by Dictionary Scoop
Traditions come in all shapes and sizes, from a small family tradition involving a special breakfast treat to an annual activity shared by an entire community.
In that sense, some traditions around the world may seem downright strange to a keen observer. That’s why we’ve decided to highlight some of the weirdest:
1–Frozen Hair Festival in Yukon, Canada
It’s no secret that Canada is a cold country, and Yukon is definitely one of the coldest regions, with temperatures reaching -81°F in winter. While these harsh temperatures can certainly be challenging, that doesn’t mean residents can’t find fun things to do in the cold.
Locals have a unique tradition that involves dipping their heads into the waters of hot springs and waiting for the cold air to freeze them in place, leaving behind some fun icicles in the process.
2–Cheese-rolling race in Gloucester, England
You might have some fond childhood memories of rolling down a hill, surely in a safe and controlled environment. However, “Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake,” an event held in Gloucester, England, is nothing like those childhood tumbles. For starters, there’s a concrete reward for whoever reaches the bottom of the 200-yard-long hill first: a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese, which is rolled downhill in front of all participants who chase after it. This beloved tradition has been held in Gloucester since at least the 19th century.
3–Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi, Thailand
Every year, the city of Lopburi, Thailand, organizes a thank-you banquet for some of its most unique residents: the thousands of monkeys that dwell there.
Lopburi is famous for its monkey population, which has adapted to city life and is regularly fed by the locals. However, once a year, during an event known as the Monkey Buffet Festival, people offer fruits and vegetables to the city’s monkeys.
4–Polterabend in Germany
Weddings involve a fair share of weird traditions: from wearing something blue to tossing a bouquet to an excited crowd, newlyweds have to go through a unique checklist.
In that sense, the German tradition of Polterabend, while definitely unique, doesn’t seem all that out of place. In this tradition, wedding guests break porcelain to bring the new couple good luck in their marriage. Polterabend is based on an old German adage, “Scherben bringen Glück,” which translates to “Shards bring luck.”
5-“The Night of the Turnips” in Oaxaca, Mexico
Many Americans have memories of carving a Jack-O-Lantern for Halloween. In that sense, the city of Oaxaca, Mexico, holds an annual event every December 23rd known as Noche de Rábanos, which is Spanish for “Night of the Turnips.”
On this holiday, thousands of people carve intricate and detailed scenes into overgrown turnips, with the most creative carvings competing for several prizes.
6-“Festival of Scrambled Eggs” in Zenica, Bosnia
Scrambled eggs are a fun, nutritious, and delicious way to start your day, and in the lovely Bosnian town of Zenica, they have a special significance. On the celebration known as Cimburijada, which loosely translates to “Festival of Scrambled Eggs,” residents of Zenica gather to enjoy a communal meal of, of course, scrambled eggs.
This celebration is held on the first day of spring, making it a wonderful way to welcome the warm season.
7–Spice pelting in Denmark
As we mentioned before, weddings often involve some rather quirky traditions, but Denmark takes it a step further. If you’re Danish and happen to be unmarried by the time you turn 25, be prepared for your friends and family to throw cinnamon at you.
Not only that, if you turn 30 and are still unmarried, you might find yourself covered in another type of spice: black pepper.
8–Food fight!
Let’s take a quick break to pay homage to a staple of ’80s TV shows and movies: the food fight. We could mention countless examples of iconic scenes in which unidentified scoops of food go flying into the faces of joyous teenagers, while someone excitedly yells, “Food fight!” to the crowd.
With that in mind, we’d like to highlight some massive, real-life food fights that happen all around the world. For starters, we have La Tomatina, a festival held in Buñol, Spain, where attendees hurl tomatoes at each other. Another example takes place in Ivrea, Italy, during Carnival, where thousands of people enjoy hurling oranges at anyone in sight.
9–Presidential turkey pardons
Up until now, we’ve been focusing on weird customs from abroad, but the truth is that we Americans have our fair share of quirky traditions. One of them is even broadcast from the steps of the White House. The Presidential Turkey Pardon has been a staple of every administration since George H. W. Bush issued the first ceremonial “pardon” in 1989. The pardoned turkeys are then sent to live out their remaining years on a farm or at a petting zoo.
10–Groundhog Day
We’ll end with what is probably the weirdest tradition we could find. Groundhog Day is a celebration that takes place in the United States and Canada on Feb. 2, a tradition that dates back to the first European settlers in both countries.
The basis of this tradition is an old superstition that states if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, winter will last for six more weeks.
The most famous Groundhog Day celebration in America is held in Punxsutawney, a borough in western Pennsylvania, and revolves around a famous groundhog known as “Punxsutawney Phil.”
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