Kirta Sunday is usually the third Sunday in October when these festivals can take place. It’s really an experience that you have to come to understand. I really think these are some of the best festivals in Germany. However, some of these are not the big carnival festivals at all. Regensburg, for example, has a summer festival every few years where vendors and bandstands are scattered around the city’s Old Town. It’s more of a leisurely activity than a big party, like Volksfets.
Karneval is one of the oldest celebrations in the world, dating back to the 13th century. Carnevale di Venezia, the original celebration originating from Venice, eventually spread north to European countries, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland and even France. Every year Berlin celebrates this momentous occasion with a large city-wide festival. If you’re in Berlin for German Unity Day, you’ll have no shortage of things to do and see. The Berlinale, popularly known as the Berlin International Film Festival, is the second largest and largest public film festival in the world after the remarkable Cannes Film Festival. With more than half a million sponsors made up of international film stars and filmmakers from all disciplines, the Berlinale is a whirlwind of glamour, talent and entertainment.
Germany has some of the most famous inventions in the world: you can thank the Germans for the light bulb, the automatic calculator and the car. Some of the world’s greatest German philosophers include Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche and Heidegger. In Germany, more than 800 million currywurst are eaten annually: currywurst is a sausage served with a hot sauce, and it is a street food that has become a cult classic in Germany. There’s even a museum in Berlin dedicated to the popular snack.
The festival officially begins when the mayor says “O’ zapft is” during the opening ceremony on the first day of the event. There is only one place to see this; the Schottenhamel shop. Here you can experience the Bavarian tradition, where the mayor of Munich has the honor of playing the first keg of Oktoberfest beer in the afternoon. Once the first keg of beer is opened, everyone can get their beer and officially start Oktoberfest.
Known to consist mainly of meat and potatoes, German cuisine tends to be quite heavy on the base. Perhaps that’s why there are several traditional festivals in Germany dedicated to the country’s most important crops. Carnival originated in Venice and is now celebrated all over the world, from New Orleans to Rio de Janeiro. Each has its own unique taste and the German version is a kind of two-week costume party. This is especially true in Cologne, a city famous for its Karneval celebrations. Germany is a renowned European country, popularly known for its festivals, football, beer, food, history, architecture, avant-garde buildings and much more.
From tangible history, big cities with avant-garde architecture, mind-boosting culture, beautiful scenery and fun German festivals, this country promises a holiday full of surprises. While Berlin, Germany’s capital, is known for its international film festival and intense celebrations, Munich’s hotel oktoberfest breweries and cuisines are legendary. Fancy sipping cocktails among dinosaurs or dancing to the dances of the castle? Then mark your diaries for the Long Night of Museums in Berlin. The long-awaited night sees between 70 and 80 of the city’s museums open late for the public to explore.