Trachtenumzug

I learned a new word yesterday: Trachtenumzug. It means "costume parade". This is held on the second day of Oktoberfest. Friends and I went to the city center yesterday to watch 60+ regional groups/bands/breweries march in their traditional costumes. The people were so beautifully dressed and proud of their villages' heritage...it was incredible. Lots of oom-pa-pas, lederhosen and dirndls, and that was just in the audience! Have not ever seen anything quite like it in the states for certain-some of these towns had banners proclaiming that there home was 500+ years old. WOW.

Here are a few pictures of the carriages from the breweries: Some were moved by horse power:

One was moved by oxen-these were absolutely huge animals-check out the big keg they are pulling! You just don't get to see this stuff growing up outside of Detroit or living in Atlanta! There was one that was being pulled by a team of goats!

And then for some reason these people were pulling giant dumplings:

The parade lasted for hours and was wonderful. The route starts in the city center and winds it's way down to the Wiesen (meadow) where the Oktoberfest celebration is held. It is a long route and I know that they earned the beers waiting for them at the end point!

Here is the hunting club with their dogs:

I captured this little girl having a twirl:

These people had a great view from the windows of one of the office buildings along the parade route. Check out all of the lederhosen and dirdnls here and also in the backround of the pictures above!

These were people standing next to us...you didn't really think that I would leave you without some real people did you?

The parade was full of color: from the dresses to the flowers and hops that decorated the carriages, beer barrels, horses and the ladies' bosoms. My camera couldn't keep up with all of the colors! It was beautiful day and I was honored to see the pride that everyone had in their hometowns.