The beer flows fast in the big Oktoberfest tents

Men in Bavarian lederhosen and waitresses clutching huge glasses of frothy beer showed the world-famous beer festival was in full swing.

Munich Mayor Christian Ude opened the 172nd festival on Saturday with the traditional cry of "O zapft is" - or "it is tapped" and the beer flowed.

Organisers are expecting around six million visitors this year.

The festivities come to an end on 3 October.

But before then, revellers are expected to drink enough beer to fill around six Olympic-sized swimming pools, all to the sound of brass bands and rowdy singing.

Useful phrases

A colourful collection of traditional costumes was paraded through the streets at the weekend while the beer tents were full - though most Germans said they still intended to vote.

For some however the party was a good way to escape politics.

"Unemployment, insecurity - it's all forgotten after five beers," automobile worker Gerhard Holzing told Reuters.

Women in traditional dress joined the Oktoberfest parade

The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810, in honour of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig's marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

In more recent years, the festival was brought forward to September to allow for better weather.

The Oktoberfest.de website offers visitors a few helpful words that they may find useful in the Bavarian capital.

The Bavarian measurement for a litre of beer is a Mass; and potatoes, used for the famous Bavarian potato salad are Erd�pfe.