From the tomato fight in Spain to turnip festival in Switzerland, we have compiled a list of bizarre, strange and weird traditions around the world that will make you shake your head in disbelief! We hope you enjoy this one as you’ve done the others!
From firewalking to frozen hair sculpting, the world is a playground of peculiar practices and fantastic festivities. Each unique tradition offers a window into the values, humor, and creativity of cultures far and wide. So here’s to the strange, the startling, and the downright silly customs that make our world a tapestry of human ingenuity and spirit.
1. Tomato Fights in Spain
In Buñol, Spain, thousands gather annually for La Tomatina, where the main event is hurling ripe tomatoes at each other. It’s a squishy, red battle that turns the town into a tomato soup.
2. Cheese Rolling in England
Every spring, people chase a 9-pound wheel of cheese down Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire, England. It’s all for the glory of catching a cheese wheel and, hopefully, not breaking anything in the process.
3. Baby Jumping in Spain
El Colacho, a Spanish tradition, involves men dressed as devils leaping over babies born in the last year to cleanse them of original sin. It’s like parkour with an extra dose of faith.
4. The Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand
Lopburi, Thailand, hosts a buffet for monkeys, setting out fruits and vegetables for the local macaque population. It’s a thank you for attracting tourists and a sight that has to be seen to be believed.
5. Blackening the Bride in Scotland
Before a wedding, some Scottish communities partake in “blackening,” covering the bride (and sometimes the groom) in soot, feathers, and other gooey substances. It’s said to ward off evil spirits, and presumably, cold feet.
6. The Night of the Radishes in Mexico
Oaxaca, Mexico, celebrates Noche de los Rábanos, where artisans carve radishes into intricate scenes and figures. It’s the most competitive vegetable carving you’ll ever see.
7. Crying Brides of China
In the Tujia people’s tradition, brides begin crying a month before their wedding to express sorrow of leaving their home, with mothers, grandmothers, and sisters joining in. It’s like a pre-wedding workout for your tear ducts.
8. Polterabend Plate Smashing in Germany
Before a wedding, Germans might participate in Polterabend, where friends and family smash porcelain to bring luck to the couple’s marriage. The couple then cleans up together, symbolizing their ability to work together through life’s messes.
9. The Kanamara Matsuri in Japan
Kawasaki celebrates fertility, relationships, and marital success with the Kanamara Matsuri or “Festival of the Steel Phallus.” It’s as eyebrow-raising as it sounds, complete with phallus-shaped lollipops and sculptures.
10. Gurning Contests in England
In some parts of England, people compete to make the ugliest face, or “gurn.” It’s held within a horse collar and is as hilarious as competitions come.
11. The “Fat Man” Competition in Japan
Every year, Toba sees sumo wrestlers trying to make babies cry. It’s believed that the baby’s cries ward off evil spirits, and the loudest crier is awarded a prize. It’s all in good fun, of course.
12. Mud Festival in South Korea
Boryeong hosts an annual Mud Festival, attracting millions to revel in mineral-rich mud through mud slides, mud prisons, and mud skiing competitions. It’s the dirtiest fun you’ll have.
13. Wife-Carrying Championships in Finland
In Sonkajärvi, couples compete in a wife-carrying race, with men navigating an obstacle course while carrying their partners. The prize? The wife’s weight in beer.
14. The Tunarama Festival in Australia
Port Lincoln celebrates with a tuna tossing competition, where participants hurl a fish as far as possible. It’s a nod to the town’s fishing industry and surprisingly challenging.
15. The Moose Dropping Festival in Alaska
Talkeetna celebrated the Moose Dropping Festival until 2009, where droppings were painted and dropped from hot air balloons to see whose would land closest to a target. It’s exactly what it sounds like.
16. Firewalking in Fiji, Greece, and India
Firewalking isn’t just a party trick; it’s a serious religious ceremony practiced in various cultures, including Fiji’s Sawau tribe, Greece’s Anastenaria, and Tamil Hindus in India. Participants walk over hot coals to show faith and purification, making your weekend daredevil antics look like child’s play.
17. The Festival of Exploding Hammers in Mexico
San Juan de la Vega hosts an explosive celebration where participants attach homemade bombs to sledgehammers and then slam them against rail beams, causing loud and dangerous explosions. Safety first? More like safety fourth.
18. Silent Day in Bali
Nyepi, or the Balinese Day of Silence, is exactly what it sounds like. The island shuts down: no work, no travel, and even no talking. It’s the ultimate “Do Not Disturb” mode for an entire culture, reflecting and resetting in silence.
19. The Airing of Grievances in Greenland
During the annual “kaffemik” gatherings, Greenlanders get together not just for coffee but to air grievances and resolve conflicts. It’s like Festivus, but with more coffee and less pole.
20. The Phallic Shrines of Bhutan
In Bhutan, wooden phalluses are painted on homes, and carved ones hang from rooftops to ward off evil spirits and gossip. It’s a unique blend of spirituality and, well, home decor.
21. The Toe Wrestling Championships in England
Forget arm wrestling. In Derbyshire, England, competitors lock toes in a battle of strength and flexibility. It’s like thumb wrestling’s big, burly cousin, with a touch more foot odor.
22. The Goose Pulling in the Netherlands
A tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, participants on horseback try to pull the head off a (already deceased) goose. It’s a bizarre test of strength that probably wouldn’t fly in many other places.
23. The Testicle Cooking World Championship in Serbia
In Ozrem, Serbia, chefs compete to prepare the best dish using animal testicles. It’s a culinary challenge that really takes some… well, you know.
24. The “Cleaning the Corpses” Ritual in Indonesia
The Torajan people in Sulawesi exhumed the bodies of their deceased relatives, clean them, dress them in new clothes, and spend time with them as if they were alive. It’s a poignant way to honor the dead and keep their memories alive.
25. The Festival of Snakes in Italy
Cocullo’s Festa dei Serpari involves draping a statue of St. Dominic with live snakes to honor the patron saint of snakebite victims. It’s a slithery spectacle that combines faith, fear, and fascination.
26. The Hair Freezing Contest in Canada
At the Takhini Hot Pools in Yukon, participants dunk their heads in hot springs, then style their hair and beards into frozen sculptures in the frigid air. The results are as cool as they sound.
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27. The Baby-Crying Sumo in Japan
To ward off evil spirits and wish for healthy growth, sumo wrestlers hold babies and try to make them cry. The louder the baby cries, the more blessed the growth, making this perhaps the only time crying babies are a cause for celebration.
28. The “Homecoming” of Dolls in Japan
In Nagoro, dolls replace departed or moved away residents, seated at various locations throughout the village. It’s a hauntingly beautiful reminder of those who once called the place home.
29. The Highland Games of Scotland
Featuring caber tossing, stone putting, and tug-of-war, these games are a display of brute strength and skill, with men in kilts heaving telephone pole-sized logs. It’s like the Olympics, if the Olympics involved more plaid.
30. The Man vs. Horse Marathon in Wales
In Llanwrtyd Wells, humans compete against horses in a 22-mile race across rugged terrain. It started as a bet over a pint (because, of course, it did), and now it’s an annual test of endurance, proving once and for all that sometimes, you can actually outpace a horse. Maybe.
31. Throwing Furniture Out the Window in South Africa
In parts of South Africa, there’s a New Year’s tradition of throwing old furniture out of the window to make room for the new. It’s the ultimate spring cleaning, but with a little more gravity involved.
32. The Turnip Lantern Festival in Switzerland
Forget pumpkins; in Richterswil, Switzerland, they carve turnips into lanterns for the Räbechilbi Festival. The glowing turnip parade lights up the town in a uniquely Swiss twist on Halloween.
33. The Festival of Near-Death Experiences in Spain
In Las Nieves, people who’ve had near-death experiences in the past year are carried in coffins by their loved ones in the Festival of Santa Marta de Ribarteme. It’s a celebration of life, death, and everything in between.
34. Mudras at Work in India
In classical Indian dance, intricate hand gestures called “mudras” tell entire stories. But did you know some people use them in daily conversation too? It’s like talking with your hands taken to an art form.
35. The “Bullet Ant” Initiation in Brazil
The Satere-Mawe tribe in Brazil has a coming-of-age ceremony involving gloves filled with bullet ants. The initiate must wear the gloves and endure the pain to prove their strength and resilience. Talk about a tough handshake!
36. Scotland’s Burning of the Clavie
In Burghead, a barrel filled with tar (the Clavie) is set on fire and carried around town before being placed on a hill to burn. It’s a fiery New Year celebration meant to bring luck and purify the coming year.
37. The Night of the Witches in Mexico
Catemaco hosts an annual gathering of witches, shamans, and healers for rituals and cleansings. It’s a spiritual hotline for those seeking otherworldly assistance.
38. Competitive Bed Racing in England
The Great Knaresborough Bed Race combines racing and river swimming, but here’s the twist: competitors do it all while pushing a bed on wheels. Pillow fights are optional but encouraged.
39. The Parsi “Sky Burials” in India
The Parsi community offers their deceased to vultures in “Towers of Silence,” believing it’s a way to return the body to nature. It’s an eco-friendly practice rooted in Zoroastrian beliefs.
40. Italy’s Battle of the Oranges
In Ivrea, citizens reenact a medieval battle for freedom with a massive, city-wide orange fight. It’s messy, it’s juicy, and it’s a vibrant expression of liberty and tradition.
41. The Great Fruitcake Toss in Colorado, USA
Tired of unwanted fruitcake after the holidays? Manitou Springs has the solution: a fruitcake tossing competition that combines creativity and catharsis in a confectionary fling.
42. Finland’s Wife Carrying World Championships
Echoing an ancient practice, participants navigate an obstacle course while carrying their partners. The prize? The wife’s weight in beer, making it a weighty competition in more ways than one.
43. The Japanese Practice of “Naki Sumo”
This baby-crying contest pits infant against infant to see who can wail the loudest and longest, believed to ward off evil spirits and ensure a healthy life. It’s a cacophony of good intentions.
44. The Ancient Art of Worm Charming in England
Competitors in the World Worm Charming Championships have 30 minutes to coax as many worms from the ground as possible. It’s a wriggly, giggly affair that’s as much about technique as it is about charm.
45. The Netherlands’ Canal Jumping
In Friesland, “Fierljeppen” involves vaulting over waterways with a long pole. It’s an athletic leap that has evolved from a practical means of getting around to a competitive sport.
46. The “Possum Drop” of North Carolina, USA
This New Year’s Eve event involves lowering a possum in a transparent box at midnight, a quirky alternative to the Times Square ball drop, celebrating the local wildlife in a unique way.
47. Switzerland’s Explosive Snowman Effigy
The Böögg, a snowman made of wadding and fireworks, is set ablaze during the Sechseläuten festival in Zurich to predict the summer’s weather. The faster his head explodes, the better the summer forecast.
48. “Caganer” Figurines in Catalan Nativity Scenes
In Catalonia, nativity scenes include a “caganer,” a figurine depicted in the act of defecation. It’s a symbol of fertility and good fortune, adding a humorous touch to holiday traditions.
49. South Korea’s Black Day for Singles
On April 14th, singles who didn’t receive gifts on Valentine’s Day or White Day gather to eat black bean noodles (jajangmyeon) and commiserate or celebrate their single status together.
50. Australia’s Henley-on-Todd Regatta
A “boat” race with a twist: since the Todd River is almost always dry, teams carry bottomless boats and race across the sand. It’s a nautical competition that’s more about the sprint than the splash.
51. The Phallic Festival of Japan
In Kawasaki, the Kanamara Matsuri celebrates fertility and marital harmony with phallic-shaped paraphernalia, from candies to parade floats. It’s a nod to an ancient legend and supports modern causes like HIV prevention.
52. The Scottish Tradition of “First-Footing”
In Scotland, the first person to cross a home’s threshold after midnight on New Year’s Day brings good luck. Dark-haired men are preferred, bearing symbolic gifts like coal or whiskey.
53. Finland’s Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships
In Savonlinna, old cell phones are given a send-off through competitive throwing, combining recycling with a show of strength and frustration release.
54. The Goat Tossing Festival of Spain
In Manganeses de la Polvorosa, the tradition involved tossing a live goat from a church belfry into a crowd below, who catch it with a canvas sheet. Due to animal rights concerns, the practice has been modified or ceased in modern celebrations.
55. The Danish Tradition of “Katte af Tønden”
In Denmark, hitting a barrel filled with candy, similar to a piñata, was historically also meant to drive away evil spirits. The person to knock down the bottom becomes the “king of cats.”
56. “La Pourcailhade” – The Pig Festival of France
In Trie-sur-Baïse, the festival celebrates all things porcine, including pig squealing contests where participants imitate pig calls in various situations, celebrating the animal’s role in rural life.
57. The Turkey Testicle Festival of Illinois, USA
Huntley, Illinois, hosts an annual event where fried turkey testicles are the delicacy of the day, served alongside beer and live music for a ballsy gastronomic experience.
58. The Mud Festival of South Korea
Boryeong’s Mud Festival features mud wrestling, mud sliding, and even a mud prison, promoting the region’s mineral-rich mud for its health and skincare benefits.
59. The “Air Guitar” World Championships of Finland
Oulu becomes the epicenter of the air guitar universe, where competitors from around the globe strum the air in pursuit of world peace and the title of Air Guitar World Champion.
60. Greece’s Flour War Carnival
In Galaxidi, “Clean Monday” is celebrated with a “flour war,” where participants throw colored flour at each other, marking the end of Carnival and the beginning of Lent in a vibrant cloud of hues.
61. The English Lawnmower Racing
In West Sussex, lawnmower racing is a serious sport, with competitors racing modified mowers. It started as a cheaper alternative to motorsport, proving you can race anything with an engine.
62. The “Ivrea Orange Battle” of Italy
This historical reenactment turns into a juicy battle, with teams throwing oranges at each other, representing stones in a medieval uprising. It’s a Vitamin C-packed event with a rebellious spirit.
63. The “Cry Baby” Contest of Japan
In this 400-year-old tradition, sumo wrestlers hold babies and compete to make them cry first, believing the cries will ward off evil spirits and ensure the babies’ healthy growth.
64. Wales’ Bog Snorkeling Championship
Llanwrtyd Wells hosts this quirky sporting event where participants snorkel through a water-filled trench in a peat bog. It’s as muddy and challenging as it sounds, requiring a unique blend of endurance and a sense of humor.
65. The Netherlands’ “Paalzitten” or Pole Sitting
This involves competitors sitting on top of poles planted in water for as long as possible. Once a test of endurance and solitude, it’s now a quirky local competition attracting spectators and challengers alike.
66. The “Santa Claus World Congress” in Denmark
Each summer, the World Santa Claus Congress gathers in Bakken, with Santas from around the globe discussing important North Pole strategies and spreading Christmas cheer, regardless of the season.
67. The Wife-Carrying Championship in Finland
In Sonkajärvi, couples race through an obstacle course, with men carrying their partners on their backs. It’s a test of strength, endurance, and teamwork, all for the prize of the wife’s weight in beer.
68. Germany’s “Ostereierbaum” or Easter Egg Tree
In Saalfeld, a kastanienbaum (chestnut tree) is decorated with thousands of painted eggs, creating a vibrant spectacle to celebrate Easter, showcasing craftsmanship and community spirit.
69. The “Battle of the Oranges” in Italy
During the Ivrea Carnival, teams engage in a lively citrus throwdown, commemorating the town’s liberation from tyranny. It’s a sticky, fragrant rebellion reenactment.
70. Belgium’s “Krampus Run”
While not unique to Belgium, their Krampuslauf sees people dressed as Krampus, Saint Nicholas’ demonic counterpart, chasing people through the streets, a chilling reminder of the consequences of naughtiness.
71. The “Night of the Radishes” in Mexico
Oaxaca carves radishes into intricate sculptures for display on December 23rd, a unique blend of agricultural showcase and artistic expression, celebrating the region’s farming heritage.
72. “El Salto del Colacho” (Baby Jumping) in Spain
In Castrillo de Murcia, men dressed as the Devil jump over infants born in the previous year to cleanse them of original sin, a blend of Catholic and pagan traditions for protection and purification.
73. The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake in England
Competitors chase a 9-pound wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down a steep hill, a risky race for cheese glory and one of England’s most eccentric and injury-prone events.
74. The “Hadaka Matsuri” (Naked Festival) in Japan
Thousands of men wearing minimal clothing (fundoshi) gather to catch sacred sticks thrown by priests, believing they bring a year of happiness and luck, a test of endurance, faith, and modesty.
75. The “Tinku” Fist Fighting Festival in Bolivia
In Macha, the Tinku festival involves ritualistic fighting to honor Pachamama (Mother Earth), with the belief that bloodshed fertilizes the earth, ensuring a good harvest.
76. “La Tomatina” in Spain
Buñol turns red with tomato pulp as thousands engage in the world’s biggest food fight, a spectacle of chaos, camaraderie, and culinary warfare that brings the community together in a tomato-drenched celebration.
77. The “Gurning World Championships” in England
Contestants pull grotesque faces through a horse collar, competing for the title of World’s Best Gurner. It’s a hilarious testament to the diverse ways humans can entertain themselves.
78. New Zealand’s “Baldwin Street Gutbuster”
Participants race up the world’s steepest residential street in Dunedin, a literal breath-taking challenge that combines pain, pride, and the peculiar joy of conquering absurdly steep inclines.
79. The “Yanshui Fireworks Festival” in Taiwan
In Yanshui, participants don protective gear to face off against thousands of fireworks, a purification ritual turned extreme sport, where the brave confront blasts for blessings.
80. The “Frozen Dead Guy Days” in Colorado, USA
Nederland, Colorado, celebrates Grandpa Bredo Morstoel, who is cryogenically frozen, with coffin races, polar plunges, and frozen t-shirt contests, embracing the bizarre with a chill in the air.
81. The Quiet Village of Noiva do Cordeiro, Brazil
This Brazilian village is predominantly populated by women, with very few men around. The unique social structure has led to a matriarchal community where women set the rules, offering a fascinating glimpse into gender dynamics and communal living.
82. The Scottish Custom of “First Footing”
In Scotland, the first person to enter a home after midnight on New Year’s Day brings luck for the year. Traditionally, the “first-footer” should be a dark-haired male, bringing gifts like coal, whisky, or shortbread to ensure prosperity.
83. The “Festival of Broken Needles” in Japan
Hari-Kuyo, observed by seamstresses and housewives, is a Buddhist and Shinto ceremony honoring broken needles and thanking them for their service. It’s a beautiful testament to mindfulness and gratitude for the tools that aid daily life.
84. Switzerland’s “Explosive” Spring Cleaning
In the spring, some Swiss towns clear out the last of winter with a bang, literally, by blowing up a snowman effigy with fireworks during the Sechseläuten festival. It’s a uniquely explosive way to welcome spring.
85. The Naked Festival of Okayama, Japan
During Saidaiji Eyo, thousands of men wearing only loincloths struggle in the cold to catch sacred sticks thrown by priests. It’s a test of endurance and faith, with the belief that catching one brings a year of luck.
86. The Unusual Cuisine of Iceland: Hákarl
Hákarl is fermented shark meat, an Icelandic delicacy that’s infamous for its strong ammonia-rich smell and taste. It’s traditionally eaten during the Þorrablót midwinter festival, proving that tastes truly vary across cultures.
87. The “Sky Burial” of Tibet
In Vajrayana Buddhism, the sky burial involves offering the deceased to vultures as an act of compassion and a way to return the body to nature. It’s a profound practice reflecting beliefs about life, death, and reincarnation.
88. The Flaming Taro Ball Festival of Taiwan
The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival sees the streets light up with fireworks to ward off evil and bring good luck. Participants wear protective gear to brave the “beehive” barrages, turning the town into a war zone of sparks.
89. The Tooth-Filing Ceremony of Bali, Indonesia
This coming-of-age ritual involves filing the canine teeth to symbolize the eradication of sin, such as greed, lust, anger, and jealousy, preparing youths for adulthood with a physical and spiritual cleansing.
90. The Moustache Competition of Rajasthan, India
The Pushkar Camel Fair, aside from its camel trading, features a competition for the longest and most impressive moustache. It’s a celebration of facial hair that carries significant cultural pride and legacy.
91. The Night of the Witches in Mexico
In Catemaco, a gathering of witches, shamans, and healers perform cleansings, rituals, and psychic readings. It’s a night where the mystical and the curious collide, showcasing the region’s deep-rooted beliefs in magic and the supernatural.
92. The Kukeri Festival of Bulgaria
Men dress in elaborate costumes and masks, clanging bells to scare away evil spirits and welcome spring. It’s a vibrant display of folklore and tradition, aimed at ensuring prosperity and good health.
93. The Festival of the Lame Duck in France
In the small town of Bresse, a peculiar tradition involves racing ducks across the town square. However, the catch is that these ducks have their feet tied, making it a bizarre and somewhat controversial spectacle.
94. The Pig Festival of Vanuatu
On the island of Vanuatu, pigs are highly valued, and the tradition of pig jumping involves men leaping over rows of pigs as a rite of passage and a display of bravery and strength.
95. The Red Ink Taboo of South Korea
In South Korea, writing someone’s name in red ink was traditionally believed to be bad luck or a curse, as red ink was used to record deceased persons’ names. This superstition influences modern etiquette and beliefs.
96. The Spanish Tradition of Wearing Red Underwear on New Year’s Eve
In Spain, wearing red underwear as the clock strikes midnight is said to bring good luck and love in the coming year. It’s a colorful and intimate way to start the year off on the right foot.
97. The Chicken Beauty Pageants of Malaysia
In Malaysia, the Serama chicken breed is celebrated for its posture, confidence, and feather quality in beauty pageants that highlight the bird’s elegance and demeanor, showcasing the diversity of animal competitions.
98. The “Living Goddesses” of Nepal
In Kathmandu, young girls are worshipped as Kumari, living goddesses, until they reach puberty. It’s a tradition that intertwines divinity with humanity, reflecting deep spiritual beliefs.
99. The Whistling Language of La Gomera, Spain
On the Canary Island of La Gomera, Silbo Gomero is a whistled language used to communicate across the steep valleys and gorges. It’s a UNESCO-protected intangible cultural heritage that echoes ancient practices.
100. The Bridge Jumping of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The annual diving competition off Stari Most (Old Bridge) into the Neretva River is a test of courage and skill. It’s a tradition dating back centuries, blending cultural heritage with adrenaline-pumping action.
From the quaint to the quirky, these traditions and customs reveal the richness of global cultures, inviting us to explore, understand, and celebrate the diverse ways people find meaning, connection, and joy in life. Cheers to the world’s infinite capacity to surprise, delight, and inspire us with its unique practices and beliefs!
