With great weather and waving flags: the singing festival begins

class=”sc-29f61514-0 jbwksb”>

Traditional costumes as far as the eye can see, coats and edelweiss suspenders: this weekend the city of Zug fell under the spell of tradition. Just Friday noon, people flock to the lakeside walkway to the singing village, where the federal singing festival will officially open. Alphorn blowers, flag and talking waves, and beer and food tents are initially welcomed here.

But the big rush isn’t there yet, says Benedikt Reitberger (34) that won’t arrive until Saturday. He makes sure all the hungry guests come to their sausages in one of the tents next to the festive stage. “We have to warm up first today,” he says. However, there is mobility. Not just at Reitberger and other food stands. But also in restaurants located right next to the festival area.

Higher income for restaurants

“For three days we increased staff and got more goods,” says Beizer Werner Merz (34). The outside seating of the Greek restaurant is well stocked. At the weekend, income will probably be 50 percent more than usual, but despite the exceptional situation, Merz is comfortable. “It’s routine for us Greeks,” He says mischievously.

Meanwhile, the organizing committee welcomes dignified guests on the festival stage. In the scorching sun. You haven’t looked for a shaded place under the trees on the lake shore yet. A few steps away, some prefer to listen to a Ländler quartet – including a thaler wrestler. And enjoy your first cold beer of the day. “A little Schwiizerörgeli is of course part of the singing festival,” says musician Sepp Feierabend (75) from Oberägeri ZG during a short break.

Some have gone too far

And then there are the visitorsThe festival has come a long way. “This place is huge and very well organized,” says Rudy Hofmann (58) in a distinctive dialect. His wife and he came all the way from Upper Bavaria. Sure, she’s dressed in an everyday Bavarian costume. “Now we really need to get to a place where they can sing,” she says. “So far we’ve only heard of alphorn players.”

Many Asian tourists have picnics. You have your own rice cooker with you. Singing clubs from all over the world, for example, from South Africa or the USA, showcase their traditional costumes. On the shore of Lake Zug, “This is what I say whenever the day wills: it is never so beautiful on earth as in Glarnerland, as in Glarnerland”. The song was sung in almost accent-free Swiss German by Yodel Club New Glarus from Wisconsin (USA). “Our club has been taking part in Swiss singing festivals since 1996,” says Matt Streiff, 52. “Most people in New Glarus are of Swiss descent – myself included.”

Meanwhile, the audience and the singers are a colorful mix, from young to old. Singer Daria Occhini (22) of Ins BE says, “There’s nothing more beautiful than the streets full of traditional costumes.” One thing is clear for visitor Ramona Langegger (25) from Zug: “Swiss traditions are far from obsolete. Even as a young woman, one likes to go to a singing festival!»

Source :Blick