1. The Konaki Sumo festival – Japan
This is the festival of crying baby. Sound weird? Well, it is strange! When this festival arrives, the Sumo battalion, that involves very heavy-body fighters, picks up the babies. Obviously, seeing such lofty men, the babies automatically start crying out of fear. This is like a competition in which the lofty man who quickly breaks down becomes the winner. There is a belief behind this that the crying ensures the babies’ quick growth. So, on this special day, sobs and weeps are regarded as the healthy signs, more specifically, as a blessing for better health.
2. The monkey buffet festival – Thailand
This festival really keeps the meaning of its name. So, as the name suggests, a grand meal is arranged for the apes of Lopburi. In this meal, a variety of vegetables and fruits are offered by the disciples, who via this festival pay homage to Hanuman, the monkey God. As soon as the monkeys throng the area, much chaos is created as they begin to attack the food. And yes, they also greet the spectators beyond the border line of the meals. Such a way of revering the lord has pulled an increasing number of tourists from all over the world.
3. The near death experience festival – Spain
This is the strange festival called Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme and is celebrated in the town of Las Nieves. It commemorates the return of the people from death – meaning those who were about to die, but have defeated death. Dedicated to the patron saint of regeneration named Santa Marta de Ribarteme, the festival’s major event is the parade in which the lucky survivors sleep in the coffins that are then taken until the church’s graveyard.
4. The goat tossing festival – Spain
This one is observed on January’s fourth Sunday in the Manganeses de la Polvorosa town and is devoted to St. Vincent de Paul. Weirdly, a young man hunts for a goat, grabs it, and takes it atop the local church’s belfry. After this, from a side, the goat is dropped from 50 feet height and is then mercifully caught by the other people. Even though many complaints have been reported against this risky tradition, it is still the center of attraction.
5. The baby jumping festival – Spain
With the third one in the list, it is sure that Spain is the home of many weird festivals. This means people like to celebrate with the oddities. Celebrated in the village of Castrillo de Murcia, when Corpus Christi arrives annually, small babies are kept on a mattress over which the fiend-costumed males jump. The belief is that doing so will cleanse their sins and would open the doors of healthy life. This is the height of a fallacy! Kindly, do not try this on your own.
6. The rolling cheese festival – UK
This challenging festival is observed in May on the Gloucestershire’s Cooper Hill. Herein, an executive does the job of tossing the cheese atop a profoundly vertical mount. As soon as this is done, a group of folks run down like anything to grab the rolling cheese. Yes, its fun to do so, but, the reality is that it is very dangerous and that it has reported several casualties until now. Rightly, children are allowed to participate, as for them, a race is held uphill.
7. The throwing food festival – Spain
Wow, one more in the list! It is the Ivrea orange festival in which the oranges are thrown during parades. If you go to Bunol, you will be stunned to see the tomato-throwing fight. Alternatively, there are people who don’t enjoy food throwing and so throw tar, paints, and dead rats. Can there be something madder than this one?
8. The piercing face festival – India
Also known as Thaipusam, it is celebrated in the south state of Tamil Nadu. It marks the birthday of the Hindu god, Murugan who is the son of Mother Parvati and father Lord Shiva. Featuring chants, prayers, and feasts, the festival also shows off a strange twist wherein the followers pierce their face and skin using skewers. The endured pain is the indication of the intense love for the lord.
9. The throwing color festival – India
This is Holi that is celebrated across India in March. This is the only festival in India in which people do not buy new clothes, but instead, use old clothes. Why? This is because their new clothes are not spoiled when the relatives throw a myriad of colors. Celebrated in the remembrance of Shree Krishna, a Hindu deity as the protector of life, the festival is made colorful by using powders of different colors.
10. The Saint John bonfires – Spain
Celebrated from June 19 to 24, this Spanish festival features lighting the bonfires that are frequently fueled via furniture. What is weird about this festival then? Well, the children run over these fires. And for sure, this is dangerous. Around 86 women as well as 86 girls become the Bonfire Beauties who are entitled as the ‘Festival Queens’.
