Oktoberfest

Munich opened its doors to thousands of beer-drinking merrymakers as the world's biggest folk festival, the Oktoberfest, got under way in celebrations which this year last two days longer than usual.

Germans, in party mood after the World Cup and cheered by a pickup in the economy, have 18 days to consume millions of litres of beer and hundreds of thousands of sausages as the festival has been extended to include October 3's public holiday.

"This year, Germany has had many emotional highlights - the World Cup, which produced high spirits and a positive national feeling, and this week we had the Pope visit with its spiritual side," festival director Gabriele Weishaeuple told Reuters.

"As the Oktoberfest starts, the wave of positive feelings will continue." She expects more than 6 million revellers.

Munich mayor Christian Ude broke open the first keg at midday and declared the 173rd festival open with the words "O'zapft is", or "the barrel is tapped".

That was the cue for the oompah bands to start up and armies of buxom waitresses to begin serving litres of beer to the 100,000 thirsty guests squashed around long wooden tables in the 14 heaving beer tents.

Merrymakers last year downed 6.1 million litres of beer and devoured 479,610 roast chickens and 55,913 knuckles of pork.

Although many visitors come from abroad, it is a highlight for many Bavarians who turn out in traditional lederhosen and low-cut "dirndl" dresses to sing, sway and make lengthy toasts.