Even though Munich, Germany — home of world-famous Oktoberfest — is thousands of miles away, Syracuse still got in on the fun.

Oktoberfest has been celebrated locally for the past 52 years.

“It is a way for immigrants and the next generation to celebrate their heritage, as St. Patrick’s Day is for Irish immigrants,” Karina von Tippelskirch, Syracuse University’s German program coordinator.

The Great Syracuse Oktoberfest, Central New York’s largest tent party, featured raffles, bands, dancers, storytellers, and magicians, as well as 18-time Grammy Award winner Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra.

Danique Masingill, German language tutor, founding board member and academic chair of the SU German Cultural Society, volunteered at the festival.

“I knew some of the people hosting from an Oral History project I did, so I got to meet with them and other German Americans in Syracuse, as well as many of the local high school students learning German,” she said. “The choice of authentic music and dress was very interesting, and of course it was the best place to get Spaten beer.”

There is only one way in which the Great Syracuse Oktoberfest does not resemble the original Oktoberfest, held in Munich, Germany. With six million people attending Oktoberfest in Germany annually, everything about the original festival is huge. Von Tippelskirch said Oktoberfest is attended by young and old.

“Many families go with their children,” she said. “There are rides, food, and music, as much as at the state fair here in Syracuse.”

Germany’s Oktoberfest, though, began as just a small party that grew into something much larger over the centuries.

“It began in 1810 when the Bavarian King Ludwig I married Princess Therese von Saxe-Hildburghausen.” von Tippelskirch said. “They invited everyone to celebrate with them and offered free beer to all the guests.”

The SU German Cultural Society strives to advertise this rich history in the Syracuse community. They have also hosted other colleges and high school students in a scavenger hunt with German trivia, clues and tasks to be completed.

“We worked with the German Consul General and several other agencies on an event called Do Deutsch nationwide to promote German culture and language,” Masingill said.

Syracuse University’s involvement in and appreciation of German culture is growing. The German department will continue to facilitate film screenings, concerts, lectures and more, von Tippelskirch said.

Von Tippelskirch also hopes to establish a German House on campus where students could live and study together and German cultural events would take place in the future.

Published on October 8, 2012 at 1:20 pm