Sawdust and tradition
The Schwingen festivals of the Canton of Schwyz
The smell of fresh sawdust, the roar of the crowd, the moment of tension before two wrestlers grab each other by the canvas breeches: Schwingen festivals in the Canton of Schwyz are far more than sporting contests. They are living tradition, a source of identity and a social gathering all at once. In hardly any other canton is Schwingen, Swiss wrestling, as deeply rooted in the culture as in Schwyz, the cradle of the Confederation.
Roots in the mountains
Schwingen has a centuries-old tradition in Schwyz. Reports of trials of strength and wrestling bouts at cattle descents and church fairs survive from as early as the seventeenth century. What began as a spontaneous test of strength among herdsmen and farmers developed in the nineteenth century into an organised sport with fixed rules. The Central Swiss Schwingen Association, to which Schwyz belongs, was founded in 1869 and is one of the oldest in Switzerland.
The cantonal festival
The Schwyz cantonal Schwingen festival is the sporting highlight of the canton. It draws thousands of spectators and turns the host venue into a folk festival for a weekend. Here the best wrestlers from inner and outer Schwyz compete, and the venues rotate from Einsiedeln and Schwyz to Lachen or Küssnacht. The crowning moment is the election of the cantonal Schwingen king, who receives, besides the wreath, a «Muni», a live bull.
Local festivals: the heart of it all
Alongside the cantonal festival there are numerous smaller but no less important festivals: the Muotathal festival, the Rothenthurm festival or the mountain festival on the Ibergeregg. These local festivals are often closely tied to the annual rhythm of alpine farming and take place in summer and autumn.
Among the highlights are the two big mountain wreath festivals: the Rigi-Schwinget against the backdrop of the Rigi mountains, where strong men also compete at stone-putting, and the Stoos-Schwinget, which traditionally opens with a mass in the Stoos chapel. Also worth mentioning is the Inner Schwyz festival, held in turn in Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden and Nidwalden.
More than sport: identity
For the people of Schwyz, Schwingen festivals are places of encounter where generations come together, a social glue that binds the small-scale communities. Boys begin training in the Schwingen clubs at an early age. Schwingen embodies values that are held high in Schwyz: fairness, being down to earth, respect for one's opponent and modesty in victory.
Tradition meets modernity
The festivals have changed: the organisation has become more professional, media attention has grown, and festivals are broadcast live. At the same time, care is taken not to lose the original character; the festival restaurants with regional specialities, the alphorn players, flag throwers and folk-costume groups belong to it as much as the sawdust in the ring.
The future of Schwingen
The Schwingen festivals of the Canton of Schwyz stand on solid foundations: the enthusiasm is undiminished, the clubs are active and young talent is coming through. When the marquees go up in summer and the sawdust is scattered in the ring, for the people of Schwyz it is more than a sporting event; it is an affirmation of their own identity, of their roots in their homeland and of the strength of community.
