'If You Were Me and Lived in...Germany' - Read and Rise October 2021

Today is the last day of Oktoberfest in Munich and that means we should take a little trip to Germany! But...what exactly is Oktoberfest? I mean, most of us adults are familiar with Oktoberfest as a festival with lots of food and beer, but why?

On October 12, 1810, Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. All of the citizens of Munich were invited to the festivities and the celebration was concluded with horse races. Someone decided to repeat the festivities and horse races the following year - and add an Agricultural Show - and Oktoberfest was born. It has grown and changed through the years, with rides added in 1818 and beer tents and halls making their first appearance in 1896. Eventually the dates of the festival were shifted and now Oktoberfest runs for 16 days every fall, beginning in mid-September and ending the first weekend of October. Although Oktoberfest was cancelled in Munich this year because of Coronavirus, you can get in the German spirit and celebrate at home!

Featured story: "If You Were Me and Lived in...Germany" by Carole P. Roman. I do not have a video read aloud for this story, but author Carole P. Roman was kind enough to record this little video for you all!

Activity: There are many things you can do to celebrate Oktoberfest - all involving food! Buy or make any of these traditional Oktoberfest foods:

- Roast chicken

- Würstl: Bavarian sausages (bratwurst sausages can usually be found in regular supermarkets - and don't forget to get some good mustard to go with the sausages!)

- Brezen: large soft pretzels

- Käsespätzle; cheesy little noodles

- Reiberdatschi: potato pancakes

- Sauerkraut

Also, I learned that Lebkuchenherzen are sold at Oktoberfest every year - they are heart shaped gingerbread cookies strung with ribbon that are bought and given to loved ones to wear! We're going to try this recipe for German Gingerbread Hearts but if you don't feel like rolling out dough and baking, you can make cardboard heart "cookies" and decorate them with puffy paint. Don't forget to give your heart cookie to someone you love!