Ein PROSIT

In Bavaria, a German state in the country’s southern region, September means the most beloved of all fests: Oktoberfest. (Right. We don’t know why it’s not Septemberfest, either.) The festival’s 200-year history has seen it grow from a local celebration to the world’s largest fair lasting 16 days, hosting nearly six million people from around the world.

To give you an idea of the scope of Oktoberfest, last year the event, which locals simply call die Wiesn after the fairground’s informal name, drew 5.9 million people, who consumed approximately 7.7 million liters of beer, ate more than 500,000 roasted chickens and 330,000 sausages. There are 42 acres and 14 massive beer tents with room for up to 10,000 partiers.

Oktoberfest originated in 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig, later King Ludwig I, married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12. The happy couple wanted to share the joyous occasion with the citizens of their beloved Munich, so they invited all to attend the festivities on the fields in front of the city gates. Nearly 40,000 Bavarians crowded the fields, which were named Theresienwiese (“Theresa’s meadow”) in honor of the princess, and enjoyed the revelry.

The event ended with horseraces attended by the royal family. The decision to repeat the races the next year gave rise to the tradition of the Oktoberfest. In 1816, carnival booths began appearing, with prizes of silver, porcelain and jewelry. The founding citizens of Munich assumed responsibility for festival management in 1819 and decided to make the Oktoberfest an annual event.

Only beer conforming to the Reinheitsgebot — sometimes called the German Purity Law — of a minimum of 13.5 percent Stammwürze (approximately 6 percent alcohol by volume) may be served at Oktoberfest. To tie the festival to its hometown, only beers brewed within Munich’s city limits may be served within the gates. Beers meeting these criteria can be designated Oktoberfest beer. Other similar beers, brewed outside Munich, are called Oktoberfest-style.

There are only six breweries that meet all the criteria: Augustiner-Bräu, Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner-Bräu, Spatenbräu and Staatliches Hofbräu-München.

In 1950, the festival adopted a ceremonial opening presided over by the mayor of Munich. In the new tradition, at high noon on the first festival day, there’s a 12-gun salute and then the mayor taps and draws the first beer. When the stein is full, the mayor faces the crowd and shouts, “O’zapft is!” which means, “It is tapped!” The mayor presents the first mug to Ministers-President of the Free State of Bavaria. After the ceremony, the beer flows and the party really gets going.

Locally, you can get in the German spirit at these Oktoberfest celebrations:

Intuition Ale Works fifth annual Oktoberfest, Sept. 17, noon-8 p.m. 
This year, Intuition holds its party celebrating all things German at its new location on the corner of A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and Bay Street. Ticket info at intuitionaleworks.com.

Beaches Oktoberfest, Oct. 14-16
Billed as Florida’s largest Oktoberfest celebration, this three-day event features, beer, food and live music from Grammy-winning band Blues Traveler.

German Schnitzel Haus, Sept. 17, 23- 24, 30, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22

It doesn’t get any more authentic than celebrating Oktoberfest at German Schnitzel Haus at its new location on Atlantic Boulevard. This multi-weekend event features live music, German beer and cuisine that will have you feeling like you’ve teleported to the Fatherland.