Weird practices and traditions can be found anywhere on the planet, no matter where you travel to, from the most advanced parts of the civilized western world to the darkest corners of African tribes. Some of them bare a history dating back to the Bronze Age, others are somewhat newer and some are completely impossible to attend, given the fact that few people know about them, or they take place in confined spaces, cultures and areas. However, if one decides that planning a trip around the world should also integrate witnessing some weird traditions, besides the regular museums and cultural references beautifully highlighted in any travel guide, we summed up ten such events that may attract a daring tourist with a deep innate curiosity.
We all know that sunny beaches, spectacular landscapes, vivid and entertaining resorts or peaceful mountain tops make the best vacation options, together with city-breaks and country tours, but how would it be to travel in some of the most attractive touristic destinations around the world and have an eye not only for what is obvious worth visiting, but also for some bizarre traditions? A few of these customs and cultural habits may be quite disturbing, so please be careful before choosing to attend some obscure and cruel body-disfigurement ritual, but nonetheless, let’s get a map and plan our holidays having also in mind ten of the most weird practices around the world.
1. Groundhog Day, U.S.A
You’d say that by 2013, technology and science have developed quite accurate procedures and means in order to predict the weather. And yet, here you have a 200 years old tradition that basically consists of planning your future spring holidays plan according to the mood of a grumpy hog.
Every year, people gather in somewhat large groups all over the country and entertain themselves with the meteorological forecasts announced by the little critter that may, or may not, see its shadow. Of course, Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is the most famous one, having its own movie made in its name, as a sign of respect and out of a sense of incredible comedy (as a freaked out Bill Murray delivers a brilliant performance) and if next year you’re planning a trip to Penn., maybe you should schedule this event too in your calendar. If not for the weather forecast, at least for Phil’s sweet pout.
If you want to learn more about the most famous weather hogs, you can take a look HERE
Also, if you missed this move, although it’s hard to believe anyone had, you can shop it from HERE
2. Gurning Championship, U.K
Let’s keep our travel plans still in the borders of the English speaking world and travel to Great Britain. No matter if you are there for business or for pleasure or if you are accustomed to the place, keep in mind that visiting the United Kingdom can’t be an activity restricted only to the great monuments, edifices and entertainment hot spots in London (or the Stonehenge).
Welcome to Egremont, a rural English area where people keep a very weird and funny tradition since 1267. Here on Tenmania we already talked about some of the funniest, extreme and mind blowing English and world-wide sports, but this hobby takes the cake.
The “gurning” championship gathers annually a bunch of people ready to make the most bizarre, funny, (most of the times downright grotesque) silly faces and grimaces, while having a horse collar around their necks. You think this is odd? Think about the fact that they keep this tradition every year, they call it The World Gurning Championship and the contenders take matters so seriously, that some of them actually removed some of their personal teeth in order to “gurn” easier.
If you have questions about this crazy hobby, all you have to do is to contact the organizers HERE
3. Horse Wrestling, Spain
Spain is an extraordinary country, with a history and a culture worth knowing better, not to mention it hosts the world’s best cuisine and at least two weird practices famous all over the world: the bull fights and the San Fermin Festival or the running-from-the-bulls-parties, which you can still attend to this summer, as it is held from the 6th to the 14th of July.
Still, if you want to spend your holidays in Spain and you want to get a little closer to the Spanish culture and traditions, besides paella, the architectural wonders of Barcelona, the white sandy beaches of Spanish coast and islands or the accommodation facilities Spanish resorts offer to their tourists, we warmly recommend the Horse Fighting. This is an older and less known Spanish tradition, but no less spectacular than the others.
People gang upon horses trying to put the animals to the ground, in a “man over beast fest” (Rapa das Bestas) dating back to the 18th century. If you think this weird tradition is a little violent, the Spanish consider it to be entertaining and a tourist attraction. So book your flight to Spain, and while you enjoy a Margarita and a tan on a trendy beach, think about going to also see the 3 days horse festival. It is held in Galicia and starts every first Saturday of July, each year. But beware, just as Daily Mail says, this in not a show for the faint hearted.
If you’re curious on how exactly this wild wrestling show takes place, you can take a look HERE
4. Camel Wrestling, Turkey
From ancient times people seem to have a thing for animal fights. So from horses to camels, there’s just a flight ticket distance. Welcome to Turkey, the land of cultural eclecticism, a historical cradle for modern European world, exquisite dishes and a touristic potential and offers that impress any traveler in the good way. So what is there to be seen in Turkey, besides the breathtaking melange of old and new, modernity and ancient history, cultural edifices, spectacular landscapes and all-inclusive five stars hotels that rival even the most luxurious summer resorts in all other European countries?
The Camel Wrestling Festival, of course. It’s not like a bull-fight but it’s not far from it either. Spectators watch in awe the two male camels (specially bred for this type of entertaining activity) fighting each other. Luckily, there are few injuries counted at the end of the confrontation, but still, camels are aggressive animals and you never know when they’re gonna spit on you.
Best thing about it, there are Turkish travel agencies that have special offers around the time of the Festival, so you can learn more about booking your trip HERE.
5. The Catherinettes Day, France
Feeling single and fabulous? While in France? Good, because we all know France is some kind of wonderland for any tourist, no matter if one wants to roam the bohemian streets of Montmartre, having brunch in one of many Parisian bistros, shop for eccentricallyexpensive clothes, jewelry or perfumes in the fashion and designer label capital of the world or sip a glass of the most luxurious wines somewhere in the countryside.
So France has something for all of us. But if you want to witness something truly funny and inspiring (if you catch our drift), then you should attend the feast day of St. Catherine of Alexandria, French unmarried ladies’ spiritual patron. If you happen to visit this spectacular country around 20th of November, remember that on the day of 25th, French unmarried women pray for husbands at the statues of Saint Catherine and they also honor the “Catherinettes”, unmarried women over 25 years old.
Forget about Paris’s old famous clubs and discos or even fashion shows, because these women made the hat the hottest fashion accessory of all times. This is the place and time to be if you want to see real live displays of beauty, latest fashion trends and an increased level of availability to flirting.
If you want to understand better how fashion and being single go together, take a look HERE
6. The Never Ending Wedding, Orient
If you ever go on a trip to the Orient and you are lucky enough to get invited to a wedding, don’t miss it. Many Muslim countries (Tunisia, Algeria or Palestine among others) hold wedding rituals that last from three to seven days and every day consists in a different event. Imagine all the women gathered together in preparing the bride and the beauty rituals are something to see at least once in a lifetime.
The home made cosmetics and waxing products (consisting basically of sugar and lemon juice), the tradition of painting the future’s bride’s hands with henna, or the milk-bath the bride takes in the first day of the ceremonies are things to enjoy witnessing (or at least being told of) while you’re there. During these ancient (while trying to get modern) ceremonies, the bride changes a lot of dresses, and while it is possible to have a white one too, there is really no standard for the bride’s outfits, most of them being very colored and even sumptuous.
Oriental traditional dishes are another reason to attend this never ending party, as you will get stuffed with the best meal courses they can think of. One of the most weird traditions around the world, these types of Tunisian weddings are a celebration of life, love, family and friends, as at longs as it takes, the house is always full of people.
If you never get there, you can see some inside house traditional wedding moments HERE
7. Naki Sumo, Japan
Another place to see at least once in a lifetime. Japan. A different realm, with a history, culture and traditional manifestations one can not comprehend or witness without spending a fair amount of time there. We don’t even want to begin giving examples of what to see and what to do in Japan, as we’re sure many people desire to see some of those wonders with their own eyes, but if you are the courageous type of tourist and you don’t limit your experiences only to museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants or other entertainment facilities, try to sneak peek at the annual Naki Sumo event, held every year at the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo.
Maybe our western civilization isn’t so fond of crying babies, and we see mothers everyday trying to put an end to this infants’ annoying habit, but in Japan, a baby crying his heart out is a sign of strength and health. So for the last four hundred years, the Naki Sumo Festival consists in gathering Sumo wrestlers to gang up on infants and make them cry.
The louder they cry, the healthier and stronger they will be. So if the noise doesn’t disturb you to the point of hysteria, go see the Sumo and the babies party!
Let’s take a look to see how this tradition (and one of the most weird practices around the world) develops HERE
8. Hogmanay, Scotland
Want to spend the New Year’s Eve in a different, quite weird way? Try then Scotland, where the NYE is a moment of gathering for all Scottish odd traditions. You will sing along “Auld Land Syne” and go wild together with these party creatures that will stop at nothing.
Among some of the weird traditions they follow every year is the Clavie. Not a playing instrument or a new cocktail, but a wood and tar barrel, well fixed on a post, set on fire and walked clockwork – wise around the city, until it finds its rest on a stone altar where it burns completely. Also, you can settle your debts during the NYE festivities, just like the Scots do, learn about “first footing” and… drink. A lot.
Book in advance your Hogmany event, as people come from everywhere to see the show. Check for reservations in advance HERE
9. The Testicles Festival, U.S.A
No, it is not a porn parade, although it can be considered one, in a more metaphorical way. This is a culinary fest, one of the most bizarre, if you ask us, as people gather in Montana, U.S.A, to eat bull testicles cooked in a variety of ingenious ways, from fried to beer marinade.
Eating bull testicles is not uncommon in some countries around the world, but gathering around 15.000 of people every autumn of every year just to feed them these specialties, well that’s something to see, if not to even taste. Remember you have to be at least 21 years old, if you’re an American, otherwise the access is quite restricted. Be it a tradition or a very unique idea of entertainment, the thing is this festival has quite the reputation and people come every year. So if you’re book is free this fall, Montana looks awesome in earthly colors.
Not sure if you wanna try? Take a quick peak at the things going on during the Testy Festy HERE
10. Holi, India
This year passed, but you’ll always have the next spring. This festival is one of the most colored, vivid and mind blowing of many you may have seen before, and it is a weird old Hindu practice you can see also in Nepal or Guyana. For a few days, you may witness people in the streets throwing colored dust and water all over the place and upon each other.
It is among one of the most weird practices in the world, but also one of the most unique shows on Earth and not to be missed if you happen to be in the area. Spring comes not only with the rejoice of life, nature, optimism and good will, but also with colds and new viruses. So the Color Festival brings together ancient Ayurveda practices, as people throw colored dust made of remedial herbs and plants, giving the festival a medical sense and purpose. If you like Indian cuisine, then you will love to be there when this moment of pure magic takes place.
This is something you should see at least once in a lifetime, but if you can’t be there on time, you can with your own eyes the wonders that are going on there. Watch HERE
What other weird practices around the world have you witnessed or heard about? Which one would you like to attend?