Living in Bavaria

Text by Kevin Vuzem
Illustration by Anni Hakkarainen
Photo by © München Tourismus Werner Boehm

The free state of Bavaria is a state in the south of Germany. It is also Germany´s largest state. Bavarian customs are cultivated and presented everywhere in this region. Every city or local community there has its own and presents what makes up their tradition and how it is lived out. This includes traditional clothing for women and men, as well as Bavarian cuisine, festivities, music and the dialect. 

But Bavaria is more than just the Oktoberfest, leather trousers and beer. 

 

 

Illustration © Anni Hakkarainen

Bavarian traditions 

Everyone knows the famous Oktoberfest held in Munich, Bavaria’s largest city located in the center of the free state, where millions of people from all over the world come together every year and celebrate. The traditional clothing, beer and the tents for the festivities cannot be missed here. What was originally the occasion of Ludwig I’s royal wedding has now been carried on for over 200 years. But the Oktoberfest has also changed over the years and got more modern, but the traditions and customs have always been kept. In the end, fun is the most important part of this fest. 

 

Dialect 

When you think of Bavaria, the first thing that stands out for someone from Germany is the language. In Germany children are taught to speak High German only at school. But children are still learning the Bavarian dialect at home from their parents to keep this important tradition going. So, in general you can say, that children who speak Bavarian are learning two languages from the early age on. With regional differences within the political borders, the dialect is even listed in the Atlas of Endangered Languages and is protected by UNESCO. That is why the protection of this dialect is so important. 

 

Bavarian cuisine 

The delicious treats such as Weißwurst, pretzels or chicken are not only served at festivities. The meal with the white sausages and pretzels is a traditional way of having breakfast and a great way to spend time with friends and family. Also, the wheat beer cannot be missed here. The tasty dishes are an important part of the Bavarian way of life. 

Since there are many farms in Bavaria, everything that can be found in the fields and barns has always been processed there and made into some kind of food which is now traditional food. Bavarian traditions and customs are therefore also important in the culinary world. 

 

Traditional outfits 

Like the way bus drivers greet each other when they see each other in Germany, the Bavarian style of dress is also a feature of the Alpine regions which cannot be missed. The Dirndl or Lederhosen are worn for many occasions with pleasure. The ladies like to show themselves in dirndls of different variations. 

Leather trousers are not only seen at festivities, but sometimes also in the daily life, as some people wear them every day for work. The material, which at best is worn for a lifetime, is processed to a high standard and decorated with traditional motives.  

Children also wear these traditional clothes. When they are grown up, they sometimes even get the Dirndl or leather trousers from their parents, to make sure the tradition is also adopted by the next generation. 

 

Customs and traditions connect 

The Bavarian customs and traditions are mainly there to connect people. Every one of them in the end leads to the point that people meet up and enjoy food, drinks, clothes or music together, which makes the traditionality very important for the free state of Bavaria and should be carried on.