As far back as the 14th century, and perhaps before, Bavarian males have tested each other by the simple, direct method of sitting on opposite sides of a table, inserting their middle fingers in a leather loop and pulling. Well ballasted by beer, a hefty Bauerbursche (farm boy) can jerk an opponent belly-first across the table. At wedding receptions and opulent wakes, muscular champions of Fingerhackln (finger wrestling) customarily duel for a girl's favors. Last week in the market hall at Rosenheim, 76 burly Bavarians met for the Fingerhackln championship of the entire state.
To toughen their fighting fingers, contestants had long...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
