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Top 10 Strange Royal Traditions

Top 10 Strange Royal Traditions

⏱️ 7 min read

Top 10 Strange Royal Traditions

Throughout history, royal families across the globe have maintained peculiar customs and ceremonies that often seem bizarre to modern observers. These traditions, steeped in centuries of protocol and symbolism, reveal fascinating insights into the values, beliefs, and power structures of monarchies. From the practical to the downright peculiar, these royal customs have endured for generations, offering a window into a world where tradition reigns supreme. Here are ten of the strangest royal traditions that have shaped monarchies around the world.

1. The Royal Swans of England

In the United Kingdom, all unmarked mute swans swimming in open waters belong to the Crown, a tradition dating back to the 12th century when swans were considered a delicacy at royal banquets. Each year, a ceremonial event called "Swan Upping" takes place on the River Thames, where royal swan markers catch, weigh, measure, and tag cygnets before releasing them. The Queen's Swan Marker, an official royal position, leads this five-day ceremony in traditional scarlet uniforms. While swans are no longer eaten at royal feasts, this peculiar tradition continues as a conservation effort and a link to England's medieval past.

2. The Whipping Boy Tradition

During medieval times and well into the Renaissance period, European royal children were accompanied by "whipping boys"—companions who received physical punishment when the young prince misbehaved. Since it was considered treasonous to strike a royal heir, these unfortunate boys bore the consequences of royal misconduct. The practice was believed to instill guilt in the young prince, who would theoretically reform his behavior to spare his companion from suffering. This tradition reflected the belief in divine right and the inviolability of royal persons, even in childhood.

3. Breaking the Royal Bed

Following royal weddings in various European monarchies, particularly in France, courtiers would participate in a bedding ceremony where the newlywed couple was escorted to their marriage bed by their wedding guests. The tradition sometimes involved guests sitting on or jumping on the bed after the couple was tucked in, symbolically "breaking in" the marital bed. Witnesses would often remain nearby to confirm the consummation of marriage, as this was considered essential for validating royal unions and ensuring legitimate heirs. This invasive custom gradually faded by the 18th century as notions of privacy evolved.

4. The Japanese Daijōsai Ceremony

When a new Emperor ascends to the Chrysanthemum Throne in Japan, they must perform the Daijōsai, an elaborate ritual that occurs only once per reign. During this sacred ceremony, the Emperor offers newly harvested rice to Amaterasu, the sun goddess, and shares a ritual meal with the deity in a specially constructed wooden hall. The ceremony involves the Emperor spending the night in a sacred space, symbolically communing with his divine ancestors. This tradition, which costs millions of dollars and requires constructing temporary buildings that are dismantled afterward, underscores the spiritual connection between the Japanese Emperor and the divine realm.

5. Weighing the Royal Family

The British Royal Family maintains a quirky Christmas tradition at Sandringham Estate where all family members are weighed before and after Christmas dinner on antique scales. This custom, established by King Edward VII in the early 1900s, ensures that guests have enjoyed themselves sufficiently during the festivities—those who gain weight are deemed to have had a properly indulgent holiday. Family members line up to be weighed, with their results announced publicly to the group. This unusual practice reflects the Edwardian era's obsession with abundance and hospitality as measures of successful entertaining.

6. The Stone of Scone and Coronation Ceremony

For centuries, Scottish and later British monarchs have been crowned while sitting above the Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny. This ancient sandstone block, believed to have been used as a pillow by the biblical Jacob, was seized from Scotland by King Edward I in 1296 and incorporated into the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey. According to tradition, monarchs must be crowned over this stone to legitimize their rule. The stone was briefly returned to Scotland in 1996 but will return to London for future coronations, maintaining this centuries-old tradition that binds Scottish and English royal heritage.

7. The Royal Touch for Healing

Medieval and early modern European monarchs, particularly in England and France, practiced "the Royal Touch," a ceremony where the sovereign would touch subjects suffering from scrofula, a form of tuberculosis affecting the lymph nodes. This tradition was based on the belief in the divine right of kings, suggesting that monarchs possessed supernatural healing powers granted by God. Thousands of afflicted people would queue for the monarch's touch, often receiving a special coin as well. King Charles II of England reportedly touched nearly 100,000 people during his reign. This practice continued in England until the early 18th century, representing one of history's most unusual assertions of royal divinity.

8. Bhutanese Phallus Tradition

In the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan, the royal family and citizens embrace a tradition involving phallus symbols painted on houses and buildings, believed to ward off evil spirits and bring fertility. This custom honors the "Divine Madman," Drukpa Kunley, a 15th-century Buddhist saint known for his unconventional teachings. The royal family supports this tradition as part of Bhutanese cultural heritage, and phallic symbols appear throughout the kingdom, including on government buildings. While shocking to outsiders, this tradition represents Bhutan's unique blend of spirituality and cultural identity, openly supported by the monarchy.

9. The Presentation of Swords to the Monarch

In Britain, the incoming monarch must receive ceremonial presentations of swords from various noble families during coronation proceedings, a tradition dating back to medieval feudal obligations. These "quit rents" symbolize the ancient duty of nobles to provide military service to the Crown. Some families must present specific historic swords, while others perform symbolic acts like counting horseshoes or presenting flowers. The Duke of Marlborough, for instance, must present a ceremonial French flag to the monarch annually. These archaic customs preserve the symbolic relationship between the Crown and the nobility, maintaining connections to feudal power structures long after their practical purpose has vanished.

10. The Umhlanga Reed Dance of Swaziland

In Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), the royal family presides over the annual Umhlanga or Reed Dance, where tens of thousands of unmarried, childless women gather reeds and present them to the Queen Mother while dancing for the King. This eight-day ceremony celebrates female chastity and unity while allowing the King to choose additional wives, as the nation practices polygamy. Young women wear traditional attire and perform choreographed dances, showcasing cultural pride and loyalty to the monarchy. This tradition, which has faced international criticism, remains a significant royal event that reinforces the monarchy's cultural authority and traditional values in contemporary Swazi society.

Conclusion

These ten strange royal traditions demonstrate how monarchies have maintained power and mystique through elaborate ceremonies and peculiar customs. From healing touches to swan ownership, from whipping boys to weight checks, these practices reveal the extraordinary lengths to which royal families have gone to distinguish themselves from ordinary citizens. While many traditions have been abandoned as societies modernized and democratic values spread, others persist as cultural heritage or tourist attractions. These customs serve as reminders of a time when monarchs were considered semi-divine figures whose every action carried symbolic weight. Whether preserved as quaint historical curiosities or actively practiced as living traditions, these royal customs continue to fascinate and perplex observers, offering unique insights into the evolution of power, privilege, and pageantry throughout human history.

Top 10 Fun Facts About Horror Movie Classics

Top 10 Fun Facts About Horror Movie Classics

⏱️ 7 min read

Top 10 Fun Facts About Horror Movie Classics

Horror movies have been terrifying and entertaining audiences for over a century, creating some of cinema's most iconic moments and memorable characters. Behind the screams and scares lie fascinating stories about how these frightening films came to life. From unexpected casting choices to groundbreaking special effects, the production histories of classic horror movies are filled with surprising revelations. This article explores ten captivating facts about beloved horror classics that even dedicated fans might not know, revealing the creative ingenuity, happy accidents, and bizarre circumstances that shaped these cinematic landmarks.

1. The Shower Scene in Psycho Took Seven Days to Film

Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 masterpiece "Psycho" features one of cinema's most famous sequences: the shower murder scene. This 45-second segment required seven days of filming and involved 70 different camera angles. The scene used chocolate syrup as blood because it showed up better in black and white than actual stage blood. Hitchcock meticulously planned every shot, and the editing process combined 50 cuts to create the illusion of graphic violence without actually showing the knife penetrating Janet Leigh's body. The composer Bernard Herrmann insisted on adding music to the scene despite Hitchcock's initial preference for silence, creating the now-iconic screeching violin score that amplified the terror.

2. The Exorcist Caused Real Fainting and Vomiting in Theaters

When "The Exorcist" premiered in 1973, it generated unprecedented physical reactions from audiences. Theater owners reported that viewers fainted, vomited, and fled screenings in terror. Some theaters stationed ambulances outside to treat traumatized patrons. The film's realistic portrayal of demonic possession, combined with revolutionary special effects and disturbing imagery, proved too intense for many viewers. Director William Friedkin employed subliminal imagery and unsettling sound design to create an atmosphere of dread that operated on a subconscious level. The Vatican newspaper even called the film's content "an abomination," which ironically increased public interest and contributed to its massive box office success.

3. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Was Inspired by Real Events

Tobe Hooper's 1974 film "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" was partly inspired by the crimes of Ed Gein, a Wisconsin murderer and body snatcher. However, the film's creation was also influenced by Hooper's experience being stuck in a crowded store during Christmas shopping. While looking at chainsaws in the hardware section, he imagined how quickly he could escape the crowd if he had one. Despite its reputation as one of cinema's most violent films, the movie contains remarkably little on-screen gore. Most of the violence occurs off-screen or is implied, demonstrating that suggestion and atmosphere can be more effective than explicit imagery in creating horror.

4. Halloween's Iconic Mask Was a Modified William Shatner Mask

The emotionless white mask worn by Michael Myers in John Carpenter's "Halloween" (1978) began as a Captain Kirk mask from Star Trek. The production had a minimal budget, so they purchased the cheapest mask available at a costume shop for approximately two dollars. The crew widened the eye holes, removed the eyebrows, painted it white, and teased out the hair to create the blank, unsettling appearance that became synonymous with the franchise. William Shatner himself didn't learn about this until years later. The mask's effectiveness lies in its lack of expression, creating an inhuman quality that makes Michael Myers appear more like a manifestation of evil than a person.

5. The Shining's Typewriter Pages Were Different in Each Language

In Stanley Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of "The Shining," the famous scene where Wendy discovers Jack's manuscript reveals the repeated phrase "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" typed hundreds of times. Kubrick was so detail-oriented that he had this sequence retyped in different languages for international versions of the film. The Italian version read "Il mattino ha l'oro in bocca" (The morning has gold in its mouth), while the German version used "Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen" (Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today). This meticulous attention to detail extended throughout production, with Kubrick demanding numerous takes that exhausted the cast but resulted in unforgettable performances.

6. A Nightmare on Elm Street Was Based on Real News Stories

Wes Craven drew inspiration for "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984) from a series of Los Angeles Times articles about Southeast Asian refugees who died during nightmares. These young, healthy individuals refused to sleep because of terrifying dreams and eventually died in their sleep despite no apparent physical cause. Craven wondered what could be so frightening that people would resist sleep to the point of death and developed the concept of a killer who attacks victims in their dreams. The film's premise tapped into the universal vulnerability people feel during sleep, making Freddy Krueger particularly terrifying because victims couldn't escape him even in unconsciousness.

7. The Blair Witch Project's Actors Didn't Know the Full Script

The revolutionary 1999 found-footage film "The Blair Witch Project" employed an unusual production method where the three main actors received only basic outlines rather than a complete script. Directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez gave them a 35-page outline of mythological elements and general story direction, then sent them into the Maryland woods with cameras and GPS coordinates. The filmmakers would leave notes and clues for the actors to find, creating genuine reactions of confusion and fear. This improvised approach resulted in authentic performances that contributed to the film's documentary-like realism. The innovative marketing campaign, which suggested the footage was real, made it one of the most profitable independent films ever made.

8. Nosferatu Was an Unauthorized Adaptation That Nearly Disappeared

F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent film "Nosferatu" was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula." Unable to secure rights from Stoker's estate, the filmmakers changed character names and story details, hoping to avoid legal consequences. Stoker's widow sued and won a court order demanding all copies of the film be destroyed. However, several prints had already been distributed internationally, allowing the film to survive. Max Schreck's portrayal of Count Orlok, with his rat-like features and elongated fingers, created an interpretation of the vampire that differed dramatically from Stoker's aristocratic count and influenced vampire cinema for decades. The near-destruction of this masterpiece would have represented an irreplaceable loss to film history.

9. The Silence of the Lambs Was Only the Third Film to Win the Big Five Oscars

Jonathan Demme's "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) became only the third film in Academy Award history to win the "Big Five" categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. This unprecedented achievement for a horror thriller demonstrated that genre films could achieve both critical acclaim and commercial success. Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor despite appearing on screen for only approximately 16 minutes, making his performance as Hannibal Lecter one of the most efficient in Oscar history. The film's success helped legitimize psychological horror as a serious dramatic genre worthy of prestigious recognition.

10. The Omen's Production Was Plagued by Bizarre Accidents

Richard Donner's 1976 film "The Omen" experienced a series of unsettling incidents that some crew members considered supernatural. Star Gregory Peck and screenwriter David Seltzer were on separate planes that were struck by lightning. The hotel where director Donner was staying in London was bombed by the IRA. An animal handler was killed by a lion shortly after production wrapped. Most disturbingly, special effects consultant John Richardson was involved in a car accident in which his assistant was killed; the crash occurred near a road sign marking the distance to a town as 66.6 kilometers, echoing the film's demonic 666 symbolism. Whether coincidence or curse, these incidents added to the film's ominous reputation.

Conclusion

These ten fascinating facts reveal that classic horror films are as interesting behind the camera as they are terrifying on screen. From budget constraints that led to creative solutions like Halloween's modified Captain Kirk mask, to dangerous production incidents surrounding The Omen, these stories demonstrate the dedication and ingenuity required to create lasting cinematic nightmares. The real-world inspirations, revolutionary techniques, and unexpected challenges faced during production contributed to making these films the enduring classics they remain today. Understanding the context and creation of these horror landmarks deepens appreciation for the artistry involved in frightening audiences across generations. These behind-the-scenes stories prove that sometimes reality is stranger and more compelling than the fiction presented on screen.