Vocabulary

 

 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

The Oktoberfest procession in Blumenau, the most German of all Brazilian cities. Every October, the descendants of this city’s German founders celebrate their heritage with a festival of their own.

Blumenau’s Oktoberfest numbers among Brazil’s most popular — and most exotic. And, with some 600-thousand patrons, it’s the second-largest in Brazil after the famous carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

One, Participant Female: “I’m here with him. We’re both from São Paulo, and he invited me along. This is my first time here, and it’s a great festival. Everything’s fantastic.”

Two, Participant Female: “I love this tradition that’s been passed on from father to son for so many years. Such a joy! And the beer, of course, is very good.”

Three, Participant Male: “The festival’s marvelous. And the people are so hospitable. I love it and want to come back.”

29-year-old sales clerk Dany Anne Luchtenberg has German grandparents. Today, she’ll be representing the old country as an Oktoberfest Princess. She has no shortage of enthusiasm for it.

Dany Anne Luchtenberg, Oktoberfest Princess: “I’m very grateful. It’s an honor, because, as a little girl, I dreamt of being Oktoberfest royalty, and here I am! It’s indescribable. Everybody loves it. And lots of people join in for the parade. We love that, too. It’s a very emotional thing, because it’s a dream come true.”

Then, everyone heads to the fairground, the so-called ‘German town’. The revelers all join in, whether of German descent or not, anyone who can shows up in Lederhosen or Dirndls.

Four, Participant Mother: “It’s a German festival, so we dress as traditionally as possible, with the added bonus that those who show up in costume don’t have to pay admission!“

Five, Participant Female: “Wearing traditional dress, we feel like a part of the festival. And it’s just nice.”

Six, Participant Male: “Yeah. It’s fun dressing like this.”

The dishes served are typically southern German: Pork knuckles. Spätzle, and most of all . . . lots and lots of Wurst.

But the Brazilians prefer their pretzels with cinnamon and sugar instead of salt.

The biggest attraction here is the beer — with a good 120 breweries, Blumenau is Brazil’s beer capital. Patrons even bring their own beer mugs.

The queen and her two princesses make their daily rounds. They keep a tight schedule for the three weeks of the festival.

Dany Anne Luchtenberg, Oktoberfest Princess: “During the day, we attend events and in the evenings we’re at the festival so people can take pictures with us. We represent the festival, and so people simply love the attention.”

Among the highlights are the folk dances — extremely exotic in the home of Samba and ssa Nova.

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The people of Blumenau held their first Oktoberfest in 1983. It was something of an emergency: a flood had damaged the city, and its people hoped to finance the reconstruction with the festival’s profits.

Now, it has become one of the city’s main sources of revenue.

Seven, Participant Male: “I’ve been coming to the Oktoberfest since the first one. I never miss one. It’s the best in the world.”

Eight, Participant Female: “We’re from Blumenau and think the Oktoberfest is sensational. Everyone should come. I recommend it.”

Nine, Participant Male: “This festival is important for the city and the whole region. And it’s really important to come here.”

Every evening, Their Highnesses stroll around the festival pavilions, opening events like the traditional drinking contest.

Many Brazilians mistakenly believe that ‘meter drinking’ is a typically German custom. The idea is to chug the contents of a one-meter-long glass tube as quickly as possible.

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The musicians of the Blumenau Stadtkapelle dance band get ready to go on stage.

Musician, Blumenau Stadtkapelle: “I make most of the arrangements myself. We put together our own choreography and change the beat a little. But the aim is to preserve the character of the German music, since we’re in a city based on German culture — but with a touch of the Brazilian.”

Arrangements of German Oktoberfest standards performed with Brazilian flair, for instance, The Song of the Airmen, is sung in both German and Portuguese.

Everyone can join in. And instead of wooden benches to sway on, there’s a huge dance floor.

Ten, Participant Male: “I’ve been to the Oktoberfest in Munich, but it doesn’t compare with the Brazilians’ charm. That’s what makes our Oktoberfest so special.”

Eleven, Participant Male: “I love Oktoberfest music! I like it when bands come from Germany, so we can really immerse ourselves in German culture. But our bands really leave nothing to be desired — they’re SO good.“

Twelve, Participant Female: “The music is lively and very danceable. It brings German culture here. That’s cool.”

Prost! — the traditional toast, is familiar to the three highnesses from their visit to Munich’s Oktoberfest.

Dany Anne Luchtenberg, Oktoberfest Princess: “In Germany, we noticed that people prefer to sit. It’s more dignified. Here, we like to cut loose. We hop around and have a party.”

While their Royally-busy-Highnesses have to retire at midnight, the party goes on till the wee hours of the morning. Unlike the original in Munich, the Blumenau Oktoberfest is not subject to a legal closing time.

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Questions

Festival. The video was about the Munich Oktoberfest. True or false?

Party. Are all the visitors from Blumenau? Are all the guests and participants ethnic-Germans?

Carnival. Do the participants think the festival is dull, boring, tedious and grueling; or fun, colorful and lively?

Celebration. The main person at the Oktoberfest is the mayor of Blumenau. Is this right or wrong? Is Dany Anne Luchtenberg of Portuguese ancestry? Is she a fashion model?

Parade. Does the Blumenau “German Town” consist of skyscrapers, office buildings and apartment blocks?

Performance. Everyone was dressed in disco outfits. Is this correct or incorrect?

Feast. Did participants just sit and drink cola, wine and coffee? Is the beer imported from Germany?
 
 
 
Band, Music. I have been to a German Oktoberfest. Yes or no? Have you been to a festival, carnival or celebration?

Folk Dance. What celebrations or festivities are there in your town, city or country?

Games and Prizes. Do tourists and visitors come to your town or city? Could your city promote or create a tourist attraction?

Folk Costume. What festival or celebration would you like to attend?

Festival Queen. What might happen in the future?