As you may have noticed, no matter what time of the year, you always find in Bavaria some good reasons to party and drink Beer.
They usually have some quite nice ritual or origin and it is always fun to do these at least once, even if you don't like Beer.
Starkbierfest
For example, around march, you have the "Starkbier Fest", which means the "strong bierfest". During Lenten Season (the time before Easter when the Catholics fast), the Paulaner monks in Munich developped a "Starkbier", which has a higher percent of Alcohol and also more calories, to compensate the fact they did not eat much during this time. This bier is now called Salvator.
Since then, most of the breweries in Munich also have a Starbier, which name always ends with "-or".
The Starbierfest is therefore in Paulaner am Nockerberg a big event, close to the Oktoberfest ambiance that you find in the tents. The main difference is that your bier is not served in See through One Liter Glass, like at the Oktoberfest, but in Clay one liter glass as it keeps the beer cool longer.
The Starkbierfest is also called the 5th Season of the year... so it is a real must do in Munich, and in Tracht!
The Osterfeuer
On the Saturday before Easter huge fires, the Osterfeuer (Easter fire) are lit all around Bavaria (and in some other parts of Germany). It is a great tradition, where the people of the village, especially the youth, gather and drink beer (what else!) together in front of the fire. It is very impressive to see. I don't think that any of the pictures you can find on internet can come close to how you feel next to it.
It was a pagan tradition meant to burn the winter and pray the gods and goddesses for fertility of the land, etc. When Chirstianism spread and became stronger in Germany, the church tried to forbid this pagan tradition. The population refused to abandon it though, so the Church made it a catholic thing, which i think is quite smart. It is still a very vivid tradition, especially in Bavaria. If you ever get the chance, totally worth it.
If you speak french or German, check out on Karambolage, they have a very interesting short reportage about this.
Frühlingsfest
As you may have guessed, the Frühlingsfest (Spring fest) is in the spring and celbrates the arrival of the Spring. It takes place on the Theresienwiese (just like the Oktoberfest) and it is called the Small Oktoberfest. It starts mid of April and lasts two weeks. just like for the Oktoberfest you will find somebig tents (two of them: Augustiner and Paulaner) and some carnival rides.
Maibaum Aufstellung
On the first of May, almost every bavarian village is putting up a Maibaum (A May pole) and it is my favourite German traditions.
I already wrote a whole post about this last year. If you have the possibility to check it out, it is such a cool thing to do. Try to find a village where they put it up the traditional way, and not with the crane. It takes longers, but it is very impressive to see. Of course, there too, you drink beer.
In the night from the 23rd of June to the 24th, people also lit huge fire and dance in order to celebrate the sommer and Saint John. Very similar to the Osterfeuer it is one more occasion to gather and celebrate. And drink Beer.
So these are the main traditions in the first semester of the year, hope you check them out. It is not just about drinking bier, it is integration ;)
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