One of the best parts of traveling the world is undeniably the unique cultures that you will encounter. Some countries have customs that are fascinating or even confusing to us Brits, but either way, they’re always worth experiencing. Here are a few of them from around the world that are the most unique to witness.
Finger Cutting in Papua New Guinea
Some customs simply aren’t appealing to Americans in the slightest, just like how some tribes of Papua New Guinea cut off a segment of the fingers of women to express grief for lost relatives. This painful ritual signifies the depth of their sorrow and serves as a physical representation of their loss, highlighting the strong emotional bonds within the community.
Polterabend in Germany
Moving on to a more wholesome albeit destructive custom, German couples about to marry often host a “Polterabend,” where friends and family gather to break porcelain items. The couple must then clean up the shards together, symbolizing teamwork and cooperation in their future marriage, which is rather beautiful.
Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand
Every year, countless tourists flock to Lopburi, Thailand, for an annual festival dedicated to feeding the local monkey population. Tables laden with fruits, vegetables, and treats are set up, allowing monkeys to feast freely. The “Monkey Buffet Festival” not only provides entertainment but also honors the monkeys, who are believed to bring good fortune to the area.
Turning of the Bones in Madagascar
One of the more chilling customs from around the world comes from Madagascar, where, as CNN reports, families periodically exhume the remains of their ancestors, rewrap them in fresh cloth, and celebrate the event with music and dancing. This ceremony, known as “Famadihana” or “Turning of the Bones,” helps maintain a spiritual connection with ancestors, so it’s not quite as scary as it initially sounds.
La Tomatina in Spain
In Buñol, Spain, there is a famously bizarre annual festival where participants throw ripe tomatoes at each other in a massive, friendly food fight. “La Tomatina” began in 1945 and has become a beloved event on the last Wednesday of August, drawing thousands of people from around the globe to partake in this messy, joyous celebration. Who knows, maybe you’ll get to experience it next year.
Night of the Radishes in Mexico
Another amusing food-related custom can be found on December 23rd of each year in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. Here, the locals transform the city into a vibrant art exhibit featuring intricately carved radishes. The “Noche de Rábanos” showcases the creativity of local artisans, who sculpt radishes into detailed scenes, figures, and patterns.
Cheese Rolling in England
While it might sound innocent, the annual “Cheese Rolling” event of Brockworth in England is actually incredibly dangerous. Participants chase a large wheel of cheese down an outrageous steep hill, generally tumbling head over heels in pursuit. The first person to cross the finish line wins the cheese, although it’s rarely worth the injuries.
Baby Jumping in Spain
Another particularly unusual tradition can be found in the village of Castrillo de Murcia in Spain, where the annual “El Colacho” festival sees men dressed as devils leaping over rows of babies laid on mattresses. This bizarre act is believed to cleanse the infants of sin and protect them from evil spirits, blending religious faith with local customs.
Kanamara Matsuri in Japan
Each spring, Kawasaki, Japan, hosts the “Kanamara Matsuri,” also known as the Festival of the Steel Phallus. This event celebrates fertility, marital harmony, and healthy childbirth. People parade through the streets with phallic-shaped objects, and visitors can purchase themed souvenirs, providing a strange mixture of ancient beliefs and modern entertainment.
Tooth Filing in Bali
Perhaps as painful as Papua New Guinea’s finger-cutting, Bali, Indonesia, has a tradition of tooth filing, which is a significant, albeit painful, coming-of-age ritual. Young Balinese undergo this procedure to symbolize the removal of negative traits like greed and anger, marking an individual’s transition into adulthood and their readiness to contribute to society.
Living with the Dead in Indonesia
The Toraja people of Indonesia keep the bodies of their deceased relatives at home for months or even years before burial, which would never go down in America. This custom, called “Ma’nene,” involves caring for the corpses as if they were still alive, dressing them in new clothes, and engaging in daily activities. It reflects deep respect and love for the dead, regardless of how strange it is to us.
Crying Marriage Ritual in China
In China’s Tujia ethnic group, brides partake in a month-long crying ritual before their wedding day. Each day, the bride must cry for an hour, and she will gradually be joined by female relatives. This practice, believed to bring good luck and harmonious marriage, underscores the cultural importance of expressing emotions and familial support in China, so it’s not as sad as it might sound.
Red Ink on White Paper in South Korea
During funerals in South Korea, it is customary to write condolences and messages in red ink on white paper. Red ink, typically associated with positive meanings, is used in this context to ward off evil spirits and ensure a peaceful journey for the deceased into the afterlife.
Water Gun Festival in Thailand
No doubt the most carefree custom on this list is the famous Songran festival in Thailand, which marks the traditional New Year with a nationwide water fight. For several days, people of all ages engage in playful water battles using buckets, hoses, and water guns. This joyous celebration symbolizes purification, washing away bad luck, and starting the new year with a fresh, positive spirit.
Summer Solstice in Sweden
Midsummer in Sweden is celebrated with dance, song, and maypole raising, with communities gathering to enjoy traditional food, wear flower crowns, and partake in folk dances. This celebration, deeply rooted in Swedish culture, marks the longest day of the year, and is loved by the whole country to this day.
Toe Wrestling in England
As you may have heard, England hosts all manner of unusual traditional sports, just like Cheese Rolling, although even stranger than that is Derbyshire’s toe wrestling. Similar to arm wrestling, competitors lock their toes and attempt to pin their opponent’s foot to the ground. This quirky pastime started in 1976 and continues to draw enthusiasts and curious onlookers even now.
Hanging Coffins in the Philippines
Returning to the more morbid side of worldwide customs, the Igorot people of the Philippines practice a unique burial tradition of hanging coffins on cliff faces. They believe that higher burial sites bring the deceased closer to ancestral spirits, ultimately reflecting their spiritual beliefs and reverence for the dead.
Coconut Smashing in India
In some parts of India, devotees participate in the ritual of breaking coconuts on their heads at temples to seek blessings. This act, although painful and potentially dangerous, is believed to demonstrate faith and devotion, bringing good fortune and divine favor. Either way, the practice certainly underscores the lengths to which people will go in their spiritual commitments.
Greeting with Spitting in Kenya
In most parts of the world, spitting is seen as rude, but not by the Maasai tribe in Kenya, who has a distinctive greeting custom involving spitting. Men spit on their hands before shaking hands, and elders spit on newborns to bless them. This practice, though unusual to outsiders, is a sign of respect and goodwill within the Maasai community.
Giraffe Women of Myanmar
In Myanmar’s Kayan community, women wear brass coils around their necks from a young age, gradually increasing the number over time. This practice creates the appearance of an elongated neck, which is considered a symbol of beauty and elegance. While the coils represent cultural identity and heritage within the Kayan people, many global activists are fighting to stop the custom, seeing it as cruel and abusive.