Zug,25.05.2018

"Chriesisturm" the Cherry race

Zug is a cherry canton. To mark the opening of the cherry season the «Chriesigloggä» (cherry bell) of St. Michael's Church peals.
 
This all goes back to an old tradition, when locals used to rush off with 8,1 metre-long ladders through the Old Town to start picking the cherries grown on nearby common land. These days the «Chriesi-sturm» is run just for fun and is followed by the opportunity for a splendid lunch and the start of the traditional cherry market.

The prospects of a rich cherry harvest in Zug are promising, and this year's "Chriesisturm"  anniversary has many highlights in store. For the first time and led by councillor Manuela Weichelt, five women are set to race through the old town of Zug. Also a first is the international team partaking in the ladder race; the two ambitious runners from Costa Rica also form part of the TV crew who will document the spectacle. Amongst others, the "Crypto Valley" too is sending two prominent representatives from the local blockchain scene to the starting line. Just as noteworthy are the favoured mountaineers of the SAC-Rossberg, as well as the pairs from the bakers' and tailors' guilds. Meanwhile, the children's race will be conquered by the girls and boys of the 5th and 6th grade from the school Letzi in Zug. Overall, the organiser IG Zuger Chriesi is expecting a large onrush of spectators.
 
The 200-year-old "Chriesisturm" race will begin at 12.00 h (at the Liebfrauenkappelle in Zug) on Monday, 25 June. At the stroke of noon, the cherry bell will ring and five teams will race through the old town in Zug. While the winning team will earn fame and honour, the losers will sacrifice their starting place to another team for the next year’s event. After the race there will be a special cherry feast at the Landesgemeindeplatz while the traditional cherry market begins later in the day at 3 pm and will run Monday until Friday, from 3 - 6 pm for the coming weeks.

www.zugerchriesi.ch

Photo: IG ZUGER CHRIESI © Ueli Kleeb

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