I am dressed as a Schwinger (or a Swiss wrestler). Schwingen (translated as "to swing"), is a beloved Swiss sport, which enjoys great popularity and a loyal community of spectators. It can be described as traditional wrestling in a circular pit of sawdust and involves trying to lift, swing and throw the opponent to the ground. Schwingen originated from within farming communities across alpine regions to celebrate Alpine culture and bring the towns and rural areas closer together. 

My name is Muni, which is what the Swiss call a young bull. You might be wondering what is the connection to the sport. Schwingen, unlike other sports, does not offer a money prize for the winner; instead, the prize is cattle (e.g., a cow or a horse), and at the biggest events – a bull. This is a special tradition which has been preserved throughout the centuries. The bull, often decorated with flowers and traditional motifs, is presented to the winner at an award ceremony and happily poses for photos before returning to graze at its pasture.

I am wearing a pair of Schwingerhosen (traditional wrestling shorts), made of a sturdy material (jute) and held up by a leather belt. Their shape is distinct and they are worn on top of regular trousers. Such shorts are essential: wrestlers grip each other’s shorts in an attempt to throw their opponent to the ground. With more than 100 grips and throws to choose from, it is no surprise the shorts need to be sturdy. The match ends when the losing wrestler’s two shoulders touch the sawdust inside the playing circle.

The wrestling shirt I am wearing is no ordinary shirt. It is made from the same material (imported specially from Switzerland) as the shirts of many professional Swiss wrestlers. While wrestlers can wear shirts of different colours, blue has become a frequent favourite, as blue symbolizes the mountains. No pattern is more recognizable than the edelweiss pattern: the fabric, which is made from the highest quality organic cotton, features tiny embroidered edelweiss flowers – the unmistakable jewel of the high mountains.

You might be wondering what is the green crown that I wear on my head. It is a wreath made from oak leaves. The oak is a tree native to Switzerland. The winner of the Swiss wrestling competition (Schwingen) is crowned with an oak wreath with ribbons. The oak tree is a symbol of strength, resilience, and endurance. The wreath represents these qualities, reflecting the physical and mental toughness required in the sport. A crown fit for a king – the king of Schwingen. To learn more about the kings of this sport, read the next post.

The winner of the Swiss wrestling competition has been crowned Schwingerkönig (Wrestling King) since the first Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival back in 1895. The title is for life and comes with a great deal of fame and respect. The winners of federal competitions are affectionately called ‘die Böse’ (the Wicked, the Baddies), which is to do with their formidable strength as opposed to bad behaviour. In fact, quite the opposite: despite their formidable size, wrestlers are known for sportsmanship and respectful play – opponents shake hands at the beginning of the game and the winner brushes the sawdust from the loser’s back as a mark of respect.  

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Photo: Joel Wicki (a Wrestling King) signing autographs by Patrick Kenel via Wikipedia