Since 1964, every October, the Oktoberfest or Beer Festival is celebrated in Villa General Belgrano, Córdoba. It takes place during the first and second weekend of October to remind the barley crop of Munich, Germany. In 1972 it was declared National Beer Festival.
Villa General Belgrano was founded in the 30s by Jorge Kappuhn y Paul Heintze who came from Germany. They wanted a place for their fellow countryman.
This town adopted since the beginning the characteristic of an alpine village, with red roof houses and colorful gardens. It took on the exquisite central european gastronomy with typical dishes and delicious cakes as well as other central european customs, like the music, the dancing, craftwork and language.
As the years went by the representative delegations from all over the world multiplied with groups from Denmark, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Greece, Italy, and more; everyone wearing traditional costumes and broadening the cultural aspect of this festival. Shortly the beer industry developed remarkably.
The festival starts with the parade of the different communities that are involved in it. This parade is hosted by the Monje Negro (Black Monk) -a symbol of the party because they were the ones that made the beer in Munich. After this, the “espiche” ceremony takes place. They also pick a Beer Queen. The candidates for the crown come from a selection that is held in different places of Argentina.
The National Beer Festival has become a great party where people from all over the world join together with a true sense of fraternity.
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