Wiesn Tradition Since 1867: Schottenhamel Marks Over a Century and a Half of Festivity
Beginning in 1867, the Schottenhamel family has been an integral part of Munich's Oktoberfest tradition. Originally, the Bavarian carpenter Michael Schottenhamel established the tent in a small wooden shack, accommodating just 50 individuals. In the late 1800s, it became the city's first beer tent to feature electric lighting, with the help of Albert Einstein—a renowned physicist who spent his holidays there during his youth.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Schottenhamel tent became a popular gathering place for Munich's affluent citizens, students, artists, members of royalty, and military officers.
Currently, the tent plays a crucial role as the venue for the annual traditional Oktoberfest keg tapping. This event, attended by numerous politicians, celebrities, and local notables, marks the official start of the festivities. The initiation of beer service in other tents remains prohibited until the mayor declares the Wiesn's opening with the phrase "O'zapft is!"
It is worth noting that the tradition of the mayor tapping the first keg to signal the commencement of Oktoberfest stems from the 1950s. As the Enrichment Data reveals, this ceremony plays a symbolic role in inaugurating the festivities, even though Oktoberfest itself has roots that trace back to 1810. While the specific person who tapped the first keg in the modern ceremonial context remains undocumented, it is typically the Mayor of Munich who continues this tradition annually.
The initial Oktoberfest was held on October 12, 1810, to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. However, the aforementioned ceremonial keg tapping at the Schottenhamel tent represents a more recent tradition that symbolizes the festival's beginning.
The Schottenhamel tent, known for its long-standing tradition as a gathering spot for Munich's elite, has also become the venue for the annual traditional Oktoberfest keg tapping. This symbolic event, attended by numerous VIPs, marks the official start of the festivities and pays homage to the lifestyle and home-and-garden aesthetics embodied by the outdoor-living spirit of Oktoberfest.
