Why is there an Italian Weekend anyway? - Munich

Does someone out there actually have an explanation as to why the Italian Weekend always falls on the second weekend? Of course there are always a few Italians oozing around the Wies'n at other times, but I would like to know why there is such a spike on the second weekend in particular, as it seems like a strangely concerted practice.

Is there some urban myth in Italy that German girls are particularly "willig" on the second weekend? Is that the only weekend when the Italians' mothers will let them leave home for a couple of days? Are there special deals on campervans that weekend? Or do they come on that weekend because they know that they'll be able to meet lots of other Italians?

Any ideas?

I think it is because Italians never know when Okt fest starts and ends exactly, so they come in the middle (after seeing reports on tv)...

Don't think thats exclusive to the Italians, lots of people think the fest starts in October, instead of being , usually, almost totally in September. This year is unusual in that almost half of it is in October.

Maybe, but then why is the concentration diluted again by the final weekend? If they were falling for the "Oktoberfest must be in Oktober" trick, then you would expect them to turn up for the third weekend (i.e. in October) rather than the second one. It has to be more than coincidence...

The Wies'n is well publicized in Italy, the whole nation gets together and anyone interested in going is allowed to take friday and monday off work in order to go to the Oktoberfest. Traditionally it is always the second weekend because it is an awsome logistical problem arranging peoples holidays in time and because of the very nature of the Fest starting on different dates each year.

middle of next week we'll start to see the big camper vans with Italian number plates zooming around town looking for parking places.
my two best (and single) blonde haired blue eyed friends always come over for the second weekend, I need baby-reins for them!