Ein Prosit, 2015
In this month's beijing kids I wrote about our favorite autumn holiday in Beijing.
This weekend, as has been our tradition now for four years, we were at the Paulaner Oktoberfest. It was, for us, several happy hours of unmitigated German joy with a few hundred happy, homesick Germans.
More after the jump
Planning for this Okotberfest for us began months ago. Brigid saw this dress in the Hanna Andersen catalogue in January and wanted it because it reminded her of the Black Forest colors and our Schwarzwald friend Jenny (who got us started on this tradition).
There was eating and drinking and toasting. Especially toasting from the tops of benches. Myles jumped on this at the first opportunity and every chance he got.
Brigid, too.
And, yeah, me, too.
And dancing.
We yelled at "Joana." We lassoed like "Cowboys und Indianer." We fliegen wir eines Flieger.
Towards the end of our night (but not THE Night, because we left earlier than most, even at 10:30 pm), the band played "Tage wie Diese" by Die Toten Hosen. Last year was the first time I had heard the song in the tent, so I was prepared for what happened next. I like this song anyway, but the way the crowd erupts singing "Keine Ende in Sicht..." I really feel the wish for the good times, the brilliant times, never to end. It is such a powerful pop song (from a punk band, no less) that I think the meaning comes through even without understanding the lyrics. It is exactly the wistful kind of song a punk band should record in their third decade together.
So another Oktoberfest for us is over. It does continue through this weekend for anyone in Beijing who might be interested.
As September turns to October in Beijing, Myles and Brigid look forward to their favorite autumn holiday. Brigid takes great pains to plan what she will wear that night, and Myles’ mouth waters anticipating what he might eat. For weeks they ask me how much longer they have to wait.
It isn’t Halloween, though, that gets my kids excited for October. Living in Changping these last seven years we haven’t always been able to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve. What they most look forward to is Paulaner Oktoberfest at the Kempinski Hotel.
This weekend, as has been our tradition now for four years, we were at the Paulaner Oktoberfest. It was, for us, several happy hours of unmitigated German joy with a few hundred happy, homesick Germans.
More after the jump
Planning for this Okotberfest for us began months ago. Brigid saw this dress in the Hanna Andersen catalogue in January and wanted it because it reminded her of the Black Forest colors and our Schwarzwald friend Jenny (who got us started on this tradition).
There was eating and drinking and toasting. Especially toasting from the tops of benches. Myles jumped on this at the first opportunity and every chance he got.
Brigid, too.
And, yeah, me, too.
And dancing.
We yelled at "Joana." We lassoed like "Cowboys und Indianer." We fliegen wir eines Flieger.
Towards the end of our night (but not THE Night, because we left earlier than most, even at 10:30 pm), the band played "Tage wie Diese" by Die Toten Hosen. Last year was the first time I had heard the song in the tent, so I was prepared for what happened next. I like this song anyway, but the way the crowd erupts singing "Keine Ende in Sicht..." I really feel the wish for the good times, the brilliant times, never to end. It is such a powerful pop song (from a punk band, no less) that I think the meaning comes through even without understanding the lyrics. It is exactly the wistful kind of song a punk band should record in their third decade together.
So another Oktoberfest for us is over. It does continue through this weekend for anyone in Beijing who might be interested.
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