7 STRANGE CUSTOMS AND

TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

Tsehelnyk Kateryna
A big part of travelling is turning
your head.
Several wonderful places in the
world have long been known for
their strange practices and
traditions. Those who are merely
passing through these places
might consider these customs to
be taboo or inhumane. But those
who care to look for the meaning
behind these beliefs usually
appreciate them, despite their
strangeness.
• I have gathered 7
seemingly strange,
crazy or mad traditions
from around the world.
Please let me know if
you know of others
that belong here.
• 1. Teeth tossing in Greece: Some cultures pop children’s teeth under their pillows and wait
for a swap with cold hard cash by a fairy. Others throw a baby’s recently liberated tooth on
their roofs.
• 2. Baby Jumping in Spain:
Residents in a small Northern
Community take part in baby
jumping, called El Colacho, to
keep the devil at bay. Men
dressed as the devil run between
and jump over infants, who are
laid on mattresses along the
streets.
• 3. Avoiding using red ink in
South Korea: Based on their
history and customs, red ink was
used to write down names of
dead people. It is therefore
considered a taboo to write
someone’s name in red.
• 4. Initiation custom in
Brazil: It is strange how
young boys prove their
bravery and strength. In
the Satare Mawe tribe
they showcase the courage
by placing hands in a
basket filled with angry
bullet ants. The bites are
real pain.
• 5. The Monkey Buffet Festival
in Thailand: Some people might
be surprised to be looking at
some monkeys atop a buffet
table, feasting on sumptuous
dishes. In this annual festivity,
over 3000 kgs of fruits and
vegetables are fed to several
monkeys that dwell in Lopburi,
Bangkok.
• 6. Tomato craze in Spain: La Tomatina is the biggest tomato fight that exists. It is a strange
culture among the Valencians in Bunol where tomatoes are used as weapons. Snowball fights
are so last year.
• 7. Blubbing Brides in
China: Brides cry for about
a month, which is
considered part of the
wedding preparations. This
culture is still observed by
the Fuji living in Wuling
Mountains. I guess it beats
crying for a month after the
wedding.
WATCHING…