Oktober Fest is something that Americans pretend to understand but will never truly grasp. Just like people who don't live in New Orleans aren't ever really sure what is so fantastic about Marti Gras. However, in typical American fashion, we celebrate Oktober Fest anyways.
"A holiday where you can get drunk for no discernible reason??? Well, heeeeeellllll, add that to the list, right next to Fourth of July, Labor Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Valentine's Day!"
To be fair, some people have very good reasons to get drunk on Valentine's Day, most of which have to do with chronic and/or crippling loneliness. Those other holidays, though? Um, yes, let's celebrate the birth of our nation with an ice cold beer. Nothing says "America" like getting sloshed. And Labor Day? Does anyone even understand the meaning of that holiday? Let's recognize the work force of our country... with a picnic and a few beers! And my personal favorite: Cinco de Mayo! It's not even our holiday, people! If you are Mexican American, then fine, but otherwise? Let's celebrate Mexican Independence Day! Yeah, that day actually falls in September. Cinco de Mayo is the commemoration of an important battle, but nice try at justifying your support of Mexican beer companies (which are actually corporately owned by Americans!).
So I'm not big on the use of holidays to overindulge in alcohol. Maybe I'm old-fashioned. Oktober Fest, however, is a German tradition which happens to involve beer. Mostly because Germans are so good at making beer. Or so I'm told. The point of all of this is that here at FSU, someone has decided to recognize Oktober Fest. At least the cultural aspects of it.
Considering that this is an educational institution, the big wigs cannot exactly endorse the drinking of large amounts of foreign ale. However, whoever is in charge of the menu at the Suwannee Room thought it be nice to serve German food at lunch this week.
I do not have any sort of personal vendetta against German food. In fact, I happen to enjoy it quite a bit. The problem is this: I was not prepared to walk into Suwannee and be greeted by loud German music and a festive atmosphere, including but not limited to, the presence of blue and silver streamers.
Blue and silver aren't even the colors of the German flag...
"Is this some kind of Ravenclaw party...?"
My room mate thinks that maybe blue and silver are the "colors of Oktober Fest". What does that mean? Well, something similar to how Marti Gras is generally associated with green and purple (and gold and blue and beads and feathers and masks and drunk people...) or how the Fourth of July is red whit and blue... like the American flag. So Oktober Fest should be green, black and red. Color scheme aside, it was just strange.
Not only was it strange, but they didn't even have a fantastic selection of food. Which is of course not Oktober Fest's fault, but rather Suwannee's. Per usual, they didn't have any desserts, which was frustrating as I love German pastries. More than anything, though, this entire Oktober Fest experience made me realize how much I wished they were serving Polish food instead. I would give anything for a Pierrogi right now.
Goal for the weekend: find a Polish restaurant in town, find a ride, stuff my face.
Editor's Note: So, apparently blue and white are the colors of the Bavarian flag, as my friends in Lederhosen told me. Yes, I have friends who wear Lederhosen.
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