A chain of ice cream stores here in the US, called Baskin Robbins, has a large number of flavors they rotate in the stores, depending on the season. They have at least 31 in the store at any given time, but I think the real number must be at least 150. This year, in October, they are featuring a large variety of chocolate ice creams (we have a lot of types here, including one popular flavor that is called «Death by Chocolate»).
The name of this month-long ice cream event is «Choctoberfest».
One of the car companies (I can't remember which one) is having a clearance sale that gives heavy discounts and special financing to people who buy trucks. The name of the month-long event is «Trucktoberfest».
There are certainly many more of these «-oberfest» words.
You may already know about the «wienermobiles», which are two big hotdog-shaped trucks that tour the country offering hotdog samples at fairs and other events. These have been around at least since I was a little kid. When you visit a weinermobile, you can also get a small, plastic «wiener whistle», on which you can play the three-note trademark tune of the Oscar Meier company.
You may or may not know also that the word «wiener» (pronounced with /w/) is children's slang for a penis. By extension, somehow, children also use it as an uncomplimentary name for a rude, selfish person. When I went to Austria, I almost bought a monthly magazine I saw there to take home and show my friends. It had the face of a very handsome male model, shown very close up, and above his head was the title of the publication: «Wiener». To an American, this looks as if the publishers are proclaiming to the public, «Look! This guy's a real jerk!»
If you have any English grammar or vocabulary questions,
please post them on this English Grammar Forum.Author: James Kirchner
