2019-08-23 detail of the parade for the ESAF

My city is host of the ESAF Eidgenössisches Schwinger und Älplerfest, that takes place every 3 years in a different part of Switzerland. Its a huge traditional event for the Swiss National Sport the “Schwingen”. Also known as Swiss wrestling and natively as Hosenlupf (Swiss German for "breeches-lifting").

Our city has a total population of 30,205 inhabitants and we expect in the next two days, roughly 400’000 guests. This is the biggest festival our town has ever seen.

The event opened with the flag reception and the subsequent big parade through the city of Zug to the Arena. The streets were lined with thousands (50’000 – 60’000) of spectators.
The colorful parade was under the motto "Tradition meets cosmopolitan Zug" and our guilds (carpenters, copers and wood turners), formations in traditional uniforms like the Zuger Beresina Grenadiers and several harmony music bands took part. As well as the well-known Yodler Groups, the colour guards (flag spinners) and a huge Alphorn formation embodied the native customs.

And of course, the nicely decorated cows with imposing bells that have been awarded in recent years.

[Vera]

Wow. What an event. I wanted to ask about cows’ horns. They look kind of weird, pointing in random directions. Are those real?

[bkb in the city]

Great capture

[Nova]

WOW, it sounds like an awesome festival and you will be in the middle of it all! I know you will have your camera ready to capture all of it for us to see. Love this image too and I thought that the bells are HUGE. I hope they are not too heavy for the cows.

[Jacqueline]

Wonderful capture, and impressive bells!

[Dianne]

A lovely image and huge cow bells! Looking forward to more images of this festival.

[Annie D]

What an influx of people!
Love this image...really captures the atmosphere

[Tunia McClure]

I hope we get to see lots of pictures.

[Shutterbug]

Sounds exciting. I hope you can enjoy it in spite of the influx of tourists.

[Monique]

Great candid

[Diana]

What a stunning capture, those cows sure are beautifully decorated.

[Joan Robillard]

Looks like they are wrestling the cows. Great capture

[Walks @ 7]

Traditions are what makes a community- love those imposing bells.

[Louise]

The cows seem to have a mind of their own regarding where they want to go! So beautifully decorated

[Mona]

@vera365 Liebe Vera, ja diese Hörner sind echt. Manche wachsen nicht so perfekt und geben den Kühen ein bisschen ein verwegenes Aussehen. Ob man Kühen die Hörner entfernt oder nicht, ist in der Schweiz ein brisantes Thema. Tierwohl, gegen einfacheres Arbeiten mit den Tieren und geringerer Platzbedarf. Wenn Dich dies interessiert, kannst Du hier die Details nachlesen. https://hornkuh.ch/de/hornkuh-initiative/

[Mona]

@novab Thanks Nova,... I will post a collage or two from the parade. For me there are definitely to many people, so I tried do get away from it all today. BTW, die Bells are definitely very heavy, but the cows wear them only for the parade. The normal ones, are much smaller.

[Mona]

@shutterbug49 Thanks for your comment. Well, on one side, we are all proud tha have this big event in our town, but on the other side,... I try to get away from all those people. Definitely to much for me.

[Mona]

@lmsa Oh Louisa you are right. Some of them wanted to walk in a different direction,... ;-)

[haskar]

Lovely shot. I see that boys need to have a lot of strength to keep going in right direction. Impressive bells!

[Kathy]

Great candid. Perhaps they are not quite as docile as they sometimes seem.

[Margo]

Great fun!!