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Did You Know? 12 Strange Traditions Around the World
Every culture around the globe has developed its own unique customs and traditions over centuries, shaped by history, religion, geography, and social values. While some practices may seem perfectly normal to those who observe them, they can appear remarkably unusual to outsiders. These traditions offer fascinating insights into the diversity of human expression and the different ways communities celebrate life, honor their ancestors, and mark important milestones. Here are twelve of the most intriguing and strange traditions practiced around the world that continue to captivate anthropologists and curious travelers alike.
1. Baby Jumping Festival in Spain
In the small village of Castrillo de Murcia in Spain, a peculiar tradition known as El Colacho takes place annually during the feast of Corpus Christi. Men dressed as devils jump over babies born during the previous year, who are lying on mattresses in the street. This Catholic tradition, dating back to 1620, is believed to cleanse the infants of original sin and protect them from evil spirits and illness throughout their lives. Despite its unusual nature, the practice remains an important cultural event for the local community.
2. Finger Cutting Ceremony in Papua New Guinea
Among the Dani tribe of Papua New Guinea, the death of a family member triggers a profound mourning ritual that involves the amputation of fingers. Female relatives of the deceased would traditionally have portions of their fingers cut off to symbolize the pain of losing a loved one and to satisfy ancestral ghosts. While this practice has largely been discontinued due to government intervention and modernization, older members of the tribe can still be seen with missing finger segments, bearing witness to this extreme expression of grief.
3. Throwing Cinnamon at Singles in Denmark
Danish singles who reach their 25th birthday without finding a spouse face a peculiar celebration. Friends and family members shower the unmarried person with large quantities of cinnamon, either by sprinkling it over them or, in more enthusiastic cases, tying them to a pole and covering them completely in the spice. If they remain single by age 30, the tradition escalates to using pepper instead. This custom allegedly originated from spice salesmen who traveled extensively for their trade and often remained bachelors due to their nomadic lifestyle.
4. Blackening of the Bride in Scotland
Scottish brides-to-be in certain regions endure a pre-wedding ritual called “blackening.” Friends and family members capture the bride and cover her in various unpleasant substances including mud, spoiled milk, fish sauce, tar, feathers, and other messy materials. The bride is then paraded around town for all to see. This humiliating tradition is believed to prepare the bride for any difficulties she might face in married life, operating on the principle that if she can handle this ordeal with grace, marriage will be comparatively easy.
5. Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand
Every November in the Lopburi province of Thailand, the local community hosts an elaborate feast for an unusual group of guests: thousands of monkeys. Tables are laden with over 4,000 kilograms of fruits, vegetables, cakes, and candies arranged in elaborate displays. This tradition serves to thank the monkeys, who are considered descendants of the Hindu deity Hanuman, for bringing tourists to the area. The festival has become a major tourist attraction, though the monkeys remain the undisputed guests of honor.
6. Carrying Wives for Sport in Finland
Wife-carrying, or Eukonkanto in Finnish, originated in Finland and has become an internationally recognized sport with world championships held annually. Male competitors race through an obstacle course while carrying a female teammate, who need not actually be their wife. The tradition allegedly stems from the 19th-century legend of Ronkainen the Robber, who required prospective gang members to prove their worth by carrying heavy sacks or stealing women from neighboring villages. Today, winners receive their wife’s weight in beer.
7. Living with the Dead in Indonesia
The Toraja people of Indonesia maintain an extraordinary relationship with death that outsiders often find shocking. When a family member dies, the body is not immediately buried. Instead, it is treated with formaldehyde and kept in the family home for weeks, months, or even years until the family can afford a proper funeral ceremony. During this time, the deceased is treated as if they were ill rather than dead, with family members bringing them food and engaging them in conversation.
8. Tooth Filing Ceremony in Bali
In Bali, Indonesia, a coming-of-age ceremony called Mepandes involves filing down the upper canine and incisor teeth of teenagers. This Hindu ritual is believed to control evil human characteristics including greed, jealousy, anger, confusion, intoxication, and sadness, which are symbolically represented by the pointed teeth. The ceremony is essential for spiritual purification and is often an elaborate affair involving priests, traditional music, and significant expense for the family.
9. Crying Weddings in China
Among the Tujia ethnic group in China, brides are expected to begin crying exactly one month before their wedding day. Ten days later, the bride’s mother joins in the crying, and ten days after that, the grandmother and other female relatives participate. This ritualized weeping, lasting a full month, is expressed in different tones and represents various emotions. Rather than sadness, this tradition is considered an expression of joy and a demonstration of virtue, with the ability to cry in multiple tones regarded as a valuable skill.
10. Famadihana in Madagascar
The Malagasy people of Madagascar practice Famadihana, or “the turning of the bones,” a funerary tradition held every five to seven years. Families exhume the remains of deceased relatives from family crypts, rewrap them in fresh silk shrouds, and dance with the corpses while a live band plays. This celebration is a way to honor ancestors, ask for their blessings, and share family news with them. The practice reflects the belief that the dead fully join the ancestors only after the body has completely decomposed.
11. La Tomatina in Spain
Every August in the town of Buñol, Spain, approximately 20,000 participants engage in the world’s largest food fight during La Tomatina festival. For one hour, people hurl over 150,000 overripe tomatoes at each other in the streets, creating rivers of tomato juice. While the exact origins are disputed, this tradition has been officially celebrated since 1945. Though it may seem wasteful, only tomatoes specifically grown for this purpose and unsuitable for consumption are used, and the citric acid actually helps clean the town’s streets.
12. Night Hunting in Bhutan
In eastern Bhutan, an unusual courtship tradition called Bomena or “night hunting” has been practiced for generations. Young men sneak into homes at night hoping to spend time with young women. If caught by the girl’s family, the young man may be obligated to marry her or face social consequences. This tradition is connected to the region’s rural lifestyle where young people have limited opportunities for interaction. While the practice has become controversial and less common in modern times, it remains a fascinating example of unconventional courtship customs.
Conclusion
These twelve strange traditions from around the world demonstrate the remarkable diversity of human cultural expression. From Spain’s baby-jumping festivals to Bhutan’s night hunting customs, from Denmark’s cinnamon-covered singles to Madagascar’s bone-turning ceremonies, each tradition reflects deep-rooted beliefs, values, and historical contexts unique to its culture. While some practices may seem bizarre or even disturbing to outsiders, they hold profound meaning for the communities that observe them. Understanding these traditions fosters cultural appreciation and reminds us that what seems strange in one context may be sacred in another. As globalization continues to influence societies worldwide, many of these traditions are evolving or disappearing, making their documentation and understanding all the more valuable for preserving the rich tapestry of human cultural heritage.
