Wurstmarkt und Oktoberfest (Feste)

Context

In Kapitel 5, you learned about months and seasons, holidays, and festivals in Germany and Austria. Some, like the Wurstmarkt, which celebrates the annual autumn harvest, celebrate a particular season. Others, like Oktoberfest, commemorate historical events-in this case, the marriage of a Bavarian duke in the mid 19th century. In northern Germany, Hamburg celebrates the Hamburger Dom, a carnival-like festival held since the 13th century. What other things might festivals celebrate?

Exploration

Music plays an important part of these celebrations. Find out more about the role of music at some festivals exploring the link below. You might want to write down information about what you read as you note the following:

• Where are some of the festivals held? What kind of music is played?
• How long has the festival been held? Why do you think the festivals have lasted so long? Who attends the festivals and concerts?
• What does the number of festivals say about German culture? What are some clues that the festivals are popular among Germans?
• In what ways have the festivals changed since they first began? What do the changes in festivals signify about changes in German culture today?

Application

After you have read the article about festivals, listen to some of the music you have read about. You should be able to find recordings at your local library. Imagine you are listening to the music in the settings you have read about. Write a short essay about how you think the music fits into your idea about German culture.

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