The Oktoberfest in Toronto this year was just over. Its highlight relates to giving out a free 1L German beer stein to the first 500 festival attendees per session during the 2-day event on September 27 and 28. I wish I were there! Yet, I was thankful to God for having the opportunity to sip the cool beer in a beer garden in Germany years ago. I had also joined the Oktoberfest in Hong Kong for a few times. The atmosphere was just so unique; that’s why I do want to be in Munich for the original Oktoberfest one day, hopefully with my dearest niece who’s the greatest travel companion.
Talking about the origin, the First Oktoberfest dated back to 1810 in Munich, the Bavarian region of Germany. On October 12, the future King Ludwig got married and invited the whole city to attend the celebration that included a large feast and horse races. Nowadays, the festival is held each year over a two-week period and ending on the first Sunday in October. Then why call it Oktoberfest when it’s in September?!? It’s a concern about the weather when October is normally cooler and the daylight is shorter.
This further drives me to think of my first encounter with beer. At first, I didn’t like drinking beer at all until I visited Europe more often. Buying a glass or bottle of beer there was simply more economical than having the drinking water. Unbelievable! As time goes by, having a glass of cold beer has become my favourite; it helps me cool down in a hot day. It’s a drink best to be accompanied by tasty hot wings and peanuts. For me, beer can also serve as herbal medicine to relieve sore throat.
I particularly love pouring the beer to create thick layers of foam, and will immediately sip the foamy beer head mouthful by mouthful. It’s so soft! But there’s surely one thing I won’t do when I need to drive: no alcohol, not even a small glass of beer, not even the foam that I’m so fond of.
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