It began as a king’s wedding feast hundreds of years ago in the southern German state of Bavaria, but the thrill of Oktoberfest continues into today. The celebration is certainly one of the most famous and easily-recognized cultural exports from Germany. It might be thought that this traditional festival has lost some of its cultural heritage in being transported across the ocean, but many sights and sounds of Savannah’s Oktoberfest stay true to the original.

In Munich, the home of the original and biggest Oktoberfest celebration, hundreds of thousands of people converge on massive circus tents that house huge Biergartens and brass bands. The gorgeous historical city is taken over with the celebration, turning into a huge playground dotted with amusement rides and outdoor restaurants. Revelers sway to the music and indulge in liter-sized glasses of some of the best Lager and Pilsner in the world. In many beer houses, this liter-sized glass of beer, called a Mass, is the smallest beer served! While in recent years, newer styles of music have been played at Oktoberfest, there is a strong traditional thread of brass bands and folkloric clothing that permeates the festival.

While Savannah’s Oktoberfest may not be on quite the same scale as the incredible Munich Oktoberfest, it has many of the same traditions and sights. On the first weekend in October, the yellow, red, and black German flag and the white and blue Bavarian state flag flapped in the air over Savannah. Dozens of booths lined River Street, set up by vendors selling their wares. An incredible variety of items were available for purchase, ranging from handmade jewelry to traditional wood crafts. Interspersed among these artful displays, booths offered up delicious fare from Germany – Bratwurst, beer, pretzels, and Schnitzel. For those with less adventurous tastes, American favorites were also available.

One highlight of the festival resonated throughout the river front: the live music provided by the Channellheimers Oompah Band out of Augusta. Dressed in Lederhosen, the historical costume of Bavaria, the band performed both traditional and original songs. The lively strains of music encouraged many bystanders to jump into the spirit and dance.

Another event not to be missed was the Wiener dog race, and many of these unique little dogs could be seen strolling around the grounds afterward, playing and socializing in true Oktoberfest style. A playground set up at the end of the festival provided opportunities for fun for younger revelers.

In these modern times, it is refreshing to see old traditions brought forward through time with enthusiasm and joy. Oktoberfest provides a taste of the Old World in the New, and the opportunity to celebrate simply because celebrations are fun. -- Kelli Knotingham

Halloween's origins go back to the 5th Century, in Celtic Ireland, when summer ended on October 31. That was the day when the New Year, Samhain, the Festival of Death, was celebrated.

Many people believed that the disembodied spirits of those who had died in the prior year returned to earth searching for bodies to inhabit for the coming year. This was their only hope for salvation and after life. The laws of space and time were suspended on this day, so the spirit and living worlds could intermingle.

However, the living didn?t want to be possessed. So they extinguished all the fires in their houses, to render them cold and unpleasant, and they would dress up in ghoulish costumes and tramp around boisterously trying to frighten the spirits away.

The early Catholic Church accepted many of these Pagan practices, but added a religious twist, turning Nov. 1 into All Saints Day and honoring those saints who had died the year before. The night before became All Hallowed Evening, or Halloween. The night grew into a time of mischief and evil doings.

When the Irish immigrated to the United States in the 1800?s, they brought with them a Halloween tradition of lighting candles in turnips to keep spirits at bay. Finding turnips in short supply in America, however, they began carving pumpkins and thus, the Jack-O-Lantern was born.