 |
|
The world's largest folk festival, the German Oktoberfest, wound up another year with a colourful parade.
|
 |
|
Six million visitors attended the two-week party. They drank 6.6 million litres of beer and consumed 104 oxen.
|
The world's largest folk festival drew six million people to what locals call the "Wiesn", a large field in the centre of Bavaria's capital.
Gabriele Weishaeupl, Oktoberfest organiser, said, "Six million visitors came, despite the cold weather. They drank 6.6 million litres of beer which is not so bad. But this year we had to do without the outdoor beer gardens. One hundred and four oxen were eaten and the traditional roast chickens were also very popular."
Although some beer tents earned less than in previous years, vendors say they remain optimistic that the event remains ever popular.
Toni Roiderer, spokesman of Oktoberfest, said, "Some of my colleagues earned five percent less, others ten percent. But we don't aim for records, we want to have a nice, traditional Wiesn. The reason less beer was sold in some places, clearly had to do with the bad weather and the fact that there were no outdoor beer gardens."
These days the festivities tend to turn noisy in the evenings with drinkers yelling, thumping the tables and lunging at passers-by. Many foreign tourists can't handle the local beer, specially brewed in large quantities.
Oktoberfest each year attracts many visitors from abroad. Still, it is an annual highlight for Bavarians who turn out in traditional lederhosen and low-cut "dirndl" dresses.
(CCTV October 9, 2008)
