worry: if you stay late into the evening, you’ll soon get the hang of the lyrics.

Your Wiesn glossary

Learning a few words of Bavarian dialect is a great way to really get involved in the Oktoberfest fun: after all, if you’re sat next to locals, it can’t hurt to have a grasp of the basics. What is more, being able to read a menu and order a beer in German will not only impress your hosts, but help you get what you need.
What is more, inside the tents, there are frequent announcements, so learning a bit of vocab beforehand can help give you a better understanding of what is going on. Lots of people in Germany speak English, so it’s up to you whether you just want to know what’s going on without asking for a translation, or whether you actually want to try speaking yourself. We’d recommend trying to at least say “Hello“ and “Goodbye“. A little goes a long way!

Bavarian
English
A fesches Madl A pretty girl
Basst scho! Don’t worry, it’s fine.
Bsuffa Drunk
Buam Boy/man
Busserl Kiss
Des is mia wurscht! I don’t mind!
Fesch bist’! You look good!
Gaudi Lots of fun
Hawedere It’s a pleasure! (Hello/Goodbye)
I mog di! I love you!
Is da no frei? Is there any space here?
Ja, mei... Well I never!
Minga Munich
Bayerisch
Ãœbersetzung
Oa Bia A tankard of beer
Oans, Zwoa, Gsuffa. One, two, and drink! (Toast)
Obacht! Watch out!
Pack ma's! Right, let’s be off!
Pfiad Eana! Goodbye!
Schädlwä Headache
Scheene Aug’n host. You have lovely eyes.
Schleich di! Get out of here!
Schmankerl A delicious Bavarian dish
Servus Hello/bye
So a Schmarrn. What absolute rubbish!
Wea ko, dea ko. If you’ve got it, flaunt it.

What not to do at the Oktoberfest

  • Don’t dance on the tables

    Once the party really gets going in the tents, people like to dance, getting up on the benches to strut their stuff. Which is all fine and dandy. Dancing on the tables, however, can get you thrown out of the tents!

  • Don’t down a tankard

    Although there is a tradition of downing an entire tankard full of beer, the tent landlords don’t like to encourage excessive drinking and anyone who decides to clamber up onto a bench and pour an entire litre of beer down their gullet in one go will be warned by security. Doing it a second time will mean a certain exit…

  • Don’t upset the staff

    The waiters and waitresses in the tents have a tough job and spend all day trying to make your stay as pleasant as possible, so it’s only right that they expect friendliness and understanding in return. Tipping is standard in the tents and is part of staff’s earnings. Trying to touch or grab a member of service staff is a very bad idea – as is making lewd remarks.

  • Don’t wear a costume

    Lederhosen and dirndl are traditional regional dress, not party costume wear, so one of the absolute worst mistakes you can make is to turn up at the airport or main station and buy a cheap-and-nasty pair of fake lederhosen or a plastic dirndl. It’s a better idea to go in what you would normally wear or to accentuate your outfit with one well-chosen Bavarian accessory.

  • Don’t fall asleep under the statue

    The grassy embankment under the giant statue of Lady Bavaria might look like a great place to lay back and relax, but it’s never a good idea to take a seat here – and whatever you do, don’t fall asleep! Why? This area is frequently used by people who’ve had a bit too much to drink to relieve themselves and sleep It off, so you’ll soon find that this is no place to hang around too long…

Staying safe at the Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest is generally a welcoming and good-humoured festival and to make sure it stays that way, the safety and security concepts are checked and updated every year. There’s a particular focus on making sure that female guests can enjoy the Wiesn without being harassed, with a specific security point open to women at all hours.

Nevertheless, with several million visitors over two weeks and high alcohol consumption, there will always be some disagreements and some unpleasant situations. Wherever possible, avoid anything that looks ill-tempered; don’t respond to provocations by overconfident drunks; and always call for help as soon as something looks like it’s going to escalate.

  • Agree a meeting point

    Arrange a place to meet on or near the Theresienwiese in case you and your friends become separated in the crowds. That way, if your group is missing a member, you’ll know where to go and find them.

  • Take a break between beers

    As tasty as Oktoberfest beer is, it’s got a relatively high alcohol percentage and so has a stronger effect than your average brew. To avoid an unpleasant surprise, try to drink slowly and leave it a while before you order your next one. Alternatively, alternate between a tankard of beer and a non-alcoholic drink or a shandy (Radler). Make sure to keep eating, too!

  • Get help in emergencies

    If a situation turns critical, don’t hesitate: get help as soon as possible. Make sure you know where the emergency services and the Wiesn officials are before you start drinking – and remember to put the number for German emergency services into your phone so that you don’t have to think twice.

  • Keep your valuables close

    The Wiesn is often crowded, so keep your valuables as close to your body as you can. If you put your purse or wallet in your inside jacket pocket, make sure you don’t hang it up or put it down somewhere you can’t see it. Waistbags are a good way to keep things safe and can be tucked away below dirndl aprons or under jackets.

  • Don’t drink from other people’s tankards

    When things get busy, it’s easy to lose track of whose drink is whose. Do try to avoid drinking from the wrong tankard, though, as you might annoy the person your next to and may also get a case of contagious “Wiesn flu“: yes, the common cold and other infections love crowded events like the Oktoberfest! What is more, you never know what people might have put in their beer…

  • Plan how to get home safely

    Make sure you get back to your hotel or wherever you’re staying in one piece! If you’re new to Munich and heading back using public transport, make sure to take an accurate note of the lines and connections you need: after all, you’ll be trying to catch the right bus or train after a few beers. If in doubt, get a taxi. And try to take care of people in your group who’ve had a bit too much to drink!