Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling

Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling is a traditional Turkish wrestling event held annually in the province of Edirne. Recognized by UNESCO in 2010 as part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it is one of the longest-running organizations of yağlı güreş, Turkey’s ancestral sport.

The origins of the Kırkpınar Wrestling date back to the Ottoman period. According to tradition, in the 14th century, forty warriors from the retinue of Sari Saltuk halted during a campaign in Rumelia and wrestled in a place called Samona, within the borders of present-day Greece. It is said that two wrestlers lost their lives during the contest. Subsequently, the area near Edirne where their graves are located has been annually used for commemorative events and wrestling competitions. This narrative has shaped the historical and cultural memory of Kırkpınar.

^{Oil Wrestling in Progress (}Edirne Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism⁾

The Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling takes place at the Edirne Sarayiçi Er Meydanı. The event is typically held at the end of June or the beginning of July. It is organized under the coordination of the Edirne Municipality with support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Prior to the wrestling matches, the selection of the “Kırkpınar Ağası,” a procession accompanied by davul-zurna music, and various cultural activities are held.

Wrestlers at Kırkpınar are divided into different categories based on age and weight. The highest rank among these is “Başpehlivanlık.” Wrestlers compete wearing special garments called “kispet,” made from buffalo hide. Each year, hundreds of pehlivans participate from various provinces of Türkiye and from abroad. The matches are conducted under the supervision of a panel of referees.

Kırkpınar is not merely a sporting event; it is also regarded as a cultural festival enriched by traditional attire, processions accompanied by davul-zurna music, prayers, and rituals. The “cazgır”s at Kırkpınar introduce the wrestlers through manile poetry, stating their lineage, hometown, and past achievements. In this way, Kırkpınar has become an integral part of the oral cultural tradition.

In 2010, the Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity upon Türkiye’s nomination. This recognition has established Kırkpınar as an internationally acknowledged element of cultural heritage. Additionally, the Turkish Republic Ministry of Culture and Tourism classifies the event as “living cultural heritage” and provides it with protective status.