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The Pre-Origins of Oktoberfest
Our Wayyyyyyy distant relatives
It has become increasingly important in the pursuit of being healthy
these days.
It use to be simple, lower your calories and get more exercise.
Now they talk about getting enough sleep,
a colder temperature,
getting enough sunlight everyday and set your circadian ryth...
Eat with long periods of non eating to lower blood sugar and allow
your insulin to burn fat....
Much of this is research seems to come from
our centuries past habits....
that still seem to affect us ...
There is talk about Ancestral Diets,
which is mostly eating natural foods,
less processed.
So I thought it would be fun to go back and see
what some of our decendents from the stone age
and what their habits were.
Since it is Oktoberfest time I thought it would be fun
to look at Bavaria's origin
My ancestors on both sides of my German heritage most likely are part Bavarian like most of us.
I wonder about their relatives and how far back as they go. I wonder what their diets were like.
German's have a Long History
of being Party Animals and Feasting
Where did the name Bavarian Come from?
All of us with German heritage go wayyyyy back, most likely your ancestors were Celtic. More locally if you have Bavarian roots your Celtic tribe may have been The Boii which historians say were either Cow herders (like cowboys) or warriors, and maybe a bit of both.
Over many years the Boii became more Germanic and "Heime" a Germanic word for home was attached to denote them that later became Boii +Heime or Bohemian. As you got a little more local and lived on either side of the Danube a term …."The Varii" which meant “the people of” was attached and later turned into ….......Boii-Varii ..and finally Bavarian. Or Boii and also Bayern
Because of being mixed with other cultures and languages, Boii turned into Cuii and pronounced Cooh, which later became Cow.
If you were a Celt you had many festivals that were pagan but centered around things like the 4 different seasons called Fire Festivals.
As Christianity replaced the Celtic religions the festivals evolved to be centered around saints.
Since ancient times horse racing has been popular perhaps it being symbolic of Odin’s horse that beat Hrungnir's steed in Mythology. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_racing
Horse race at the first Oktoberfest outside the town of Munich
the stands held 40,000 people.
In Bavaria there was a town that later was named Munich (Munchen). The word is derived from "Monks".
The Boii were there in the 2nd century B.C. and the "Boii Varii". Then Benedictine Monks had a settlement in this area as early as the 8th century.
This town was well situated as it was on The Old Salt Road. Salt was so valuable back then to preserve food that it was called "White Gold". So a fortress was built for protection from invaders wanting to steal salt! Complete with a bridge and moat. This fortress was called Neuhauser Tor, until 1791 when it was renamed Karlstor and remains so today.
Horse races became popular and in 1448 a race was started in front of The Neuhauser Tor called the"Scharlachrennen" (the Scarlet Race) in which the first prize was a beautiful bright red banner, other levels of prizes included even a live sow. I am sure that was much appreciated back then. These horse races included a fair and also vendors selling their goods. So the roots of the Oktoberfest were sown and many folks ask “Why a horse race at the wedding of King Ludwig and Theresa, but now we have a good idea. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scharlachrennen
It was only in 1786, 24 years prior the first Oktoberfest, that this tradition ceased but was still well-remembered.
Emblem in front of the Karlstor
shows that it was made in 1302
Here is a drawing of what the Bridge, moat and fortress entrance looked like back in the 1300's
What a great place to visit today is the Karlstor on Marienplatz in Munich. The gate built in the 1300's still stands.
So much history here and get you would get a great feel of your roots.
~☼~☼~☼~☼~
Our CookBook Sale
Eintopf Special,
Our German Cookbook
with
Package of Goulasch Spice and
10 different Recipes
CD
with Step by Step Pictures
A recipe book and short biography of my Grandmother Emma Block. Her recipes, culture and cooking styles that were brought over from Germany. How they evolved when she came to America in the early 1900s and settled in Portland, Oregon on the west coast of the United States. Over 100 recipes
Karin Elliot born and raised in Germany
is a chef and wonderful friend giving me encouragement through the years here and donated her recipes for our newsletter. She also does wonderful volunteer work like providing meals for school children in need in Tuscon, Arizona.
Many German-Americans and German immigrants are interested in Native American items from books and movies to jewelry and arts and craft supplies. Karin will take care of you personally with her online store Native Rainbows
The Indispensable Radish on the
German appetizer plate
I have not eaten radishes that much, When you start to work with them
you start to fall in love with their flavor. In the United States you don't usually see them
in restaurants much except cut up in a green salad or on empty vegetable platters
Different Styles of Radish
You can enjoy fresh radish all year long
Often called Radi in Germany.
These are similar to the Daikon radish that you find in the stores in the United States. They are milder in flavor. These originated in China and made their way to Europe in the 16th century. The red small globe variety was developed later on.
These smaller white radishes are called "Bier Rettisch"
they are wonderful with a glass of beer and dark bread and butter topped with chopped chives.
Radieschen or small radish, are grown in Spring.
The Black Radish is planted in July and harvested in the Fall. They can be stored through winter like carrots and turnips.
After you slice the radish salt it and let it sit
"until the radish cries" this brings out the flavor and mellows the sharpness.
to the left
A perfect snack in the Biergarten is bread, sliced salted radish and a Mass.
Often cut like a Slinky
Everyone can pull off what a slice and it keeps intact.
See below how to make this with a kitchen knife. It is not that hard but takes a bit of practice to do very well.
Get yourself a Spiralizer to make the Zoodles and
other fun vegie curls
Video of Cutting a Radish Accordian
with a plain Knife
Rettisch Schneiden
Triangle Radish Cutter
Radish salads are perfect side for a bbq and a meal. salt, drain and add a vinaigrette and some chopped chives.
Radieschen
the small red radishes
pronounced rad-IS-shen
Makes a nice garnish for this brotzeit with quark.
It seems the smaller the radish the more powerful. The strong bite is caused by mustard oils.
(glucosinolate).
These of course ward off predators, but to our advantage it wards off bacteria in our system. Also they
aid in digestion so it is perfect accompaniment for a meal. To soften the "bite" salt the radishes either whole, cut
in quarters or slices and let them sit until they, as the Germans say "cry". drain and dry off the liquid which
contains much of the mustard oil.
when you order a pretzel you can order a side of this wonderful dip called Obatzda.
It is generally a camembert that
that is seasoned and whipped smooth.
This is one of my favorite songs of the Oktoberfest list.
It is often sang at closing of the Oktoberfest,
and folks will hold up the lights on their phones but sometimes
sparklers. That may be a thing of the past now
but below is a video of how it is done at Oktoberfest.
This is the newsletter you are reading now, called the German Goodies Recipe Newsletter. I have been publishing this for 20 years now and we have had a lot of fun doing it.
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If you enjoy the history I talk about in this newsletter you will also love the history of other dishes and foods I like to do in my
Food History Newsletter
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