Cullinan hosts bierfest
The event was marked by various craft beers, stalls and German traditions.
A German Bierfest was held at the Cullinan Library Park on August 25 and 26, making it the fourth consecutive year for Cullinan to be a ‘beer hotspot’.
The Cullinan Bierfest is based on the German Oktoberfest, which started on October 12, 1810, when future King Ludwig got married and invited the entire city to attend the celebrations, which included a feast and horse races.
It was such a hit they decided to repeat the horse races the following year and the tradition of an annual gathering.
The association with beer began during the early gatherings at beer stands, later replaced with large brewery-sponsored beer tents in 1896.
For the past four years in Cullinan, the exhibitors and visitors began to dress in traditional German attire, wearing the sennerhut (a traditional hat), lederhosen (leather shorts with H-shaped braces), and the girls in dirndl (full skirt with a tight waistband).
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Cullinan Library Park was turned into a beer haven this past weekend with authentic German and local food, craft beers, leather products and many more handmade products for sale.
The Pretoria-based oompah band, Die Eisbeins, and Oompah International had visitors from all over Gauteng on their feet.
This four-piece Bavarian-style band played foot-stomping and thigh-slapping German tunes, adding a true ‘Hofbrauhaus’ feeling.
One of the top hits performed at any Oktoberfest is Das Fliegerlied.
DONIKKL, a children’s pop band from southern Germany, wrote the original version, but Tim Toupet, a singing hairdresser, sang this version.
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Das Fliegerlied mixes modern pop beats with traditional German folk music, like the songs sung at karneval (carnivals).
The song is about someone having such a good day he feels he can fly like an aeroplane, is strong like a tiger and tall like a giraffe.
Ward 100 Clr Johannes Bekker was delighted to see so many visitors, exhibitors and locals have a wonderful time without disruptions.
“The mutual respect for one another during this annual event is what ubuntu is about.
“The variety of cultural events in our beautiful country should be shared and explored more often to ensure all South Africans are exposed to our richness,” said Bekker.
