The use of wooden clothespins are a perfect way to complement your Oktoberfest outfit.
What is normally used to dry laundry on the clothes line gets a whole new use at Oktoberfest and the Bavarian folk festivals. At these traditional Bavarian festivals the wooden clothespins enjoy almost cult status.
The clothespins are painted or inscribed and decorated with the help of brand painting. Especially in combination with traditional Bavarian attire like Dirndl or Lederhosen it is the perfect addition.
It is popular to use traditional Bavarian words and phrases imprinted in the clothespins. In the German state of Bavaria there is the Bavarian dialect which can be very strong and difficult to understand. The dialect is similar to the German language, but even if you speak German it does not necessarily mean that you completely understand the Bavarian dialect.
Just an example of how different high German and Bavarian language is: the German word for "clothespin" is "Wäscheklammer" and in Bavarian that would be "Waschglubbal".
Here you can find our favorite Bavarian phrases that we love to see on the wooden clothespins with English translation:
A gscheide Gaudi - Lots of fun
Aufbrezelt! - Pretty like a pretzel!
Bazi
- A clever and mischievous boy
Biertester
- Beer tester
Do legst di nieda! - Being so surprised or taken by surprise by a piece of information that you almost fall over
Ein Prosit!
- A cheers!
Engerl - Angel
Fesches Madl
- Fashionable girl/woman
Gemütlichkeit! - Cosy nice feeling you get when you are with people you like. Best word to describe Bavarian culture.
Hallodri - Person who is cheerful, easy-going and unreliable / can also be a bit of a womanizer
Hendl, Brezn, Obatzda
- Chicken, pretzel, Bavarian cream cheese (the most common Oktoberfest food)
I mog di! - I like you!
I hob an Suri. - I'm tipsy.
Lausmadl - Cheeky girl (female)
Lausbua - Cheeky boy (male)
Mia san mia! - We are who we are! (also the slogan of the Bayern München football team)
Mogst a Brezn? - Do you want a pretzel?
Mogst a Busserl? - Do you want a little kiss / peck?
No a Maß, bittschen - Another beer, please
O'zapft is! - It's tapped!
Servus! - Bavarian word for Hello! or Goodbye!
Spezl
- Good friend
Wer ko der ko
- Cheeky way of saying "When you can you can"
Wos sogsd? - What are you saying?
Vogelwuid
- A crazy person / Wild like a bird
Zefix! - Bavarian swear word that is like "Dammit!"
1, 2, 3, g’suffa! - 1, 2, 3, drink!
Find out more about what expect of Oktoberfest: Here are 10 facts you should know before attending the Oktoberfest.