The unspoken rules of celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich

Oktoberfest is a worldwide phenomenon, a Bavarian beer festival celebrated in countries around the globe.

But many say nowhere is it more fun than in its original home of Munich. The festival attracts some six million celebrants every year, according to a festival website operated by Munich's Department of Labor and Economics.

As a non-Bavarian German, I visit Munich regularly and have learned a few things about attending the festival, known simply as the "Wiesn." Here's my advice.

The dress code for many is the traditional Bavarian dirndl, for women, and lederhosen, for men. In stark contrast to other parts of the world, you won't be accused of cultural misappropriation here — in fact, the locals invite international visitors to dress in traditional costumes.

These outfits are available at any budget, from inexpensive wear-once costumes to vintage and bespoke clothing rentals.

A couple of things to bear in mind: Lederhosen is plural, so one pair of leather trousers is simply a lederhose. These are Bavarian-style outfits, not German as many travelers believe. Travel north, and you will not see them — except for Oktoberfest, of course.

Beer is not served in steins, as many believe, but in glasses called a "mass," which is one liter of beer. The servers carry up to six mass in each hand, weighing roughly 12 kilograms (26 pounds). Servers are paid a percentage of the beer and food they serve, plus tips. So tip well, please.

To get their attention, servers wear a clothespin with their name on it, but they also answer to the relaxed address of 'du' —  which means "you"—in German.

Revelers hold the mass by the handle so they can easily clink glasses and drink to toasts. When the band calls out: "Ein Prosit, ein Prosit der