The Weirdest Festivals and Celebrations from Around the World

It’s no secret that almost every civilization on earth has a festival that’s unusually important to them. They will celebrate it in an elaborate way. With things such as dances, music, lots of food, and other traditional practices. But, some celebrations and festivals are stranger than others. And some of them feature odd or bizarre traditions that could seem straight-up terrifying to outsiders. So let’s take a quick look at some of the weirdest festivals and celebrations from around the world.

La Tomatina – Spain

The little Spanish village of Buol hosts the yearly La Tomatina event. Participants of the event throw themselves into a large tomato brawl and throw ripe tomatoes at one another. The celebration is thought to have begun in the 1940s when some kids initiated a tomato fight in the town plaza. Thousands of visitors came to the festival today to partake in the fun from all around the world.

Cheese Rolling – England

Every year in Gloucester, England, Cooper’s Hill hosts the Cheese Rolling Festival. A 9-pound wheel of cheese is rolled down the incline during the festival while participants chase after it. The cheese is awarded to the first person to reach the finish line. The festival, which has been going on for centuries, draws thousands of visitors from all over the world.

Baby-Jumping Festival – Spain

The Spanish town of Castrillo de Murcia is famous for a weird celebration known as the Baby-Jumping Festival or El Colacho. During the occasion, men in devil costumes leap over infants placed on beds in the street. The festival is said to have originated in the 17th century and is supposed to bring good fortune and purify the babies of sin.

Monkey Buffet Festival – Thailand

Lopburi, Thailand, hosts an annual festival called the Monkey Buffet. Thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables are distributed during the celebration to the neighborhood monkeys. They are thought to bring the community luck and prosperity. Many tourists from all over the world come to the festival to witness the monkeys eat from their buffet.

Hadaka Matsuri – Japan

Hadaka Matsuri, also known as the Naked Festival, is a traditional Japanese festival that takes place in various locations throughout Japan. The festival involves participants wearing only loincloths and running through the streets, often in freezing temperatures. The festival is believed to have started over 1,200 years ago and is also thought to bring good luck and prosperity to the country.

Day of the Dead – Mexico

Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, as a day to remember loved ones who have passed away. The festival entails the construction of vibrant altars, the ornamentation of graves, and the offering of food and drink to the ghosts of the deceased. It is thought that by celebrating the holiday, which is a huge deal all over Mexico, the deceased spirits will return to the world of the living for this one special day.