International Hair Freezing Competition in Yukon, Canada
While others often despise winter and chase it away, people in Yukon, Canada, celebrate winter in the coldest way possible. It’s dipping your head in a hot spring and then waiting for your hair to freeze, seeing who’s head is the most interesting. With temperatures up to -30 degrees Celsius, this is one of those weird traditions but it’s worth a try.
Chase the cheesecake down the hillside
With Spring representing rebirth, when nature begins to reveal itself again, it’s perfectly normal for people to celebrate. In Gloucestershire, England, locals and visitors alike often gather to chase a cheesecake that is rolled down a steep grassy hill. Although a bit dangerous for the participants, the event still attracts a lot of participants every May.
Festival of jumping over children
Some cultures see the birth of a child as a gift not only to the nation but to the culture as a whole, a new member to celebrate. To prepare for the future, in Castrillo De Murcia, Spain, locals bless the babies born by allowing a “demon” to jump over them. No injuries have been reported, and it’s a tradition that dates back to the 1600s. In fact, the placement of children has also been carefully calculated so that there is no risk of an accident.
Party for the monkeys
Humans are part of nature, so we need to stay connected. In Lopburi, Thailand there is a tradition of preparing some food for the local monkeys that live around town. From watermelons to lettuce and all kinds of fruits, the party is made to bring good luck not only to the people, the monkeys but also all the creatures living in the area.
The custom of smashing in the wedding
To make a difference for the happy day, the Germans have added a little spice to the traditional way of conducting weddings. Called Polterabend, the day before the wedding, friends and family will gather to smash various things on the happy couple’s floor. From plates to vases, there are few things that have not been destroyed after this event. It means that after cleaning up the mess, the newlyweds will be able to create a solid foundation for their future together.
Shoe throwing in Finland
Everyone knows that shoes should go on the feet, but the Finns have a very unique traditional way of using shoes. It’s throwing shoes, as far as possible. The title of the most outrageous sport clearly belongs to this country.
Play aristocratic chess in Marostica, Italy
Chess is a game of strategy and thinking so it is quite boring for some people. But the northern Italian town of Marostica has turned it into a massive, biennial chess game in September. The custom originates from a story from the 15th century, with the origin of a love triangle.
Midsummer Celebrations in Lithuania
Lithuanians celebrate the whole warm summer. On this day, young women are only allowed to wash their faces with dew in the morning. In the late evening, people gather around the bonfire to make wishes and throw bags of spells into the water to make their wishes come true. Young couples will also visit the countryside on this occasion to look for ferns.
Fireworks Battle in Greece
In a small village called Vrontados on the Greek island of Chios, two churches are located opposite each other in a ravine. At Easter, members of the opposing side will try to use fireworks to ring the bells of rival churches. According to the report, the winner was determined by counting the direct hits to each bell tower the next day. However, it is customary for each side to claim its side as the victor.
Celebrate the New Year with Fireballs in Scotland
While fireworks have become a tradition in many parts of the world, in Stonehaven, Scotland, people love to use fireballs in their celebrations. People will gather around and wave brilliant fireballs to celebrate the new year. It is said that this tradition dates back to the time of the Vikings.
Tomato Wars in Spain
Tomatoes have become a staple in many cuisines around the world, but the Spaniards took it to the next level. In the city of Buñol, there is an event involving ripe tomatoes, when people try to throw them at each other. It’s a friendly fight, though, starting with truckloads of tomatoes and then chaos engulfing the people and the city at large in tomatoes.
Wife-carrying contest
To test their endurance, Finnish men take part in a sports competition known as “wife piggybacking”. The history of this competition in Finland is a bit murky, dating back to the 19th century, when a thief was said to have carried everything he got on his back, including a woman.
Festival of burning witches with straw
While some people build snowmen in winter to celebrate, Czechs seem to hate the season with burning passion. Literally. They built witches out of straw and hay, representing winter, and burned them to ward off winter and cold weather.
Cherry seed plucking contest
The International Cherry Picking Championships, usually held at Tree-Mendus Farms in Michigan, USA. The event takes place every year, with its 46th anniversary in 2019. Participants will eat cherries and pluck the seeds as far as possible. Contestants are not allowed to use their hands and are not allowed to use props or other objects. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the record cherry seed spray distance is 28.51 meters, which was set in 2004.