Humour and funny habits can vary widely from culture to culture, and what one person finds funny, another may not. Additionally, it's important to approach humour with cultural sensitivity and respect. That being said, from tomato-throwing in Spain, to wife-carrying in Finland, to cheese-rolling in the UK, here are 25 bizarre traditions from different parts of the world.
An annual tomato-throwing festival where thousands of people pelt each other with tomatoes.
La Tomatina is a festival that is held in the Valencian town of Buñol, on the last Wednesday of August each year, in which participants throw tomatoes. This giant tomato fight is purely for entertainment purposes.
Also known as the "Festival of the Steel Phallus" it celebrates fertility and features giant phallic sculptures
A charity event where people wear red noses to raise money for various causes
Danish tradition involves leaping off chairs and into the new year as a symbol of leaving behind bad luck.
Celebrated on December 5th, people dress up as Krampus, a demonic creature that punishes naughty children.
The rules are simple. A 9-pound, round Double Gloucester cheese is rolled down the hill given a one-second head start to the players who chase it down the hill. The first one to make it to the bottom and across the finishing line wins the cheese.
Photo credit: www.chrisboland.com/essex-wedding-videographer/
Participants run in front of a group of bulls through the streets of Pamplona.
A festival where people play in mud pits and compete in mud-related activities.
An annual event in the Nevada desert known for its artistic expression and temporary community.
A competition where participants contort their faces into bizarre expressions.
Some Taiwanese funerals feature cheerleaders to liven up the event.
Hanging a pickle-shaped ornament on the Christmas tree, and the child who finds it gets an extra present.
Men race while carrying their wives on their backs.
A village filled with thousands of life-sized dolls created by a local artist.
A festival where the town provides a feast for hundreds of monkeys.
Next celebrated in March 2024, Holi is a sacred ancient tradition of Hindus, a holiday in India and Nepal. To many Hindus and some non-Hindus, it is a playful cultural event and an excuse to throw coloured water at friends or strangers in jest.
Artists decorate life-sized cow sculptures that are displayed in public places.
A celebration of deceased loved ones with colourful altars and sugar skulls.
A day when people gather in various cities for massive pillow fights.
People from Yukon, Canada, celebrate the winter season by dunking their heads into hot springs and waiting for their hair to freeze over.
A practice that combines laughter exercises with yoga breathing techniques.
Divers carve pumpkins underwater for Halloween.
A televised comedy show where comedians are subjected to hilarious and absurd challenges without laughing.
Elaborate and artistic nativity scenes displayed during the Christmas season.
St Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide. In Chicago, the tradition of dyeing the river green for St Patrick's Day has been a part of the city's festivities since 1962 and has become an annual event for locals and visitors alike. The tradition began when the city's Irish population wanted to honour their heritage.
These somewhat peculiar traditions may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they offer a glimpse into the diversity of humour and cultural practices around the world. Remember that what one culture finds amusing, another may not, so it's important to approach these traditions with an open mind and respect for cultural differences.
