When most people think of Oktoberfest, they think of October — understandably. But in reality, October is when Munich’s biggest celebration ends. The majority of Oktoberfest takes place in September. To understand why, have to go way back to 1810, when Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Her parents ruled the nearby Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen, today known simply as the German district of Hildburghausen in central Germany, with its border along northern Bavaria. So the two royals were essentially neighbors. Her parents wanted her to marry Napoleon, but that didn’t work out, so they settled for a Bavarian prince.

The actual wedding took place on October 12. It lasted five days, and included a folk festival, a free opera, play, ball, music aca

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