Around the world, there are many unusual festivals that take place. These celebrations often transcend the typical birthday parties or Thanksgiving dinner.
There are strange celebrations that honor wildlife, food, and a nation’s respective history. Here are 12 unusual festivals from around the world that showcase cultural uniqueness and creative expression.
1. La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain
Every last Wednesday of August, the streets of Buñol in Spain turn red as thousands of people gather for La Tomatina, a festival that involves a massive tomato fight purely for fun.
2. Monkey Buffet Festival, Lopburi, Thailand
Some unusual festivals sound like a ton of fun! In Lopburi, Thailand, the last Sunday in November is for honoring the local monkey population with a lavish buffet of fruits and vegetables. It’s a way to thank them for drawing tourists to the town.
3. Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy
Food fights are usually frowned upon when you’re in school. However, in Italy they are a cause for celebration. The Battle of the Oranges, or the Carnival of Ivrea, is a festival where teams throw oranges at each other. This tradition is said to honor the city’s defiance of an evil tyrant.
4. Cheese Rolling at Cooper’s Hill, England
Everyone loves cheese. In Cooper’s Hill, they take it to the next level with a Cheese Rolling festival. Participants chase a 9 lb. wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down a steep hill in Gloucestershire. The first to cross the finish line wins the cheese, often at the expense of bruises and sprains.
5. Baby Jumping Festival, Castrillo de Murcia, Spain
Known as El Colacho, this unusual festival involves men dressed as the devil jumping over babies born in the last year to cleanse them of original sin. It sounds terrifying for the baby, but it’s actually a ceremony based in Spanish history.
6. Kanamara Matsuri, Kawasaki, Japan
The “Festival of the Steel Phallus” celebrates fertility, relationships, and marriage. All proceeds earned from the festival go towards HIV research. When it comes to unusual festivals, this one’s not for the faint of heart. There is usually plenty of phallic imagery, from the decorations to the snacks.
7. Night of the Radishes, Oaxaca, Mexico
Every 23rd of December, Oaxaca celebrates the Night of the Radishes, where locals carve elaborate scenes into radishes, displayed in a competition. Think of it like ice sculptures, only using fresh radishes instead.
8. Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea
Cosmetics are made from the local mud in South Korea since they’re rich in minerals. However, over time this practice spawned a festival, which now attracts millions around the world. At this festival, people participate in mud slides, get put into mud prison, and take a dip in mud pools. There’s even a mud skiing competition!
9. Wife Carrying World Championships, Sonkajärvi, Finland
After getting married, a man carries his bride over the threshold. The Wife Carrying World Championship is basically that idea multiplied by 100. This quirky event involves men racing while carrying their wives through an obstacle course. The prize? The wife’s weight in beer!
10. Moose Dropping Festival, Talkeetna, Alaska
The Moose Dropping Festival was celebrated in Alaska until 2009. Most unusual festivals aren’t dangerous, but this one involved dropping moose droppings from hot air balloons on targets below. It was basically one giant prank on the entire community.
11. Tunarama Festival, Port Lincoln, Australia
The Tunarama Festival is fun for all ages. Participants compete in the World Championship Tuna Toss with the goal of tossing as many fish as they can onto a truck. The festival pays homage to the local fishing industry and continues to draw visitors each year.
12. Goats on the Roof, Coombs, Canada
Coombs is famous for the Old Country Market, an event where grass grows on roofs and goats freely roam around. The festival isn’t only about all the cute goats wandering around. There is also plenty of good music and food.
Celebrate Unusual Festivals
These unusual festivals reflect the diverse, playful, and sometimes downright strange ways that communities around the world come together. Be creative and incorporate these festivities into your own events. Cheese rolling or orange food fights are a way to make family reunions, birthday parties, and even weddings way more interesting!
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Alyssa Serio has been a writer and editor since graduating from Aurora University in 2014. In her free time, she loves reading, playing volleyball, and watching any horror movie (even the bad ones) with her husband.