Oktoberfest beer festival (Oktoberfest) started today in Munich. A grand event, which attracts millions of tourists from all over the world, will last until October 7. Bavarian costumes, loud celebrations and an unlimited amount of beer - all this awaits the visitors of the German festival.

Over two weeks Oktoberfest visits more than six million people. The record so far holds 1985: then more than seven million visitors visited the Louvre Theresa in Munich.

The main beer festival is due not to the Bavarian national drink, but to the wedding of the future King of Bavaria - Crown Prince Ludwig I and Princess Theresa in October 1810.

The wedding of Ludwig and Theresa was celebrated for a week. Celebrations ended with demonstrative horse races on the ancient chariots. Look at them gathered 30 000 people - 3/4 of the population of Munich in 1810!.

The national holiday on the occasion of the wedding of the Bavarian heir succeeded to glory. Therefore, the next day, the Bavarian king ordered to name the field where the races took place, by Theresienwiese and spend them every year. And there was Oktoberfest.

For more than two centuries the Oktoberfest was canceled or held very modestly 24 times.

First abolished in 1813 because of the Napoleonic occupation, in 1873 - because of cholera, in 1923 - due to hyperinflation, and in 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 - due to world wars.

The traditions of modern Oktoberfest developed at the end of the 19th century. Then they decided to start a two-week holiday early, in September. All for the sake of warmer weather.

The holiday opens with a colorful procession in folk costumes and with horse carts, loaded wooden beer barrels.