World Traditional Wrestling Tournament of North Macedonia, Studenichani, Skopje, 21 July 2024 - Kazimierz Waluch (Traditional Sports) photographic exhibition

Pelivansko borenje in Macedonian and Pehlivan in Albanian are the designations of oil wrestling in North Macedonia. The word Pehlivan finds its explanation in a Persian poem from the 11th century where the wrestling champion received the title of jahan pehlivan, or ‘the champion hero’. Oil wrestling has a long tradition reaching back to the Middle Ages, when indigenous wrestling traditions were mixed with the wrestling traditions of the Turkish conquerors, who themselves were heavily influenced by Persian wrestling traditions.