The Swiss Federal Swisswrestling Festival – an event of the century
The Swiss National Wrestling and Alpine Festival (ESAF) is a national event that generates great enthusiasm every three years. As the largest recurring sporting event in Switzerland with a folk festival character, the ESAF uniquely and incomparably combines the country’s tradition and modernity. Tens of thousands of visitors before, during and after the festival, as well as hundreds of thousands in front of their screens at home, follow the major event and carry the impressions of this peaceful gathering throughout the whole country. The ESAF is authentic, moving and a phenomenon. On Sunday, 31 August 2025, the Swiss National Wrestling Association (ESV) will, for the first time in its 130-year history, crown the wrestling king on Glarus soil after a two-day, high-level sporting competition. A century-long event for the whole region.
"Üüseri Landsgmei" – where it all began
Just like an ESAF, the Glarus region+ is a place where tradition and modernity are sympathetically combined, where the countryside meets the world, where everything is manageable and connected, and where everyone knows everyone else.A region where pioneering achievements are regularly made. For example, the Glarus electorate at the Landsgemeinde in 2017 agreed to the proposal without a word of protest to apply for the ESAF 2025. This was done in order to receive the award four years later. Since then, the motto has been: ‘Glarus Land – Land of the Swiss wrestlers’.
"Our Plus" – three cantons are involved in the organisation
350,000 visitors, 85,000 overnight stays, 300,000 litres of beer, 500,000 sausages – the initiators of the ESAF 2025 Glarus region+ quickly realised that such a landmark event for generations could not be organised by the canton of Glarus alone. And so they found support in the neighbouring cantons.Not only the Glarus cantonal wrestling association with the wrestling clubs of Niederurnen and the surrounding area, as well as Glarus-Mittelland, are involved in the ESAF in the Glarus region, but also the swiss wrestling association of Rapperswil and the surrounding area, as well as the swiss wrestling clubs of March-Höfe and Mels. In addition, the three Glarus municipalities are involved, as are the regions of March-Höfe, Zürichsee-Linth and Sarganserland. They are all part of our plus, symbolised by the ‘+’ in ‘Glarus region+’.
Our Festival logo – derived from the world-famous Glarus cloth
The Glarus ‘Tüechli’ with its unmistakable paisley pattern has become world-famous. It was therefore the inspiration for the development of the festival logo. Square, with a border, in Glarus red, with two wrestlers in a neutral position in the centre, in the starting position for the ‘Zämegriiffe’. On an equal footing, in a spirit of partnership, humbly and respectfully.
The ESAF is a cultural asset and a symbol of Swissness
The origins of wrestling go back to the Middle Ages. What was then still part of rural life in the Alpine regions was formalised from the mid-19th century onwards. The first ‘Federal’ competition took place in Biel in 1895. Since then, the sport has continued to develop without losing its deep connection to the traditions and rural culture of Switzerland.
‘The Evil Ones’ (De Bööse) – the strong Swiss wrestlers
‘The Evil Ones’ (De Bööse) – the strong Swiss wrestlers In the Bernese countryside, one of the heartlands of Swiss wrestling, ‘bös ha’ was used in the past to describe hard and difficult work. To wrestle against a strong Swiss wrestler is the hardest and most difficult work imaginable (‘bösha’). This is how the term ‘böse’ for a strong Swiss wrestler came into being. Today, a ‘Böser’ is a Swiss wrestler with a federal crown. In the current meaning of the word, this is actually a strong contradiction to the extremely peaceful culture of Swiss wrestling and the fairness of the ‘Bösen’.
The Swiss Wrestling pants – solid Glarus craftsmanship
At the ESAF, a hundred Schwinghosen are used, half of them in beige and half in brown. This makes it possible to distinguish the Schwingers even without binoculars – the first one in the alphabet to be called out wears the beige trousers. The good pieces are made by Karin Ochsner from Glarus, who has taught herself the craft and uses twill fabric made from Swiss flax..
The ladies of honor – more than just a presence
They are an integral part of the Swiss wrestling family and have an extremely high status within it. For the wrestlers taking part, it is the greatest honour to have the honourary ladies place the oak-leaf wreath on their heads. And because our twelve honourary ladies also come from the Glarus region, they wear the traditional costume of their home region.
The live prize – cherished, cared for and valued
For the wrestlers, they are a valuable recognition of their sporting achievements. They also represent the deep connection to rural and agricultural values – the live prizes. The winner’s cow plays a very special role, as it is led home by the wrestling king. Our winner’s cow is called ZIBU, was born on 6 November 2021, has impressive horns and is an Original Braunvieh breed.