From 1810 the annual traditions of Oktoberfest were cancelled only within the years of wars. After the World War Two the festival was organised only in 1950 under the order of current Munich mayor Thomas Wimmer. Since then the Oktoberfest never skipped its arranging. In 2003 Munich celebrated its 170th Oktoberfest.
Every year midnight sharp signifies the beginning of delirious “drinkage”. According to traditions every year at twelve sharp the mayor of Munich uncorks a full butt of high quality local beer. That symbolic gesture gives start to “beer marathon”. Later on central streets are getting flooded with the crowds of ferial march with the Munchner Kindi in the forward. Munchner kindi is a symbol of the city, namely young lady with a big bell in her hand riding the horse in motley festive gown. That girl is usually dressed in a monastic gown of black with yellow colours. In line with her there are two carriages in one of which drives the mayor and in the other Bavarian authorities. After them one can observe a huge procession of decorated horses and carriages which carry butts of different types of beer gathered all over Germany but mainly those from Bavaria. Apart from them there are lines of archers, performing actors and folklore singers, wind-band orchestra and troops in historical outfit shuffled with general public and representatives of all other lands of Germany which mushroom the parade. Everyone cares ornaments and garlands; everyone sings and performs plays right in the process of the march. That parade tradition is considered to be one of the most beautiful, breathtaking and well organised parade in the world. Every time it starts from Siegestor, lies in the heart of the cities down its central streets and ends in six kilometres in the Theresienwiese – major place of celebration.
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