The Duluth Oktoberfestival Theme Song
Every great festival needs a theme song and the Duluth Oktoberfestival has just that: a fantastic polka inspired jingle that is sure to get your feet tapping. Whether it’s through the radio, social media, or at the festival itself, you’ll hear this song everywhere so make sure you brush up on the lyrics as we’ll have you singing it in your sleep in no time!
Ein Prosit!
If there’s one song you are absolutely guaranteed to hear at the Duluth Oktoberfestival, it’s this one. That’s because Ein Prosit plays every 20 minutes or so in an honest effort to help revellers finish their steins of bier. And to remind them why they’re at the fest –the Gemütlichkeit! Although you can’t translate Gemütlichkeit directly into English (it’s one of those uniquely German words like Doppelgänger and Blitzkrieg), the best translation is “coziness” or “good cheer”. However, Gemütlichkeit goes a step further by describing a feeling of belonging, social acceptance and leaving your troubles at the front gates. Whenever Ein Prosit is played, we invite you to hoist your stein, sing along to the tune, toast with your neighbors, and take a big swig of bier.
Lyrics (German):
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
OANS! ZWOA! DREI! G’SUFFA!
Pronunciation:
Ayn Prawseet, Ayn Prawseet
Dare Gae-meet-lich-kite
Ayn Prawseet, Ayn Prawseet
Dare Gae-meet-lich-kite
OWNS! ZWO! DRY! GE-SUFA!
Lyrics (English):
A toast, a toast
To cheer and good times
A toast, a toast
To cheer and good times.
ONE! TWO! THREE! DRINK!
OKTOBERFESTIVAL LINGO
Dirndl: (Dern-dull) The traditional German dress you’ll see on staff as well as guests who love to get into the spirit of Oktoberfest.
Lederhosen: (Lay-der-hose-in) This literally translates to “leather pants.” You’ll see a lot of men sport these trendy trousers in all kinds of styles.
Guten Appetit!: (goo-ten app-a-teet) How we at the Haus say wish you bon appetite.
Noch ein Bier, bitte: (nock ine beer bit-a) You’ll definitely want to commit this to memory; it’s how you ask for “Another beer, please!”
Prost!: (Prōst) This is how we say, “Cheers!” In the commands form our bands you’ll also hear ein Prosit which means “a toast.”
Brezen: (Bray-tsun) Pretzel. There’s no shortage of these twisted traditions made fresh and served hot.
O’zapft is!: (Ō-tsapft is) literally means “It’s tapped!”. This is the opening cheer when the first keg is tapped, kicking off the Oktoberfestival.
Schunkeln: (Shoon-kulln) It’s the ideal drinking “dance” because you don’t even have to stand up! Just stay seated and when the Schunkeln song comes on, lock arms with your neighbor and sway side to side.
Eins, zwei, drei: (ines tsvy dry) “One, two, three” You’ll hear this a lot, like at the start of our stein-holding contests. Here’s how to get really legit and count with your fingers in German: one is the thumb, two is the thumb and forefinger, and three is thumb, forefinger, and middle finger.
Oans, zwoa, g’suffa!: (ōnns tswō g’zoo-fa) “One, two, drink up!” Enough said.
Zicke zacke, zicke zacke, hoi hoi hoi!: (tsick-a tsack-a, tsick-a tsack-a, hoy hoy hoy) Another common band call-out, usually followed by Prost! and a hearty chug of bier.