15 of the World’s Weirdest Festivals
Burning
Man, USA
A combination
of art, freedom, and self-reliance. And all in a radical way.
8 days in the Black Rock Desert and you’ll never be the same
person.
The
Burning Man is a gathering of people who forget about their
ordinary way of life and create a new, developed society based
on the principles of gifting, self-expression, civic responsibility,
and respect. Some
may think it’s a site for hippies, although visitors of all mindsets
and professions are welcome.
Battle
of the Oranges, Italy
Another
food fight event that is worth visiting is the Battle of the
Oranges in Ivrea, Italy.
3 days
before Fat Tuesday, the town of Ivrea is turned into a battlefield
for 9 squads fighting for the sake of justice. Each team has its own commander, uniform,
and a bunch of oranges to throw at their opponents. The
judges make their decision at the end of the third day, and the
winning team is honored by the whole town.
Although
the fighting looks like fun, it’s actually very dangerous because oranges leave
heavy injuries. It’s forbidden to participate without a helmet.
Pikachu
Festival, Japan
This
movie star beats all popularity records. Besides the world-famous cartoon,
merchandise, and love of devoted fans, Pikachu now has its own parade.
Over 1,000
performers in Pikachu costumes take over the streets of Yokohama,
Japan. This year they will be accompanied by other Pokemon
characters. The initiative is very new, but it has an army
of lovers who are happy to join in every year.
Day
of Silence, Bali
The
New Year in Bali is completely different from what we’re
used to. Unlike most countries where this holiday comes with parties and
crowded celebrations, Balinese people take the opportunity to welcome the
beginning of the year in peace and calm.
On Nyepi
Day, the Day of Silence, all the residents on the island (including
tourists) are obliged to follow several very strict rules: no fire,
no travel, no activity, no entertainment. These rules require traffic and
electricity to be shut down (with the exception of the emergency
services) for the next 24 hours to allow for self-reflection,
meditation, and relaxation.
Hair
Freezing Day, Canada
Every
February, you can go hot and cold in the Takhini Hot Pools
in Canada and even raise money at the same time. The rules are
simple: all you need to have is hair, the willingness
to go out in −20°F, and a little patience. Once you’re in the hot springs, you dip your
hair into the water, take it out, and wait. All the rest
will be done by the cold. As soon as you feel the air
performing its frozen magic (which takes some time), start working on your
hairdo. Take a photo, and the best one wins the prize.
Sounds
like a perfect winter attraction for those who are not huge fans
of skiing.
La Tomatina,
Spain
Every
year, the small town of Bunol, Spain, hosts the “World’s Biggest Food
Fight” — La Tomatina. To make sure that there are enough
tomatoes for the huge battle, they are brought in big trucks.
For
one hour, Bunol’s streets are covered in juicy red slush and exalted
people. The fighting
rules are simple: squash the tomatoes before throwing them, don’t bring any
objects that might cause accidents, put on old clothes and shoes you won’t
regret getting rid of afterward, and be respectful to others.
Sounds like lots of fun for vegetable lovers.
Boryeong
Mud Festival, South Korea
The
Boryeong Mud Festival doesn’t look like other spas and resorts, and it’s
a whole lot of fun. Every July, you can take part in all kinds
of entertainments on the coast of the Yellow Sea, which
is rich in mineralized mud. Mud
games, mud baths and massages, and even a mud obstacle marathon along with
music and dancing competitions — these activities draw people from around
the world to Boryeong, South Korea. A perfect place
to take care of your health and have a blast.
Thaipusam,
the Hindu Piercing Festival
The
Viking Festival, Iceland
Every
year, Hafnarfjörður, a small town in Iceland, becomes the venue for
a huge historical reenactment: The Annual Viking Festival. For 5 days, visitors can travel back
in time and immerse themselves in the way of life of the
Vikings.
You
can purchase traditional utensils in the market, take part
in numerous workshops on handcrafting and fighting, and try local
food. In the evening, the most exciting
part of the festival begins with staged battles, dancing, and partying
at authentic restaurants. Though the fights are performed
by professionals, it’s strongly recommended to keep away from the
warriors as it can be dangerous and scary.
Snowman
Burning Day, USA
When winter melts down, it’s time to cheer
up and celebrate! The citizens
of this cold area — Lake Superior, USA — warm
up by burning a snowman figure on March
20 to mark the return of the long-awaited spring.
The tradition is a local attraction, but people from other states
find it nice and inspiring.
The
Bog Snorkeling Championship, UK
The
people of this Welsh town are snorkeling their way to the Olympic
Games!
The
World Bog Snorkeling Championship is one of the weirdest races you’ve
ever seen. Every August, the locals and
some reckless visitors of Llanwrtyd Wells voluntarily dive into the bog
to compete for the title of Champion. There’s also
a Fancy Dress competition for those who are not that sporty but still
enjoy paddling in the dirt. The World Bog Snorkeling Triathlon for real
racing fans is also on the program.
Night
of the Radishes, Mexico
On December 23,
the Mexican city of Oaxaca creates the most unusual Christmas atmosphere
with the help of the least expected vegetable — the radish. The locals use it to carve whimsical
figures and expose them to the delight of passersby and curious
travelers. The main topic is, of course, Christmas,
but crafty artisans and amateurs don’t limit their imagination. They create
peculiar folk scenes out of huge radishes grown especially for the
festival.
Saidai-ji
Eyo Hadaka Festival, Japan
Japan
rates this festival as one of the top 3 most “eccentric,” and
it’s hard to argue. The Saidai-ji
Eyo Hadaka Festival is a male-only, practically naked event that
gathers participants in a temple to catch 2 “shingi” —
lucky sticks. The only thing the men are allowed to wear
is a loincloth. Although the event takes place in February, it’s
not cold at all in the temple because the participants huddle
together as they strive to grab the items. Once a man
gets it, he can be sure that luck won’t turn away from him.
Monkey
Buffet Festival, Thailand
Now
that the babies are sinless and the adults are healthy, it’s time to take
care of the wild world. That’s what the Old Town of Lopburi
is famous for. Each November, they invite thousands of monkeys
to feast at the Monkey Buffet Festival. Over 4,000 kg of various Thai dishes
are served near the Khmer Temple just for them. The idea is to honor
the creatures who are believed to bring good luck. Where
else can you see a monkey eating delicious desserts and drinking soda from
a can? “The City
of Monkeys” now attracts lots of tourists and makes sure all the apes
are treated well.
El Colacho:
Baby Jumping Festival, Spain
very
June, the Spanish village of Castrillo de Murcia swarms with flying
devils and...babies!
El Colacho —
the Baby Jumping Festival — gathers lots of people
at a kind of baptizing event. It’s also a spectacular
attraction for both locals and tourists. It starts with men disguised
as devils in red-and-yellow suits and masks running around the
village swearing at the crowd and whipping those who get in their way
with a horsetail. Then the sound
of drums announces the second part: the devils start jumping over
one-year-old babies displayed on mattresses. This ritual is believed
to protect children from bad luck and, more importantly, take away all
their sins.
Though
it all looks breathtaking and dangerous, you needn’t worry about the
children: over the last 400 years, the tricks have been performed
by professionals, and no child has been harmed or injured.
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