Humans are interesting beings. Some of us have birthdays, we light candles and cut cakes. Others throw babies off temples, a tradition said to put luck in the family. Each culture has its set of different customs, with some traditions bizarre enough to make one question reality.
Let us begin this journey through the globe to discover some of the weirdest traditions that are still practiced today, from drinking whiskey with a severed toe to carrying blazing barrels of tar on one’s back.
The Baby Tossing Festival –India
In one of the small villages of Karnataka, newborn babies are dropped from a 50-foot temple rooftop into a cloth held by men below.
The tradition is said to have existed for about 700 years, presenting good luck and health to all.
That having been said, some locals continue this unimaginable tradition even in modern times.
Stating the event does indeed guarantee a healthy baby the free fall from a temple.
The Toe-Tingling Drink – Canada
The Sour toe Cocktail is made famous in Dawson City, Yukon, being a shot of whiskey containing the actual human toe.
The only rule is that the toe must touch your lips.
The tradition dates back to the 1920s, stemming from a preserved frozen toe in alcohol.
A sip of whiskey, a touch of toe-nothing can possibly go wrong.
Cheese-Rolling Madness – England
The annual cheese chase in Gloucester involves participants chasing a massive wheel of cheese down a ridiculously steep hill.
They tumble, crash, and roll, all for a chance to catch the cheese.
Most participants end up with bruises, some refuse to speak about their broken limbs.
Because it is rather common for a person to tumble down a hill, like a ragdoll.
Monkey Buffet Festival-A Thailand Festival
Every year, the people of Lopburi host a buffet for monkeys, with everything from fruits and vegetables to sweets.
The tradition came about in the honor of the monkey as a sacred creature and to attract tourists.
Needless to say, those monkeys get to love this feast, at times they get down to the stealing business from the visitors.
A little party on the side for monkeys, of course.
Night of the Radishes-Mexico
In Oaxaca, Mexico, people will carve radishes into elaborate sculptures every December.
This tradition was started in the 16th century and became a competitive event.
Some artworks are so intricately carved, that they can be mistaken for actual statues.
Forget pumpkins radish carving is the new Halloween.
Carrying Your Wife for Fun-Finland
Every year in Sonkajärvi in Finland, the Wife Carrying World Championship is held.
The husbands carry their wives through an obstacle course to see who can finish the fastest.
The prize? Your wife’s weight in beer.
A good workout and some free booze-what more could you ask for?
Fireball Festival-El Salvador
In Nejapa, every August, they throw fireballs at each other to recreate the eruption of a volcano.
The participants wear protective gear, though they do use real fire!
This tradition began after a volcanic eruption in 1658.
Because if you’re feeling community, nothing quite like playing dodge with flaming balls.
The Tomato War-Spain
La Tomatina is the largest food fight on the planet, where thousands of people throw tomatoes at one another in Bunol.
It kicked off in the 1940s and since has become an international draw.
The streets run red with people throwing squishy tomatoes at one another.
It is a festival where getting hit in the face with a tomato is a good thing.
El Colacho: A Ritual of Leaping Over the Children – Spain
Dressed as devils, men jump over rows of newborn babies in the village of Castrillo de Murcia.
This ritual is called El Colacho, and it is undertaken with the hope of cleansing the infants from original sin.
This tradition arose over 300 years ago and is still observed up to this day.
A bizarre baptism.
The Polterabend – Germany
In a pre-wedding custom, friends and family assemble outside the bride and groom’s home, smashing mirrors, plates, and even toilets.
The newlyweds must then clean up the mess together to showcase teamwork.
The more china it breaks, the more luck for the bride and groom.
Marriage starts with chaos, practice for it now.
Final Thoughts: Weird, Wonderful, and Totally Real
There are bizarre customs in the world. What appears normal to one culture looks wild in another. From tossing babies to drinking toe cocktails to running after cheese, some of them might sound strange, but each of these stories has the uniqueness of histories and beliefs that each culture holds dear.
What do you think? Which of these traditions would you dare to attempt? Or better yet, which one should we all avoid? Feel free to reply back.