The Strangest Customs and Traditions Around the World

The Sateré-Mawé are an indigenous tribe in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil, who have a very extreme way of marking the transition from boyhood to manhood. The young boys have to endure wearing gloves filled with bullet ants, which are known for having one of the most painful stings in the world. The gloves are worn for 10 minutes at a time, and the boys have to repeat the ordeal 20 times over several months. The ritual is meant to test their courage and endurance, and to prepare them for the hardships of life in the jungle.

Every year, on the last Monday of May, hundreds of people gather on a steep hill in Gloucestershire, England, to participate in a bizarre and risky tradition: cheese rolling. A large wheel of cheese is rolled down the hill, and the competitors have to chase it and try to catch it. The cheese can reach speeds of up to 70 mph, and the slope is so steep that most people end up tumbling and falling. The first person to reach the bottom of the hill wins the cheese and the glory. The origin of the tradition is unclear, but it is believed to date back to the 15th century.

In Germany, there is a fun and festive tradition of breaking dishes before a wedding. The tradition is called Polterabend, which means “noisy night”. The night before the wedding, the friends and family of the bride and groom gather at their home and smash porcelain dishes, such as plates, cups, and bowls. The noise is supposed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck to the couple. The bride and groom then have to clean up the mess together, which is supposed to symbolize their teamwork and cooperation in their future marriage. The tradition is a way of celebrating the union and showing support and affection to the couple.

In China, there is a daring and dangerous tradition of walking over fire. The tradition is part of the Hakka culture, which is a subgroup of the Han Chinese. The Hakka people believe that by walking over a bed of hot coals, they can cleanse themselves of evil and misfortune, and also show their courage and faith. The tradition is usually performed during the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. The participants, who are mostly men, have to undergo a purification ritual before the fire walk, which involves fasting, praying, and abstaining from alcohol and sex. They then walk barefoot over the coals, which can reach temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius. The tradition is a way of expressing devotion and gratitude to the gods, and also a way of testing one’s endurance and willpower.

In Spain, there is a tradition of throwing tomatoes at each other during a festival called La Tomatina. The festival takes place every year on the last Wednesday of August, in the town of Buñol. Thousands of people gather to hurl ripe tomatoes at each other, creating a huge mess and a lot of fun. The origin of the festival is unclear, but some say it started as a prank, a protest, or a food fight.

In Denmark, there is a tradition of breaking dishes on the doorstep of a friend or a relative on New Year’s Eve. The tradition is a way of showing love and appreciation, and also a way of wishing good luck for the coming year. The more broken dishes you find on your doorstep, the more friends you have. Some people also jump off chairs at midnight, as a way of leaping into the new year.

In India, there is a tradition of celebrating the festival of colors, called Holi. The festival takes place in March, and marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. The festival involves throwing colored powder and water at each other, creating a rainbow of hues and a lot of joy. The festival also celebrates love, friendship, and forgiveness.

Tooth filing, or mepandes, is a sacred ritual that is performed by the Hindu Balinese people in Indonesia. The ritual involves filing down the upper canine teeth of young men and women, who are considered to have reached adulthood. The teeth are filed by a priest or a dentist, who uses a metal file and a coconut shell to catch the blood. The ritual is believed to remove the negative traits of lust, greed, anger, drunkenness, confusion, and jealousy, which are associated with the animal nature of humans. The ritual is also seen as a way of beautifying the person and preparing them for marriage.

In the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, there is a unique and macabre tradition of living with the dead. The Toraja people, who follow a blend of animism and Christianity, believe that death is not a sudden event, but a gradual process. They keep the corpses of their relatives in their homes for months or even years, treating them as if they were alive. They feed them, bathe them, dress them, and talk to them. They also use a special embalming technique to preserve the bodies from decay. The Toraja people only bury their dead after an elaborate funeral ceremony, which can cost a fortune and involve the sacrifice of dozens of animals. The funeral is a celebration of life and a way of honoring the ancestors.

These are some of the strangest customs and traditions around the world that I found interesting. They show how diverse and fascinating human cultures are, and how they reflect the beliefs, values, and history of the people who practice them. Some of these customs and traditions may seem weird or shocking to us, but they are part of the identity and heritage of the people who practice them.