Why do Germans hate Bavarians so much?

Because Bavarian has a pretty strong cultural identity, contrary to what other Germans see as German. There are historical reasons for this, but it can also be argued that Bavarians are not the only ethnic group in Germany with a unique culture. It just gets the most attention.

And Bavaria has become synonymous with German culture through the American media. This makes it frustrating for other Germans who see themselves as less than Bavarian and don't like being stereotyped as such.

Yes, Bavarian culture is indeed German culture, but not all German culture is Bavarian.

There's a phrase Germans love to say to describe the special status of Bavaria in southern Germany: "In Bavaria, the clocks go differently."

Looking at each other

Bavarian traditions and culture, such as traditional clothing and music, oversized beer mugs, sauerkraut and roasted pig's feet, and Neuschwanstein Castle, built by "fairy-tale king" Ludwig II, are so distinctive that some even imagine Bavaria's unique cultural symbols to be those of the whole of Germany.

The most obvious is the Alpine peasant dress and leather pants, which are originally from Bavaria, Austria and the southern Italian region of Tirolei, but because of Munich's popularity, they have become traditional German clothing in the eyes of foreigners. But the rest of Germany has its own traditional costumes, too.

The fact that Oktoberfest has become an all-German "festival" is not very pleasant for the Germans: Bavarians are often proud of their own culture, and Germans outside of Bavaria don't like the idea of Bavarian culture being forced on them.