CINDY, INCIDENTALLY:

After spending a day at the Old World Village, I have had a change of heart on a few things.

One: I don’t just like bratwurst; I heart bratwurst.

Two: Polka is a beautiful dance, especially after three shots of Rumple Minze (peppermint schnapps).

Three: Every woman should own a traditional Dirndl dress, mainly because it makes men stutter and then go mute.

I swore this year would be the year I would finally participate in the Oktoberfest celebrations that have happened every year at this Huntington Beach Bavarian village since it opened in 1978.

I had read about it, heard the sounds of the polka accordion while driving by and coworkers would dish about the copious amounts of German beer they chugged over the weekend.

I was admittedly intrigued, although I have my reservations about cultural “holidays” — like Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick’s Day — where excessive drinking is how one pays homage to their motherland.

But morals aside, this year I kicked off the first weekend in September by indulging in this German tradition and happily discovered there’s a reason why people love schnitzel and beer. It’s just good for the soul.

The best part of being at Old World was admitting to regulars I was an Oktoberfest virgin. People were more than happy to give me tips on how to have the best experience possible.

My first bit of advice was from bartender Erin Dineen, 24, who gave me a short lesson on the world of German schnapps. First and foremost, one should understand these are not to be compared to the sweet, light and fruity American schnapps, she explained.

German schnapps are bold and potent, and while they come in flavors like bärenjäger (honey liquor) or apple, there is nothing fruity or girly in a snifter of German schnapps.

Heeding her warning, I held off on schnapps shooting and found a group of German expats who live in Huntington Beach and are loyal members of the local German club.

A few gave me a quick history lesson on where Oktoberfest originated, why soccer is a passion and not just a sport, and local Ann Nicholson guided me to embrace the German way of dance.

“You gotta polka. You gotta dance,” she said. “It’s easy. You just gotta get out there. It’s three steps.”

Before heading out to the dance floor, I really wanted to meet with a classic Oktoberfest girl who could direct me on where to find one of those authentic dresses and cotton knee highs that seem to inspire visions of yodeling.

I met up with Cyndi Kaske, who was posing for pictures in her form-fitting Dirndl dress and hot pink heels. She said a lot of the attention the girls get from wearing the dresses is because of the traditional illusion it creates.

During the two-month celebration at Old World there is plenty to keep one entrenched in the German culture. There’s learning the Chicken Dance, beer pong competitions, eating hot pretzels, drinking big beers and there’s a cocktail called the Everglo, which has a glow stick tossed in for a little spark.

It’s easy to get swept away with all the music, dancing and pork chop on a stick; just watch out for the schnapps, and you’ll be fine.

CINDY ARORA is a freelance writer. She may be reached at paprgrrl@gmail.com.