Guten morgen, Wolfgang; thanks for this reminder, may I ask some follow-ups: in Frieburg and other southern German areas, is there any use of the Oktoberfest concept in the social calendar? And, generally, do you think Germans outside of Bayerne draw upon the Oktoberfest traditions in any positive ways? I sense in your response some real disregard for Bavarian excess and how it paints German culture overseas; is this a typical German reaction to Bavarian Oktoberfest? Here in St. Louis, the beer capitol of the US (sorry folks it's not Milwaukee)-- yes, of course, there are multiple "German" Oktoberfests on the calendar in the coming weeks.... great to hear from you on this one, --Hal B. On Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 3:22 AM, Wolfgang Hochbruck < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > I may come across as a spoilsport, but may i point out that a "Kneipe" > -- now used for locations rather than the tradition -- was an > exclusively student corporation activity, that Twain's description of it > is pure satire and doesn't have anything to do with how such an event > was conducted historically, and that the Octoberfest is a Bavarian > thing? One of the cruellest hoaxes perpetrated on German culture in > cultural history is its Octoberfestization in the U.S. Stands on a par > with what Disney did to the Brothers Grimm, in fact it is part of the > Disneyfication of world cultures in the name of commerce. > > Best, > Wolfgang Hochbruck > -- Harold K. Bush, Ph.D Professor of English Saint Louis University St. Louis, MO 63108 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h) <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>