If you thought some of your country’s traditions were crazy, then it’s time you learned about other countries, which offer everything from jumping over babies to throwing furniture out of the window. So how you read!
Although your customs and traditions seem very natural to you, in the rest of the world, for many other people they are not.
To give you a walk through these strange traditions, this is the selection of countries that have somewhat extravagant and intriguing customs. Many of them will leave you speechless!
1. Eat the ashes of the dead
In the Yanomami tribe of Brazil and Venezuela, people often eat the ashes of the dead. They do it because they believe that this will save the soul of the person, and all the relatives participate by eating a part.
2. Bound feet
Perhaps one of the most painful traditions is that of foot binding for Chinese girls. At age 4 or 5, his feet are bound to stunt growth, and he cannot walk or do any other physical activity. Small feet were once believed to be a sign of beauty, and these women are considered sensual and beautiful.
3. Hanging coffins
In some regions of China, Indonesia, and the Philippines, coffins are often hung from very high walls in caves. It is thought that in this way the beasts will not reach the corpses, and it is a way to bless the soul of that person.
4. Kanamara Matsuri
As a form of worship, on this Japanese holiday, all attendees carry a huge wooden penis throughout the city. Prostitutes attend this celebration asking for protection in sexual relationships, as well as married couples who want harmony and those who want the prosperity of their businesses.
5. The Masai tradition of spitting
The Masai, a tribe from Africa, have a celebration where they spit on their acquaintances. In addition, they spit on their hands when greeting the elders of the tribe and also salivate on the children, to give them a good future.
6. Throw babies
In India, newborns are often thrown from a height of 15 meters, because it is thought that this will bring them prosperity and intelligence.
7. Giraffe women
In the Kayan tribe, Thailand, women wear rings around their necks to lengthen their necks more and more. This type of appearance is considered beautiful and elegant, something that many fail to understand.
8. A blow for fertility
In the Czech Republic, men gently beat women with a stick, which is believed to bring fertility. This happens on Easter Monday, and it is a tradition spread among all the inhabitants.
9. Groundhog Day
Every February 2, the people of Pennsylvania gather to watch Phil, a groundhog. If the shadow of it is seen because there is sun, then there will be six more weeks of winter, if it is not, then spring will come early.
10. Spain
The Spanish town of “Castrillo de Murcia” celebrates an annual festival in which parents baptize their newborns by having men dress as devils and jump on the infants.
11. Female genital mutilation
In some African tribes, female genital mutilation is practiced, which consists of removing most or only part of the female genitalia from women. It is now considered a cruel tradition, but there are those who defend it as a specific cultural practice.