Festivals are celebrated to bring people together. In festivals, we celebrate culture, history, or have pure fun. Some festivals push boundaries with their bizarre traditions. Like hurling tomatoes in La Tomatina to jumping over babies in Spain, the world hosts wild events. With the rise of social media, these festivals have gathered global crowds. They blend eccentricity with deep meaning.
La Tomatina: Spain’s Massive Tomato Fight
La Tomatina is a festival made famous in India by the movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara(2011). In this festival every August, Buñol, Spain, turns red. La Tomatina is the festival where the world’s biggest food fight. Over 40000 people take part in this festival, where they throw 120000 kilos of tomatoes at each other. The streets become a juicy mess. This festival was started in 1945 after a parade scuffle. Locals began tossing tomatoes. The tradition stuck. According to a World Travel Guide report, they trace this festival’s roots back to a protest against Franco’s regime. Taking part in these rules is simple. Squash tomatoes before throwing. Avoid throwing hard objects. Wear old clothes. The festival also includes parades and fireworks. Tourists from all around the world come to join locals for the fun. The festival is chaotic but joyful. La Tomatina celebrates rebellion and community.
El Colacho: Spain’s Baby-Jumping Ritual
El colacho, or the baby jumping festival, took place in Castrillo de Murcia, Spain. Where men dress themselves as devils. And as the dress devil they leap over rows of newborn babies. This is the tradition of the El Colacho festival, which is held during Corpus Christi. The tradition dates back to the 1600s. This tradition took place because they believed it to cleanse babies of sin. Men dressed in red and yellow suits whip crowds with horsetails. Then they jump over infants on mattresses. According to a report, this festival has noted no injuries to babies. Yet the Catholic Church disapproves of this tradition. But locals see it as a sacred rite. Tourists find it shocking yet mesmerising. The festival blends faith and folklore. It’s a surreal spectacle of devotion.
Boryeong Mud Festival: South Korea’s Dirty Party
The cosmetic capital of the world, South Korea, hosts one of the dirtiest festivals in the world. This festival is held in Boryeong, South Korea, which is also known as a muddy festival. This Mud Festival began in 1998 as a cosmetic promotion in South Korea. Every year for this festival, millions of tourists come from different parts of the world. The mud used in this festival comes from the Boryeong flats, which are rich in minerals. People wrestle in mud pools and also slide down muddy slopes. Live music adds to the vibe of this festival. According to the locals, the mud heals skin. Tourists also love this messy fun. The two week event boosts tourism in South Korea enormously, attracting millions of tourists each year. This is a modern festival with no ancient roots. Yet it captures global attention. Boryeong turns sludge into celebration.
Monkey Buffet Festival: Thailand’s Primate Feast
Monkeys are treated as royalty in this monkey buffet festival, which happens in Lopburi, Thailand. Each year in November, locals serve 4000 kilos of food to monkeys. Fruits, cakes, and candies fill tables. The Monkey Buffet Festival started in 1989. A businessman aimed to boost tourism, and it worked. According to a CuddlyNest report, it has been noted that 2000 to 3000 monkeys feast in this festival. Youths in Thailand dressed as monkeys perform dances. According to the locals, this event brings good luck. Tourists snap photos of the chaos. Monkeys climb everywhere, roaming around freely. This festival has a surreal blend of culture and wildlife. The festival showcases Thailand’s playful spirit.
Cheese Rolling Festival: England’s Hill-Charging Chase
Each year in May, they host a cheese rolling festival in Gloucestershire, England. Every year, people chase cheese down a hill. Cooper’s Hill hosts this wild event every year. A nine pound weighted wheel of Double Gloucester cheese rolls down the hill at 80 mph. Competitors run after the wheel of cheese. The first person who reaches the bottom wins the cheese. According to the Travel Tomorrow report, this festival has reported some injuries. The steep and uneven hill is dangerous. Yet crowds in millions keep coming each year. How this tradition started is still unclear. Some tie this tradition to the pagan harvest rites. Others see this as a pure fun event. Spectators cheer the chaos. It’s a thrilling, absurd race.
International Hair Freezing Contest: Canada’s Icy Art
In the Yukon region of Canada, they host a chilly spectacle. The International Hair Freezing Contest takes place every year in February. At Takhini Hot Pools, where temperatures hit -30°C. Participants in this festival dunk their heads in hot springs. They shape their wet hair as it freezes. According to an Islands article, they list categories like Best Female and Most Creative. Winners of these categories get small cash prizes. The event started as a quirky winter draw. Photos of frosty hairdos during this festival time go viral on social media sites. It’s open for submissions all season. The contest happens every year to celebrate Yukon’s extreme climate. It’s a frozen blend of creativity and endurance.
Thaipusam: Malaysia and India’s Piercing Pilgrimage
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival of devotion. This festival happens in January or February every year. This festival is intense. Devotees pierce their bodies with hooks and skewers. They carry heavy kavadis for hours. In Malaysia’s Batu Caves, millions of people gather to see this festival. According to the Bored Panda post, which describes this pilgrimage as piercings symbolizing spiritual cleansing. Participants walk in trance like states. The festival is celebrated to honour Lord Murugan. This celebration looks shocking to outsiders. Yet it’s deeply sacred. The festival of Thaipusam blends pain, faith, and community. It’s a powerful cultural expression.
Wife Carrying Championship: Finland’s Odd Race
This is not a tradition from India, but this happens in Sonkajärvi, Finland. Where couples race through obstacles while carrying their partners. Men need to carry their partners over a 253.5 meter race course. The Wife Carrying Championship in Finland began in 1992. According to the Culture Trip article, which ties it to 19th century bandit tales. Carrying styles include piggyback or Estonian-style. The price is surprising the most. A beer is equal to the partner’s weight. This festival has now gone global, with events like this happening in the U.S. and the U.K. This festival has a fun vibe and is enjoyed by everyone. Couples are happy taking part in this. Spectators cheer wildly. The festival celebrates teamwork and humour. It’s quirky but heartwarming.
