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Now that the majority of the holiday season is behind us, I can freely admit that there was a hell of a lot of food consumed, too much beer and wine and a lot of time for just laying around and wondering about stuff. Like, how did all of our holiday traditions come about? Did someone just make up all the traditions that we follow and we just go with it? And, more importantly, what’s the weirdest holiday thing out there?
Well, as it turns out, our Christmas traditions are pretty tame compared to what other cultures get up to for their various holidays – yuletide and otherwise. These are pretty wild, if you ask me.
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Lopburi Monkey Buffet
During the last weekend of November, there’s a huge monkey party in Lopburi. The locals have found that the jungle dwelling monkeys around the temples, tend to harass locals and tourists for food.
During the last weekend of November, there’s a huge monkey party in Lopburi. The locals have found that the jungle dwelling monkeys around the temples, tend to harass locals and tourists for food.
So, they decided to embrace the monkeys. Starting in 1989, they began throwing a buffet party at the Pa Prang Sam You temple and let the monkeys feast to their hearts delight.
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Tinku “Punch Your Neighbor” Festival
Before the invasion of the Spanish into Bolivia, the Incas worshipped the earth Goddess Pachamama, who demanded blood to ensure a good harvest.
Before the invasion of the Spanish into Bolivia, the Incas worshipped the earth Goddess Pachamama, who demanded blood to ensure a good harvest.
The people of the village of Tinku, still take this quite literally and the entire village will have a melee brawl until everyone draws blood.
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Antzar Eguna (Goose Day)
This Spanish festival involves people trying to jump off a boat and catch a greased up goose that’s hanging suspended over the town’s harbour. Then they have to try to decapitate it.
This Spanish festival involves people trying to jump off a boat and catch a greased up goose that’s hanging suspended over the town’s harbour. Then they have to try to decapitate it.
This has been a tradition for the past 350 years, but no one’s sure why it started and if it really means anything.
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Bonza Bottler Day
This holiday was established in Australia by Elaine Fremont in 1985. It basically celebrates the day when the number of the day coincides with the month that it’s in (Jan 1st, Feb 2nd, March 3rd, etc…).
This holiday was established in Australia by Elaine Fremont in 1985. It basically celebrates the day when the number of the day coincides with the month that it’s in (Jan 1st, Feb 2nd, March 3rd, etc…).
As for the name, “bonza” is a word that Aussies use to say something is great, while “bottler” is slang for something excellent – so a ‘great, excellent day.’ And the best way to celebrate is with a party. Also, the mascot is a dancing groundhog throwing confetti. I’m in.
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The Feast of Anastenaria
Celebrated on May 21st in Northern Greece and Southern Bulgaria, it’s an 8-day festival that celebrates with fire walking, dancing and stomping.
Celebrated on May 21st in Northern Greece and Southern Bulgaria, it’s an 8-day festival that celebrates with fire walking, dancing and stomping.
The whole festival is meant to be a tribute an event where the Church of Saint Constantine caught fire in the Middle ages, and townspeople were able to rescue some icons from the church. Now, if you’re touched by the saint, you don’t feel the fire on your feet.
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Up-Helly-Aa
This Scottish holiday descended from a Viking celebration that honoured the rebirth of the sun. The entire festival revolves around fire, torch festivals and themed costumes.
This Scottish holiday descended from a Viking celebration that honoured the rebirth of the sun. The entire festival revolves around fire, torch festivals and themed costumes.
The whole thing ends with a proper Viking funeral with the burning of a Viking ship replica. Traditionally, this is how the end of Yule season is celebrated.
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Hadaka Matsuri
This Japanese festival translates as “Naked Man Festival,” and is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday of February. Traditionally one of the coldest nights of the year, this event has thousands of men strip down to loincloths to rest their manhood and bravery, and secure luck for the rest of the year.
This Japanese festival translates as “Naked Man Festival,” and is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday of February. Traditionally one of the coldest nights of the year, this event has thousands of men strip down to loincloths to rest their manhood and bravery, and secure luck for the rest of the year.
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Straw Bear Day
This English festival is held every Jan 7th, to start the agricultural year. During this party, a man or kid is completely covered in straw and led around the town to dance in front of houses, in exchange for food, beer or money.
This English festival is held every Jan 7th, to start the agricultural year. During this party, a man or kid is completely covered in straw and led around the town to dance in front of houses, in exchange for food, beer or money.
Hopefully then, the veggie gods will look down and grant everyone a decent harvest.
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La Tomatina
In Buñol, Spain they throw the largest food fight in the world. Over 30,000 people fill the main square to throw locally grown tomatoes at one another. The tomato fight lasts for about 90 min, and no one knows how it started and why they do it. Just that it’s heckin’ awesome.
In Buñol, Spain they throw the largest food fight in the world. Over 30,000 people fill the main square to throw locally grown tomatoes at one another. The tomato fight lasts for about 90 min, and no one knows how it started and why they do it. Just that it’s heckin’ awesome.
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Night of the Radishes
This is a radish-carving contest that’s held annually in Oaxaca, Mexico on Dec 23rd. The goal is for participants to carve their radish into figures that depict the birth of Christ, or other historical figures.
This is a radish-carving contest that’s held annually in Oaxaca, Mexico on Dec 23rd. The goal is for participants to carve their radish into figures that depict the birth of Christ, or other historical figures.
This started back in 1897, when farmers used to carve their wares to make their stalls more eye-catching, it’s now a whole festival with food, dancing and cash prizes for the best radish.
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Chau Bun Festival
This May festival celebrates the eighth day of the fourth moon in the Chinese calendar. The objective is to drive away evil spirits and keep safe the sea-faring residents.
This May festival celebrates the eighth day of the fourth moon in the Chinese calendar. The objective is to drive away evil spirits and keep safe the sea-faring residents.
To celebrate, 3 60-ft towers are covered top to bottom with sticky buns. Then they’re set in front of a temple, and people have to race to the bun towers and grab as many as they can. The more you get, the better your luck.
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Nyepi Day (Silent Night)
This is the way to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Bali. It’s a time of total silence and introspection. Security guards patrol the streets and no one is allowed to use lights, radios, tvs, cook/eat food and talk. You’re supposed to remain silent all night and contemplate the year that passed and the year to come.
This is the way to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Bali. It’s a time of total silence and introspection. Security guards patrol the streets and no one is allowed to use lights, radios, tvs, cook/eat food and talk. You’re supposed to remain silent all night and contemplate the year that passed and the year to come.
Tourists are encouraged to stay indoors, but can quietly do their thing. The next day, the townspeople conduct cleansing rituals and the burning of effigies.
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Beer Day
Ok, I’m not including this because it’s weird and random, but because every beer festival should be celebrated. Every March 1st is Beer Day in Iceland – in honour of the 75 year ban on beer in Iceland getting repealed.
Ok, I’m not including this because it’s weird and random, but because every beer festival should be celebrated. Every March 1st is Beer Day in Iceland – in honour of the 75 year ban on beer in Iceland getting repealed.
While it’s not an ‘official’ holiday, everyone pretty much spends the day on a beer crawl and lives at the pubs and bars. Time to move to Iceland.
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Let’s get celebrating!
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