World Culture and Traditions by Zohail Ador

ADOR, ZOHAIL I.

zohailador — 2021-11-21 23:43:35 UTC

THAIPUSAM in INDIA
As part of the festival's rituals, many participants engage in various acts of devotion and control over their senses --including piercing the skin, tongue, or cheeks. Some walk over burning coals.

Read more on: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/celebrating-thaipusam/index.html

MANALO, ISSA MARIE V.

2021-11-22 00:04:07 UTC

Blackening of the bride in Scotland

Friends and relatives come to cover the bride with rotten milk, dirt, sauces, and other disgusting things in this custom. This practice is based on the belief that if a bride and groom can endure this humiliation, they would be able to conquer any challenge in their marriage.

Read more on: https://www.esn.org/blog/7-weird-customs-across-europe-you-may-have-never-heard-about

SARATE, RHIANNE MAY D.

saraterhiannemay — 2021-11-22 00:06:15 UTC

Ursul (Bear Dance) in Romania & Moldova

After preparing for around three months ahead to the festivities, the performers dress in actual bearskin (the heaviest may weigh up to 50 kg) and dance to the beats of pan flutes and drums. Typically, the procession includes anything from six to twenty-four bears, bear tamers, and female figures.

Read more on:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ring-new-year-dressing-up-bear-180957695/

GERNALE, ERRA JUDEA S.

2021-11-22 00:07:17 UTC

WIFE-CARRYING CHAMPIONSHIP in FINLAND

Men basically carry their female partner. There are strict rules and different ways how a man can carry their companion. In order to win, you have to be in first place and must finish the race through track with many obstacles.

Read More On:
https://radseason.com/event/wife-carrying-championship-sonkajarvi-finland/

BIGLETE, CHALSY GIDJET D.

2021-11-22 00:07:40 UTC

Cheese Rolling Festival in UK
This tradition involves a single wheel of cheese and a lot of people who love the dairy product. It takes place at Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire, where the participants "roll" down the hill to catch the cheese.

Sources:
https://www.wandering-bird.com/bizarre-european-traditions/
https://www.visitbritain.com/ca/en/cheese-rolling-worlds-craziest-festival#

ARAÑO, KEENA DRIFFIN LEE D.

aranokeena — 2021-11-22 00:13:43 UTC

Singles Get Covered with Cinnamon in Denmark

In some areas, the custom is to go up to anyone unmarried on their 25th birthday and fling handfuls of cinnamon on them. This custom is said to have originated in the 16th century, when Danish spice merchants were so preoccupied with their business that they forgot to find themselves a bride. Since then, cinnamon has been used to taunt young single individuals, reminding them that they should find a life mate soon. If you think that’s bad, just wait until you’re still single at the age of 30. This is when you will get covered in spicy bursts of pepper.

If you want to know more, visit: https://weddedwonderland.com/this-is-what-happens-if-youre-single-in-these-7-countries/

Dimayuga, Trizelle A.

dimayugatrizelle — 2021-11-22 00:14:12 UTC

Chewa’s Festival

The Chewa's festival for the dead is undoubtedly one of those practices that astounds many people. The Chewa are a Bantu tribe primarily found in Malawi. It is customary to wash the deceased's body during the burial ceremony of a tribe member. The corpse is taken to a sacred location for cleansing, which is accomplished by slitting the dead's throat and pouring water through the insides of the dead and extracting it through the anterior region of the dead body. The water will be collected and used to prepare a meal for the entire community, as they believe the dead have been cleansed of their sins.

For more information:

https://hadithi.africa/the-chewas-festival-for-the-dead/

MAGTIBAY, MC GABRIEL I.

2021-11-22 00:15:09 UTC

The town of Marostica in Northern Italy proudly holds a human chess game every two years in September.

The tradition dates back to the 15th century and is based on a legend. Two gentlemen challenged one other to a duel over the woman they both adored, Lionora. However, her father, the lord of the Marostica's castle, proposed they play chess. Lionora would marry the winner, while Oldrada, her younger sister, would marry the loser.

Since then, hundreds of costumed participants have taken part in the biannual match, which lasts around two hours.

Source: https://www.kiwi.com/stories/7-unusual-traditions-around-europe/

Balitaan, Axel O.

balitaanaxel — 2021-11-22 00:18:15 UTC

OKTOBERFEST in MUNICH, GERMANY

In this event, 6-7 million visitors are accomated in the city for the largest Volksfest, where 7 million liters of beer, more than 2 million roasted chicken, 1.5 million pairs of sausages, and countless pretzels are consumed. The first Oktoberfest was said to be celebrated in 1810 at the wedding of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

Read more on:
https://www.howtogermany.com/pages/oktoberfest.html

TULIPAN, JEFT JERHIELLE D.

tulipanjeftjerhielle28 — 2021-11-22 00:18:18 UTC

THE MONTH of Þorri (Þorrablót) in ICELAND
Also known as the Midwinter Feast, it is a tradition of Icelanders to toast and celebrate the old gods of Norse Mythology where the people share a buffet of food that was more of an acquired taste. Since this was celebrated during late winter the food consists of undesirable pieces of the animal that have been preserved, like hákarl (fermented Greenland shark), hrútspungar (rams’ testicles), and svið (singed sheep’s head).

Read More: https://www.icelandair.com/blog/thorrablot-midwinter-feast/

REBONG, Mika Emilisa C.

melisareb — 2021-11-22 00:19:08 UTC

Easter Whip in Czech Republic, Slovakia, and some parts of Hungary

The Easter Whip is a part of tradition of whipping on Easter Monday. The whip or pomlázka consists of willow rods with colored ribbons at the end. Women should be spanked with a whip means being healthy, beauty and fertility.

Read more on:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_whip

OLARTE, CLARISE G.

olarteclarise963 — 2021-11-22 00:22:46 UTC

OBEAH in JAMAICA
Obeah is a belief system in Jamaica that is officially banned, though it is rare for anyone to be convicted for practicing it. It's a type of black magic, and people will seek obeah to curse an enemy (or protect themselves from one), bring them luck, or heal them.

Read more on :
https://www.historyworkshop.org.uk/the-racist-history-of-jamaicas-obeah-laws/

PASAMBA, JOHANN CLARENCE L.

pasambajohann10 — 2021-11-22 00:23:42 UTC

Sausage Tossing (Eis-Zwei-Geissebei) in Switzerland

Every year on Fat Tuesday at 3:15 PM, people gather in front of Rapperswil's city hall wherein the city mayor and council members will throw sausages, loaves of bread, and pastries out of the window to the people that gathered in front of the city hall. It is celebrated to remember the compassionate people who served food to hungry children during the city siege in 1350.

Read more on:
https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/eis-zwei-geissebei

Mesias, Karylle Andrea D.

2021-11-22 00:23:43 UTC

Lobola

The "Customary Law of Marriage" is another name for the lobola tradition (South Africa; Act 120 Justice Department 2000). Lobola is an African ritual in which the bridegroom's family pays the bride's family in cattle or cash shortly before the wedding. Furthermore, it is about honoring the elders, the family, and the community. Many tribes consider it an important part of marriage, and there are rigorous laws to follow.

For further details:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3060788/#:~:text=The%20lobola%20tradition%20is%20also,lobola%20for%20all%20of%20them.

SOMBILLO, MARNIC JADE A.

2021-11-22 00:24:20 UTC

The Tomato Fight or La Tomatina (Spain)

This is a yearly tradition that is done by people on the last Wednesday of August, where people throw tomatoes at each other. This act originated back in 1945, where people are said to be scaring off creatures who are eating watermelons through throwing tomatoes, and one of them accidentally threw it on a person.

Read more at: https://www.travelawaits.com/2471920/spain-la-tomatina-things-to-know/

GAPIT, CHARISSE P.

gapitcharisse — 2021-11-22 00:28:18 UTC

MARULA FESTIVAL in SWAZILAND, SOUTH AFRICA

In the Swaziland republic, the Marula festival is a popular event. The festival commemorates the harvesting of Marula beer by the children and women of the city. Because it is a belief that the beer is fit for kings, the King and Queen Mother are given the first harvested fruit from each household, after which the rest of the city's residents can drink their harvest. The festival starts in mid-February and is held at the King's residence in Hlane, Swaziland's Lubombo Region. Furthermore, the locals refer Murala Festival as Emagawini.

Read more on:
https://www.thekingdomofeswatini.com/eswatini-experiences/events/marula-festival/

Mendoza, Janserg M.

jansergmendoza123 — 2021-11-22 00:28:23 UTC

Spitting as a Form of Greeting

The Maasai tribe, found in Kenya and Tanzania, spit as a way of saying hello. While the Englishman would say hello, spitting is a way of greeting.

Asides from that, when a baby is born, it is the custom of the men to spit on the newborn and refer to him as bad. They believe this would protect the baby from evil spirits. Maasai warriors also spit in their hands before shaking the hand of an elder. Furthermore, the Maasai tribe is also famous for its drinking of fresh animal blood.

Read more on:
https://www.bidhaar.com/2020/08/03/the-spitting-of-the-maasai/

Bondad, Mark Ian B.

bondadmark295 — 2021-11-22 00:29:02 UTC

Beating to earn a wife

The Fulani tribes practice Sharo before getting married. Here the groom is beaten by the elders of the village so as to earn a wife and respect. If the man is not strong or durable enough to bare the pain, the wedding will be cancelled.

Read more on : https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-46476231

RACE, JHELIEN P.

jhelienrace — 2021-11-22 00:29:10 UTC

The Wodaabe Wife Stealing Festival in West Africa

Men are known to steal each other's women in the Wodaabe tribe of Niger, West Africa. The Wodaabe's first marriage is planned by their parents while they are still children, and it must be between cousins of the same ancestry. Wodaabe males, on the other hand, dress up in extravagant makeup and costumes and dance to dazzle the ladies — and possibly steal a new wife – at the annual Gerewol Festival.

Read More on:
https://www.africanexponent.com/post/9077-the-wodaabe-wife-stealing-festival-in-niger

LAGASCA, KEVIN LAWRENCE E.

kngkast112 — 2021-11-22 00:30:07 UTC

Bull Jumping in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, young boys are required to go through a sequence of events in order to show their manhood.

Unclothed, a little boy must sprint, jump, and land on the back of a bull. Following that, elder guys gallop across the backs of multiple bulls grouped in a straight and closely-knit herd driven by their tails and horns. Hamar is the name given to this activity.

For more information:
https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/7-strange-traditions-across-africa/s5qc326.amp

De Villa, Precious Thea C.

2021-11-22 00:32:28 UTC

Carnival (Burning of the Bad Mood) in Mexico, Latin America

The biggest Carnival in Mexico begins with Burning of the Bad mood also known as Quema del Mal Humor. It is typically an effigy of a controversial prominent politician, and the burning symbolic reflects the individuals leaving behind their problems and concerns so that the revelry may commence. Furthermore, there are extensive parade with lavishly painted floats, and participants are dressed in inventive costumes for concerts, dance, fireworks, and other activities.

SOURCE:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/unique-carnival-traditions-latin-america

DE LUNA, JHANEL LANNE A.

2021-11-22 00:32:55 UTC

COFFEE in ALBANIA
In Albania, people love drinking coffee. Sometimes Albanians drink 15 times a day, and they order coffee when they go to a bar.

Read more on:
https://invest-in-albania.org/15-phenomena-happen-albania/

CAPINPIN, KOBE ANDREW S.

2021-11-22 00:33:07 UTC

People in Romania swim in winter to celebrate the Danube Race for the Cross. The event is supported by the Orthodox Church and when a priest throws a cross into the river, thousands of men have to swim to find it in the freezing water.

Read more at:
https://paks.hu/en/tourism/programs/festivals/danube-cross-swimming.416

QUINAY, JHONA LEI R.

2021-11-22 00:33:18 UTC

BABY TOSSING in INDIA

In the southern Indian state of Karnataka, newborn babies are tossed from a 50-foot-high temple to "bring health and prosperity into their life."
Every year, in the first week of December, couples who are blessed with a child after accepting a vow at the Shri Santeshwar temple participate in this strange practice.

Read more on:
https://edtimes.in/read-about-this-indian-custom-of-throwing-babies-off-buildings-for-luck/

PANERGAYO, MACKY BOY A.

panergayomacky30 — 2021-11-22 00:33:30 UTC

The Dark Swiss Fertility Tradition in Switzerland

This Swiss tradition happens during the “Pschuuri” Ash Wednesday festival in eastern Switzerland, in which masked men pin down young women and force them to wear blackface. The day starts with children going from house to house with a basket around their neck begging for sweets, while in the afternoon, unmarried young men, “Pschuurirolli” put on furs, masks, bells, and armed with a sackful of a greasy coal mixture, they hit the streets looking for children and, in particular, young women who are also single.

Read more on:
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/pschuuri_the-dark-swiss-fertility-tradition-with-hunters-and--victims-/44806616

INOCENCIO, J. BERNAND EMMANUEL R.

2021-11-22 00:34:22 UTC

CHERRY PIT SPITTING in MICHIGAN
Cherry pit spitting is considered an amateur sport where one spit a pit of a cherry from his/her mouth to send it at a great distance. It was first originated in 1974, when a Michigan farmer, Herb Teichman was looking for "something to do" with cherry pits.

Read more on:
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/es/mi/es_mi_spitting_1.html

Enriquez, One Symon A.

symonenriquez — 2021-11-22 00:34:32 UTC

Maasai Tribe in Kenya and northern Tanzania.

A Maasai man drinking blood The Maasai tribe is found in Kenya and Tanzania and two of their customs make them enter this list of strange African tribes. The first is their greeting, member of the tribes spit as a way of saying hello. While the English man would say hello, a Yoruba man prostrate, spitting is a way of greeting.

For more information: A Cultural History of the Maasai People – African Safari Tours and Holidays Kenya Blog (africansermonsafaris.com)

Almario, Ma. Pauline Althea R.

mariapaulinealtheaalmario — 2021-11-22 00:35:25 UTC

Mud Block (Bloco da Lama) – Brazil

After a tropical rain shower during carnival in 1986, a group of teenagers began playing with mud on the beach and then paraded through the streets, completely unrecognizable to their own friends and family. An annual tradition was born in an instant. Every year, in Paraty, as part of the wider carnival celebration, festival-goers plunge into pools of mud, putting it on their bodies and faces, tossing it, rolling in it, and then dancing to live samba and reggaeton.

Link: http://www.paraty.com.br/us/mud_block.ashttps://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/unique-carnival-traditions-latin-america

BALVERDE, YENNAH ALLYSSA M.

yennahallyssa18 — 2021-11-22 00:35:47 UTC

Wet Monday (Poland)

Wet Monday or Water Plunge Monday takes place every Easter Monday all over the country of Poland, even in homes, universities, or flats. During this tradition, people (mostly women) get water thrown on them and it is said that the woman who gets soaked the most is the next one to be married.

Read more on: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/poland/articles/what-is-polands-wet-monday-everything-you-need-to-know-about-smigus-dyngus/

POM, LANCE CHRISTIAN T.

pomlancechristian — 2021-11-22 00:36:07 UTC

Greek Easter Orthodox Tradition or "BOTIDES" in Greece

Botides is a native tradition in Corfu, Greece that includes throwing of large clay jugs filled with water from balconies of to the ground in the town's center. This tradition in Greece marks the start of Holy Saturday or also known as the First Resurrection.

Read more on:
https://www.shinygreece.com/post/botides-corfu

Gamido, Joaquin Gabriel U.

2021-11-22 00:36:14 UTC

Puberty Rites held in Ghana

This is one of the Ghanaian practices common in the Dipo people of Ghana. This shows the transition of young women into adulthood. This is a rite a lady mus undergo before she is deemed for marriage. In addition, the woman must still be a virgin. In other cases when the girls who have lost their virginity and became pregnant are banished from the community along with the man responsible for her pregnancy. A cleansing ritual is performed in order for them to be accepted back again in the community. This rite is aimed to ensure that the women controls their sexuality and avoid unwanted pregnancies.

Read more:
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tribes/puberty_rites.php

Aguitez, Franc Roger Glason P.

aguitezfrancrogerglason — 2021-11-22 00:38:22 UTC

Caber Toss is a Scottish (United Kingdom) athletic event where a straight log, approximately 17 feet (5 meters), is thrown. It should spin and fall on the ground, with the smaller end of the pole opposite the tosser.

Read more on: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/scotland/articles/tossing-the-caber-what-exactly-is-it/

Sources:
[1]
https://www.britannica.com/sports/Highland-Games

[2]
https://europeisnotdead.com/european-weird-traditions/

[3]
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2014/9/scottish-history-made-most-people-caber-tossing-simultaneously-world-record-set-in-inverness-60499

[4]
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/scotland/articles/tossing-the-caber-what-exactly-is-it/

TORRES, JOAQUIN O.

2021-11-22 00:38:45 UTC

POLTERABEND in Germany

In this German wedding tradition, the groom and the bride, together with their families, break porcelain dishes altogether to wish the spouse-to-be a merry and buoyant fortune. The custom even implies that more fragments of broken platters would lead to a more prosperous married life.

Thereafter, the couple will clean it up themselves so they can practice their marital vow of 'for better, for worse' as the tradition resembles sticking and working together despite major difficulties.

Read more on:
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/germany/articles/unusual-wedding-traditions-from-germany/

DELA CRUZ, RILEY MIGUELA G.

rileydelacruz27 — 2021-11-22 00:39:33 UTC

PHUKET VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL in THAILAND

Local participants are known as "Ma Song" demonstrate their respect and worship for both God and animals by abstaining from meat for nine days and skewing items such as swords, knives, and other sharp objects through their bodies and faces.

Read more on:
https://sonasia-holiday.com/sonabee/phuket-vegetarian-festival

MONROY, PRINCE ANDREI B.

princeandreimonroy4 — 2021-11-22 00:40:47 UTC

Lip stretching - Ethiopia and Sudan
The people of Surma tribe are found in southern Sudan as well as southwestern Ethiopia. During teenage years, females undergo the lip stretching procedure which involves removing their lower teeth to accommodate a lip plate; the lip plate is increased in size yearly until it is an astounding size.

https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/7-strange-traditions-across-africa/s5qc326.amp

ALIMAGNO, TIMOTHY DAVE C.

davetimothyy — 2021-11-22 00:44:42 UTC

Ostrich Racing is a sport where people race each other on the backs of ostriches. The event is similar to a horse race, however, riders have less control.

Read more on:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/chandler/2017/03/10/history-and-protests-over-chandler-ostrich-festival/98502344/

CORDEZ, ATHASHA DHANE C.

cordezathasha — 2021-11-22 00:46:28 UTC

BOMENA in BHUTAN

Bomena is a custom in which a boy enters a girl's residence in the middle of the night to court her, with or without prior consultation. It is an establishment through which young people find their partners and get married.

Read more on:
Bomena: Night Dating | Mandala Collections - Texts (virginia.edu)

Laset, Pol Maron E.

2021-11-22 00:47:40 UTC

The Giant Omelette (Omelette géante)
In the city of Bessières in the South of France, locals celebrate the arrival of spring in a very peculiar way: one day after the Easter celebrations, they cook in the town’s main square a giant omelet made of over 4,500 eggs to feed up to 1,000 people. This tradition stems from Napoleon’s time, when the leader and his army stopped in a small town in the south of France and ate omelets. According to the legend, Napoleon liked the omelet so much that he ordered all people to gather their eggs and make a giant omelet for him and his army the next day.

Read more on:
Giant Omelette Festival - Gastro Obscura (atlasobscura.com)

MORESCA, HUEBERT ALDRIE A.

2021-11-22 00:48:41 UTC

PRESIDENTIAL TURKEY PARDON

Since the 1940s, US presidents have been presented with a Thanksgiving turkey at a special ceremony and, on occasion, have officially pardoned the bird to save its life. (It's unclear what crime the birds committed to warrant a pardon in the first place.)
The turkey pardon was made a permanent part of the ceremony by George Bush Senior in 1989, and it is now an annual event.

Read more at:
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/pardoning-the-thanksgiving-turkey

AUDIJE, JOHN MICHAEL, M.

johnmichaelaudije — 2021-11-22 00:49:35 UTC

LIP-PLATE STRETCHING in ETHIOPIA
Have you ever heard a different kind of beauty journey of the Mursi Tribe?
As part of that, Mursi women are famous for their wooden lip plates. For them this is a symbol of beauty and identity.

For more details:
https://www.icdo.at/the-mursi-tribe-and-lip-plates/

SE, LYNNIEL ANDREI C.

2021-11-22 00:53:48 UTC

THE MELTING LEAD CEREMONY in TURKEY
Pouring lead roots to the tradition of Shamanism belief in which the practice is done by Shamans to protect people who are said to be haunted by "bad souls". In modern times, pouring lead is done only by women and passed down generations within the family.

Read more on:
https://www.wishtreeofanatolia.com/post/pouring-lead-to-repel-evil-eye

MALTO, SAI P.

2021-11-22 00:55:18 UTC

Canada's Hair Freezing Competition
The International Hair Freezing Contest is a hair freezing competition conducted at a resort in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada's Takhini Hot Springs. Participants in the yearly championship sit in a hot spring and mold their damp hair in extremely cold temperatures.

https://www.boredpanda.com/hair-freezing-contest-takhini-hot-springs/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

VERIDIANO, JOHN JENARD, D.R.

2021-11-22 00:55:58 UTC

Budget Days= New Shoes
Canada, North America

This tradition involved the Canadian Minister of Finance, and now the provincial finance ministers, wear new shoes to deliver the new budget. The tradition holds that the Minister of Finance should purchase, or wear new shoes when the budget is delivered.

https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/5498752
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/canada/articles/6-traditions-unique-to-canada/

denizemae — 2021-11-22 00:56:06 UTC

Sauti za Busara Festival – Zanzibar
Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania, has become a popular tourist attraction for African visitors. The Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) Festival is one of the most popular events in this part of the continent. It has been dubbed the friendliest celebration in Eastern Africa, and tourists have given it great reviews.

Read more:
https://en.unesco.org/creativity/policy-monitoring-platform/sauti-za-busara-festival

VILLARANTE, JADE ASHLEY B.

2021-11-22 00:57:32 UTC

The American style of bathroom stalls has relatively high barriers to the point that the people outside the stall can see a lot of your feet up near the knee when you sit on the toilet seat.

Read more:
https://www.redbookmag.com/life/g4523/american-culture-customs-traditions/?slide=34

LANTICAN, PRINCESS FAITH J.

flantican27 — 2021-11-22 00:59:18 UTC

Hungry Ghost Festival in China

The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. They perform special ceremonies to avoid the anger of hungry ghosts, such as burning incense, putting the family's ancestral tablets on a table, preparing food, burning fake money, and putting red painted paper lanterns everywhere, including business and residential areas. They make some sacrifices for the hungry ghosts who have been wandering there since the start of Hungry Ghost Month. In this period, some Chinese avoid swimming or being alone at night as many unhappy ghosts come after them. On the last day of the Hungry Ghost Month, many families float river lanterns on little boats at night because they believe that the ghosts will follow the floating lanterns away.

Read more on:
https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/hungry-ghost-festival.htm

BELEN, MELTY C.

2021-11-22 00:59:45 UTC

Women who give birth in Pakistan are thought to be impure and unclean by some families. They're taken to Bashleni, a remote building where they'll continue to labour.

Read more on:
https://m.scooper.news/2020/09/11/unbelievable-did-you-know-in-pakistan-they-isolate-pregnant-women-in-labour-they-consider-them-impure-and-unclean/11552261

Aquino, Aron Gabriel C.

2021-11-22 01:00:35 UTC

"J'Ouvert" in Trinidad and Tobago

The word J’Ouvert is from a French term, "jou ouvè," that means “daybreak”; it is the raucous celebration that marks the official start of the festivities. This festival fill with a lot of peple dancing and celebrating, but anlike in Rio that dresses glamorous costumes, they wear old clothes and cover themselves in chocolate, oil, paint or mud.

SOURCE:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/unique-carnival-traditions-latin-america

MALABANAN, JUSTINE NIKKI

malabananjustinenikki14 — 2021-11-22 01:01:26 UTC

Año Viejo OR OLD YEAR in ECUADOR

Ecuadorians spend the last moments of the old year with the most significant custom known as Año Viejo while anticipating a bright new year. This practice is demonstrated by lighting masked effigy dummies dressed in old clothes stuffed with sawdust and paper or cardboard on fire at midnight by which people jump over the fire for good luck and wearing masks imitating the faces of politicians, celebrities, etc.; the old effigy dummies symbolize the "misfortunes" from the previous year, while the masks serve as a platform for people to "speak out," make a social protest and criticize individuals in position/power.

Read more on:
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/travel/trip-ideas/new-years-eve-in-ecuador-embracing-local-culture/

VILLARIÑO, ANNE LAEMARIE I.

2021-11-22 01:02:34 UTC

Festa Junina (June’s Party) in Brazil

To commemorate the feast days of Santo Antônio, So Joo, and So Pedro, Brazilians established the Festa Junina, a festivity that takes place in June, July, or even August. Everyone dresses up as cowboys and cowgirls and dances in a coordinated group choreography known as Quadrilha, as is customary.

Read More on:https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/brazil/articles/10-things-to-know-about-festa-junina-in-brazil/

CORONADO, ANN JULLIAN, B.

2021-11-22 01:03:55 UTC

Bullfighting (Charreria) in Mexico

Mexico is one of the few nations in the world where bullfighting is still authorized. The objective of bullfighting is for the matador, or bullfighter, to subdue and kill the bull with a quick death by inserting a sword between the bull's shoulders in a coin-sized spot. Children as young as six years old in Mexico can begin preparing for a career in this brutal sport.

https://www.hsi.org/news-media/bullfighting_in_mexico/

PEÑALOZA, JIAN SAMANTHA P.

2021-11-22 01:05:09 UTC

Effigy in Panama

Every New Year, effigies or life-sized dolls crafted from straws, also known as Judas doll, can be seen all around Panama. These signify the things or people that Panamanians despise, and these contain firecrackers which they lit on fire and beaten at the stroke of midnight to get rid of the evil spirits and sins.

Learn More: https://panamarelocationtours.com/8-bizarre-new-years-eve-traditions-in-panama

DE GUZMAN, JOHN LLOYD M.

deguzmanjohnlloyd12 — 2021-11-22 01:06:14 UTC

Roadkill Cook off, West Virginia
With so much animals roaming the streets of the United States and so many SUVs cruising the highways, there's sure to be some unintended consequences.

People in Marlington, West Virginia, hold a Roadkill Cook-off every September, where you can sample such delicacies as squirrel gravy biscuits and teriyaki-marinated bear or deer sausage, all plucked from the side of the road after an unfortunate accident.

Read More on:
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/west-virginia-cook-off-celebrates-unusual-foods/4600987.html

DIALOLA, JOSHUA B.

2021-11-22 01:07:38 UTC

LA MOJADERA in PANAMA
La Mojadera, also known as water spray, is a carnival tradition that is celebrated during tropical weather in Las Tablas, Panama. Each year, the water trucks also known as culecos, gather in the plaza and drive through the streets while drenching the carnival participants as they dance and consume a huge amount of cerveza.

Read more on:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/unique-carnival-traditions-latin-america

Arbis, Dickerson T.

2021-11-22 01:14:42 UTC

In Sweden, halfway through midsummer, Swedes meet around a maypole, starts singing, dancing, and imitating batracians to a song called "The Small Frogs".

https://www.thelocal.se/20210622/why-do-swedes-like-to-pretend-theyre-little-frogs/

DANIEL, RALPH CHRISTIAN Y.

2021-11-22 01:17:48 UTC

Groundhog Day in Pennsylvania

This tradition started on February 2, 1887. In this tradition, it was said that if a groundhog comes out of its hole, sees its shadow, and goes back into its hole, it means that there would be six more weeks of winter. Additionally, there's a famous Western Pennsylvanian groundhog that has his own name which is Punxsutawney Phil. Every February 2, many followers of Phil are waiting for this groundhog as it comes out from its burrow.

Read more in:https://www.almanac.com/content/groundhog-day-history-meaning-folklore

Luha, Jenilyn L.

2021-11-22 01:19:12 UTC

LA Mordida Tradition in Mexico

La moridida pertains to the first bite of the birthday cake taken by the celebrant. Some were allowing them to take a small bite, but the cake is usually being shoved to their faces, while their hands are behind their backs. The family celebrating with the person will then chant, "Mordida".

Source: https://family.lovetoknow.com/cultural-heritage-symbols/9-mexican-birthday-traditions-still-practiced-today

SAN JOSE, SEAN KENYON C.

sanjoseseankenyon730 — 2021-11-22 01:20:39 UTC

Nenana Ice Classic Competition

The Nenana Ice Classic is an annual competition held in Nenana, Alaska. During spring season, participants try to guess the exact time the ice in the Tanana River would break (month, day, hour, minute). When the ice breaks, the time is recorded and the winner is declared. The prize money has been reported to go as much as $300,000

Read more on:
https://data.alaska.gov/stories/s/3fi8-3kt6

REYES, MIRA ALTHEA R.

reyesmira325 — 2021-11-22 01:20:53 UTC

Shukatsu Festival in Japan

Every year on December 16, the 'Shukatsu' festival, which means preparing for the end of one's life, is celebrated in Japan. Its main aim is to raise awareness about death and what happens to the individuals left behind once someone passes away. To make the experience more authentic, many participants are laid in coffins with sealed lids. Visitors are also taught about how to prepare the body of the person who has passed.

Read more on:
This weird festival in Japan is all about teaching people how to die properly - FYI News (indiatoday.in)

UY, RYA XAHN ZOIE C.

uyryaxahn — 2021-11-22 01:23:01 UTC

WORLD'S UGLIEST DOG CONTEST in UNITED STATES

An annual event in California which started in the 1970s to show that dogs are adorable. This event is not to make fun of the dogs but to encourage as most of the participants in this contest are pets that were adopted and rescued.

Magnaye, Ian Jerome A.

magnayejohn10903 — 2021-11-22 01:28:19 UTC

It never snows in the balmy city of Encarnatión, Paraguay, which may explain the novelty of the faux snow spray cans that are such an integral part of the local carnival celebrations. The illusion of winter weather in summertime is part of the fantasy in Encarnación, the self-proclaimed “Carnival Capital of Paraguay”.

Read more on:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/unique-carnival-traditions-latin-america?fbclid=IwAR3ibYUprc1Yhcr4JuegZOgO_LSGonXpFvnPj3fzT4jKbKbIM_fZTp5vdmI

Asacta, Vhian Danielle E.

2021-11-22 01:29:30 UTC

Inti Raymi means "Sun Festival" and this celebration aims to show respect to the Sun God, which is the supreme symbol of reverence in Inca culture. This festival is one of the significant celebrations in Cusco, a city in Peru, and is considered the most exciting festival in the entire country. It is performed every month of June and is held on the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman.

Read more on: https://cruisetogalapagos.com/blog/top-5-peru-festivities/

EVANGELISTA, ELJOHN Y.

evangelistaeljohn0 — 2021-11-22 01:31:58 UTC

Assisted Suicide in Switzerland
In Switzerland, people who are suffering from major diseases, huge life-problems or just wanted to end ones life may have the option to be assisted for suicide. Swiss law tolerates assisted suicide when patients commit the act themselves and helpers have no vested interest in their death. This method of death has been legal in the country since the 1940s.

Read more on: Assisted suicide option remains in demand in Switzerland - SWI swissinfo.ch

AQUINO, FIOLAH ROVY I.

fiolahaquino — 2021-11-22 01:32:01 UTC

TREE MARRIAGE in INDIA

Indians place a high value on astrological compatibility. They believe that if a bride is born with "Manglik" or Mars-being, she is cursed and will cause her husband to die early. And based on Hindu tradition, the only way to break the curse is to marry a tree.

Read more on:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/42594479

ARCEDERA, PSYMON SEZ E.

2021-11-22 01:36:01 UTC

Hollerin' Contest (North Carolina)

The Hollerin' contest, established in 1969 in Spivey's Corner, is a contest in North Carolina in celebration of the art of hollering. Hollering is one of the main means of communication in the areas of North Carolina before the invention of the telephone.

Read more on: https://www.ncpedia.org/hollerin-contest

MANZANO, MYLES GUIAN A.

mylesianmanzano08 — 2021-11-22 01:44:26 UTC

Bullet Ant Ritual in Amazonas State, Brazil
To commemorate their rite of passage to adulthood, 12 year old boys must overcome the pain of a 10-minute long ritual, in which, the boys are forced to insert their hands in a pair of gloves that contain dozens of bullet ants and be stung by it while dancing. According to the tribe's belief, the ritual is performed to show that, "the men that lived a life without suffering anything or without any kind of effort isn't worth anything at all."
(Take note that the sting of a bullet ant is 30 times more painful than a sting of a bee, and lingers longer, lasting up to 24 hours.)

Source:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brazilian-tribe-becoming-man-requires-sticking-your-hand-glove-full-angry-ants-180953156/

CORONADO, JELLA KRISHNA C.

2021-11-22 01:51:09 UTC

Frozen Dead Guy Days (Nederland, Colorado)

Frozen Dead Guy Days take place in the Colorado mountain town of Nederland. It is a three-day Frosty Fiesta that features interesting events. Some of these events are coffin racing, costumed polar plunging, frozen t-shirt contests, icy turkey bowling, human foosball, and more.

For more information, click the link below.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/festivals/frozen-dead-guy-days-nederland-colorado

OSMEÑA, PATRICK JOSEPH M.

2021-11-22 01:53:05 UTC

Pumpkin chucking, Delaware USA

In the state of Delaware, not only are pumpkins used for cooking and Halloween decorations but are also used as projectiles as a ceremonious ritual. Punkin Chunkin, the country’s original and largest pumpkin chucking contest, contestants use numerous contraptions and machines like trebuchets, catapults, torsions, and air cannons to make those pumpkins fly.

Read more on:
https://www.punkinchunkin.com/

https://www.roughguides.com/article/bizarre-traditions-america-usa/

SOVERANO, SHARBEL BLANCH G.

soveranosharbel — 2021-11-22 01:54:08 UTC

Potency test in Uganda

In the Banyankole tribe, a minority tribe living in Uganda, marriage means quite a burden to the bride's aunt. When a couple wants to get married, the aunt has to have sex with the groom as a "potency test" and furthermore, she has to test the bride's virginity.

Read more on:
https://m.scoopernews.com/2020/12/04/strange-culture-banyankole-tribe-in-uganda-allows-groom-sleep-with-bride-s-aunt-before-wedding/12553952

CORDEZ, ALEXA G.

cordezalexa — 2021-11-22 01:54:21 UTC

The “Burning of the Devil," also known as La Quema del Diablo, is held every December 7 at 6:00 p.m. sharp to mark the beginning of the Guatemalan Christmas and ensure it would be a devil-free season for all those who participate. Here Guatemalans “burn the devil,” building bonfires outside their homes because the devil and other evil spirits are believed to linger in the dark and dirty nooks of one's home.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/burning-the-devil-in-guatemala

LANDICHO, MARIA ANGELA, A.

maanlandicho2004 — 2021-11-22 02:01:35 UTC

Who is Fatter: A Ritual in Ethiopia

This is a competition amongst tribesmen in a remote region in Ethiopia to gain as much weight as possible in six months by just consuming a mixture of fresh blood and cow milk. They are not permitted to have sex or even leave their hut during this period. Each family or clan represents an unmarried man. And the man with the fattest belly wins the competitions, which increases his chances of finding a wife.

For more information visit: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4360060/Ethiopian-tribesmen-compete-fat-possible.html

REA, RHIANA MICHAELA M.

2021-11-22 02:01:53 UTC

Every year since 1974, the International Cherry Pit–Spitting Championship has been held at the Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, Michigan. Cherry pit spitting is an act of spitting the seed of a cherry from an individual's mouth with great speed and intensity to send it at a great distance.

For more details visit https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/international-cherry-pit-spitting-championship

ESQUIVEL, KHATE M.

2021-11-22 02:03:05 UTC

A doll-like effigy, known as Ao Nuevo or New Year, is made and loaded with fireworks. Colombians light the doll on fire at midnight, causing it to erupt and burn, symbolically burning the Old Year and everything it represents.

Source:
https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/colombia/articles/the-11-strangest-colombian-new-year-traditions/

DEL ROSARIO, LEONA LYNNE P.

2021-11-22 02:05:07 UTC

Monumental Alebrije Parade (Mexico City, Mexico)

Alebrijes are chimera-like creatures that are brightly colored credited to artisan Pedro Linares. Mexico City artists began creating massive ornamental works for neighborhood festivals and holidays, which prompted to the Monumental Alebrijes Parade and Competition (Desfile y Concurso de Alebrijes Monumentales) in 2007 sponsored by the Folk Art Museum of the city and later on became an annual tradition.

Learn more: https://craftsmanship.net/field-notes/alebrijes-handcrafted-monsters-on-parade-in-mexico-city/

BENITEZ, LINDZEY ALEXANDRA A.

benitezlindzey — 2021-11-22 02:06:21 UTC

Honoring the dead is celebrated worldwide somberly; however, it is entirely different in Mexico. The Day of the Dead is celebratory for the Mexicans— bright-colored skeletons and smiling skulls used to celebrate this.

Continue reading at https://dayofthedead.holiday/

LANTING, GRACIE LOU R.

lantinggracielou — 2021-11-22 02:16:10 UTC

Hog Drop (Arkansas)

Many localities in America mark the beginning of a new year by raising or lowering a certain object. In Arkansas, people watch an artificial hog lit up in bright LED lights to descend to ring in the new year; this is followed by a fireworks display afterwards.

Read more on:
[1] https://247wallst.com/special-report/2018/04/02/weirdest-tradition-in-each-state/2/
[2] https://freeweekly.com/2016/12/29/last-night-fayetteville-to-feature-morethan-25-entertainers/

LAYDIA, JARREL R.

2021-11-22 02:19:19 UTC

Giving anything other than money to a couple getting married is considered impolite in Israel.
Some weddings even have an ATM where you can withdraw money, as well as a station with envelopes and pens where you may deposit money or a check.

Read more on:
https://forward.com/news/israel/348347/how-much-should-israeli-guests-splash-on-wedding-gift-web-sites-do-math/

DORADO, CHRISTIAN LOUIE C.

doradochristianlouie — 2021-11-22 02:19:58 UTC

The Chef Cooking Green Iguanas to Save Blue Iguanas in the Cayman Islands

Green iguanas are considered a pest in the Cayman Islands as it damages crops and gardens, eats wild bird eggs, and pose a threat that could cause massive ecosystem change such as being a threat for the blue iguanas’ population as it competes for habitats and foods, and it brings harmful pathogens to the blue iguanas. In 2019, 800,000 green iguanas had been killed at a cost of $5 per iguana and many of them are served at a false start as it is fried like a chicken.

For more thorough detail, please visit: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/invasive-iguanas

CRISTAL, VINCE ALLEN D.

allencristal23 — 2021-11-22 02:28:45 UTC

Deuki: Sacred Slave in Nepal

Deuki is a girl slave who is give to the Hindu temple in Nepal to acquire religious virtue and this has been practiced for many years where the girls are being slaves of the temple giving sexual services to the male worshippers. Also, this tradition has been eradicated but continues to be practiced in several villages by those who are seeking the goodwill of God or selling to wealthy couple to obtain the religious virtue.

Read more on:
https://historyofyesterday.com/the-culture-where-girls-serve-as-a-sex-slaves-to-priests-and-worshipers-a1d3bcf04d81

PELINA, JOHN TRISTAN

2021-11-22 02:36:02 UTC

In Texas, marriages by proxy are perfectly legal. In other words, if you have a legitimate reason for absence - you can send someone to get married in your place, as long as you have all the right documentation.

Learn more:
https://www.usatoday.com/list/news/nation-now/weirdest-laws-every-state/53ad0541-3518-4432-adc4-0fec193d389e/

NAVARRO, BRENT Q.

2021-11-22 02:50:56 UTC

HOKKAI HESO MATSURI (BELLY BUTTON FESTIVAL) in FURANO, HOKKAIDO(JAPAN)

Hokkai Heso Matsuri, also known as the Belly Button Festival, is a fun-filled celebration that began in the city of Furano around 1969 as a basic dance festival, but subsequently evolved into a comedic and artistic event with the goal of bringing togetherness through laughing. The event's major attraction is the bizarre and magnificent stomach-art dance, which was inspired by Suzuran retail area residents who recommended that "we need something distinctive for our festival, something that brings the bellybutton to life."

Read more on:
https://www.furano.ne.jp/hesomatsuri/en/story.html
https://jpninfo.com/82119

Espineda, Jobert S.

jhespineda05 — 2021-11-22 03:01:45 UTC

Paantu Punaha festival is fun for everyone but scary for children. It's held in Miyakojima City, Okinawa yearly as men, clad in leaves, vine and some sort of root, are covered in black mud. Carrying sticks and masks, they scare the hell out of children until the kids cry. The Mud men also approach and smear adults, new buildings and cars to bless and bring good luck.

Read more on:
https://jpninfo.com/92243

De Los Reyes, Aron Rafael M.

2021-11-22 03:02:51 UTC

New Year's Levee (Canada)

A dated European tradition, Canada is now the only country that participates in the New Year’s Levee. The tradition began in Canada in the 1600s. It’s an event held by each province’s lieutenant governor and the governor general to mark the start of a new year and to allow citizens to pay their respects.

Read more on:
[1] https://www.manitobalg.ca/history/new-years-day-levee-history/
[2]
https://everything.explained.today/New_Year%27s_levee/

Montoya, Bjorn Q.

2021-11-22 03:20:54 UTC

Annual Bathtub Race in Canada

Every summer, the annual aquatic tradition is held as part of the Nanaimo Marine Festival, which takes place over the course of a weekend.

It's taken seriously enough that the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society organizes it every year, complete with concerts, art workshops, a slew of vendors, and other events.

https://www.thetravel.com/20-seriously-weird-things-that-only-happen-in-canada/

BELTRAN, DON MAXWELL F.

2021-11-22 03:22:06 UTC

Carnival of Ivrea
The battle of Oranges is the largest food fight in the world, with more than 500,000 pounds of food that have covered the people and the street of Ivrea. It symbolizes the revolt about the myth of the horrible Marquis, who tried to rape a woman. After he died the people in town rises a three whole days citrus fight.

Read more on: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/battle-of-the-oranges

Artificio, Jesrill Andrei C.

jaartificio — 2021-11-22 03:22:37 UTC

Every year at the end of October, the Mayan villagers of Todos Santos in the country of Guatemala throws a celebration of independence that last for a week. Barely sleeping, the people dance and drink for days and send the bravest men in town to face each other in the drunken horse racing.

Learn more:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vice.com/amp/en/article/new598/the-drunken-horse-races-of-guatemala

Cosico, Mary Joyce, A.

cosicomary — 2021-11-22 03:23:19 UTC

Sky Burial (Tibet)

Sky burial is a practice wherein the body of a community member who has passed away is chopped into pieces and taken to an area with high elevation. This practice roots from the belief that after death, the physical body should not have any trace.

Read more about this practice on: https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/gravematters/2017/02/13/tibetan-sky-burials/

HISTORILLO, CAMILLE ANNE C.

2021-11-22 03:31:35 UTC

Voodoo (Vodou) Ceremony in Haiti
The Haitian Voodoo Ceremony is a nature-honoring ritual in Haiti where believers gather to communicate with spirits (the Loa), and where a priest or a priestess offers sacrifices to embody the Loa and their messages. It believes in the idea of spirits running the universe instead of one god, which developed between the 16th and 19th centuries within the groups of African slaves disguised as Catholics. This ritual usually begins with a Catholic prayer because Voodoo (Vodou) was not recognized as a religion before and until April 2003.

Read more:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/haiti-ancient-traditions-voodoo

MORELOS, FRANZ CHRISTIAN D.C.

2021-11-22 03:38:57 UTC

“Partita a Scacchi”, Marostica, Italy

An even conducted every 2 years on september in Marostica Italy. It is basically a human chess game. It originated from a legend from the 15th century where two gentlemen duel each other over a woman. But the father of the woman who is also the lord of the town decided to make them duel in a game of chess. The winner will get to marry his daughter.

read more on: https://www.marosticascacchi.it/en/#1

Perona, Aldouz Joaquin M.

2021-11-22 03:54:13 UTC

The Cordova Ice worm Festival is held every late January to early February to lift the people's spirits and bring the community together. The festival comprises events such as a parade, fireworks, baby ice worm birthday party, sports tournament, and chili cook-off, which creates joy and attracts people worldwide.

Learn more:
https://www.alaska.org/detail/cordova-iceworm-festival
https://www.icewormfestival.com/thefestival

CORONADO, MIKYLLA ANN A.

mikylla_ann — 2021-11-22 04:25:35 UTC

KANAMARA MATSURI OR FESTIVAL OF THE IRON PHALLUS in JAPAN
Kanamara Matsuri, taking place every year in April in Kawasaki, is a Japanese spring festival held as a prayer for fertility, smooth marital relationships and business prosperity. In recent years, it caused a sensation in Japan and abroad being introduced as a "penis festival" and has also gathered attention as a major event in the LGBT+ social calendar.

Read more on:
https://matcha-jp.com/en/5732

Guitang, Manfred M.

2021-11-22 04:29:02 UTC

Gai Jatra

A popular celebration in Nepal, it means "festival of the cows". Any person that lost a family member leading up to the festival leads a cow in the parade. If one doesn't have a cow, a child dressed as a cow will be led instead. Children may be fed milk, or given money or gifts. Cows are used since they are sacred to the Hindu religion. According to the tradition, the cows in the parade help usher people's ancestors into heaven. Even though it commemorates the dead, it is not fully a sad event. Some people make jokes and have a great time after the event.

Read more about the celebration here:
https://www.spotlightnepal.com/2021/08/2/gai-jatra-festival-2021-importance-and-significance/
https://english.onlinekhabar.com/gai-jatra-nepals-festival-that-celebrates-death.html

AQUINO, RIOJEEN IREEN I.

2021-11-22 04:52:19 UTC

"First Seal Hunt" (Greenland)

Killing and capturing one's first seal is a rite of passage of a 13-year-old boy, or sometimes as young as six years in a hunting settlement signifies the first step to the course of manhood. Presently, the slaughtering procedure includes the killing of seals using rifles, cleaning, prepping, and butchering.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/42871295
https://www.greenland.is/blog/inuit-traditions/

ATIENZA, GERALD JHUDIEL D.

jhudielatienza2k20 — 2021-11-22 05:48:33 UTC

"New Year in a Cemetery"

In Chile, people hangout in a cemetery as soon as the church mass is over to wait for the New Year. It was done to spend some time with their deceased loved ones and honor their existence.

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5852250&ved=2ahUKEwjf59qBoKv0AhVwklYBHVX8ATYQFnoECDAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2O26vFU13Re4MIfut2TlIo&cf=1

MACALINDONG, JORDAN LOUIS D.

2021-11-22 07:21:21 UTC

Santeria Religion (Cuba)

Santeria is a religion that focus on building a relationship between its faithful followers and Orishas, which are powerful, but mortal, spirits. The religion emerged from Cuba during the 17th century and has no form literary piece or sculpture. Instead, the religion was passed on by word-of-mouth.

To know more insteresting things about the religion, read here:

https://www.anywhere.com/cuba/travel-guide/santeria

MIZUNUMA, MASATO C.

mizunumamasato911 — 2021-11-22 08:17:07 UTC

Tailgate Parties (originated from New Jersey)

Tailgate party is a social gathering that is practiced where food and drinks are served either at the back of the vehicle or near it, it is usually done at a parking lot. Most of the time this party occurs either before or after a massive event such as a live concert or a sports game.

To find out more about how it has come to be, you may click the link to know more about its history:

https://www.milehighreport.com/2010/11/5/1796254/the-tailgate-party-a-brief-history

Adarna, Lance C.

2021-11-22 10:03:08 UTC

Dead Good Fun ( Spain )

- This festival is held in Santa Marta, Spain during 29th of July, annually. The main concept of this festivity is that people who had an illnessses or experienced accident and miraculously survived during that time are paraded in coffins through different streets of the said place.

They do this tradition to give thanks to Santa Marta, the patron of lives and to God. Similar with Filipino culture, the coffins are followed by their friends, family and relatives dressed in black.

The festival are also incorporated with different stalls like farmer selling their products and other traditional foods. They also have live bands and performances to patronize tourist to stay in their place.

References :

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/travel/2018/jun/02/20-great-traditional-festivals-europe-france-spain-greece-sweden

https://www.google.com/amp/s/traveltriangle.com/blog/festivals-in-europe/amp/

DE VILLA, KRYSTHEN CARYLL A.

2021-11-22 10:50:34 UTC

Snow Celebrations- Paraguay

It explains the novelty of the faux snow spray cans that are such an integral part of the local carnival celebrations. If you’re joining this street party, you may be sprayed in the face with “snow,” or you could be doused with shaving cream, or you might get your clothes stained with white paint.

https://prezi.com/o9cl0zunw4ka/paraguays-winter-holidays/

FUNTANILLA, THERESE JULIENNE D.

funtanillatheresejulienne15 — 2021-11-22 11:52:30 UTC

Busójárás

Busójárás is Hungary's wildest event, combining pagan rituals, folk dancing, and demonic masks. In the small town of Mohács, a wild carnival is celebrated in February to ward off the last days of winter, but it's also a celebration of life for the local Croatian minority (okci).

Hundreds of busós — townspeople dressed as monstrous creatures – arrive in rowboats on the Danube and then march through the streets in horse-drawn carriages, reenacting the 16th century Battle of Mohacs. There are a variety of themed events to participate in, in addition to the main parade, as well as plenty of spiced wine and pálinka (traditional fruit brandy) to warm up those chilly days.

Read more on:
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/bus-festivities-at-mohcs-masked-end-of-winter-carnival-custom-00252

CANSECO, MIKYLLA V.

mikycanseco30 — 2021-11-22 12:40:53 UTC

Kerik Gigi (Indonesia)

Kerik Gigi is a tradition of the Mentawai ethnic tribe from Indonesia, in which they sharpen or scrape their teeth. In fact, modifying the body is one of their approach to achieve satisfaction and contentment for both the soul and the body. For Mentawai tribe, this practice represents beauty because for them the sharper the teeth, the more attractive a lady. They also considered it as a reflection of women's maturity.

Read more on:
https://www.yoair.com/blog/anthropology-11-fascinating-cultural-rituals-and-customs-in-indonesia/

JOYA, KATHLEEN MAE A.

2021-11-22 13:43:12 UTC

Burning of "Judas Dolls" in Panama

Judas Dolls are a representation of everything you would like to forget about the previous year. On New Year's Eve, they are filled with fireworks and are set off at midnight. Burning them is a symbol of a fresh start in the new year.

Read more on:
https://www.choosepanama.com/blog/celebrating-new-years-in-panama

COMENDADOR, ALJEAN ARTHAIR T.

2021-11-22 13:47:47 UTC

Facekinis: (Originated from China, created in 2004 by Zhang Shifan.)

A full faced mask worn like a Balaclava that's suitable for outdoor activities, in which case its mostly used for swimming activities. The facekini was used as protection to the sun's rays as well as irritants such as insects and jellyfish stings, but some Chinese citizens use them with an intention to preserve pale skin.

Here are two links about the product, one is solely about the product itself, the other about the Chinese's beliefs about pale skin.

https://www.goldthread2.com/culture/zhang-shifan-facekini-inventor-interview/article/3029897

https://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/china-long-tradition-dodging-sun-photos

DE LOS REYES, ANNE CARMI O.

dannecarmi — 2021-11-22 14:26:09 UTC

For the San people of Africa, dance is considered as a sacred power that it heals people with physical illnesses. These people gather for plenty of hours to do the tradition which is usually led by healers and the elders of their community.

For more info: https://blog.rhinoafrica.com/2018/08/13/7-amazing-african-tribal-traditions/

FABRO, GRACEY AUDREI A.

fabrograceyaudreialles — 2021-11-22 15:59:02 UTC

"The long Christmas season"

Puerto Rico takes pride in having the longest holiday season in the world.

On the Island, la Navidad lasts around 45 days, starting right after Thanksgiving Day in November, extending through mid-January, and culminating with the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, also known as la SanSe.

Learn more:
https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/article/holiday-traditions-puerto-rico

ANARETA, NADINE ARABEL A.

anaretanadinearabel — 2021-11-22 16:44:46 UTC

Maasai Lion Hunting

As a Maasai boy child, you will be spat on and told that you are of no use. When you reach the age of 14, you will be considered a Moran, and it is expected of you to prove your manhood by hunting down a lion.

For more information: http://www.maasai-association.org/lion.html

DE CASTRO, JEAN HADRIELLE V.

2021-11-22 17:09:48 UTC

The Caber Toss (Scotland)

Caber is a large tapered pole being tossed to turn end over end for a traditional athletic event in Scotland. It is said to originate a few hundred years ago; however, instead of natives competing, caber toss was used to train warriors for battle during earlier periods.

Read more on:
https://europeisnotdead.com/european-weird-traditions/

DIACOS, MA. VICTORIA B.

2021-11-22 23:52:43 UTC

The Naked Run: Nøgenløbet Roskilde

An annual and bizarre competition in Denmark since 1999 has launched where everyone is set to run naked around the campsite every Sunday of the Roskilde Festival. This eight-day festival is purely about fun and entertainment, and each winner from the male and female category will be given a free ticket to participate again in the next festival.

References:
https://europeisnotdead.com/european-weird-traditions/
https://chillisauce.com/blog/post-d1b1c0dc4455fdf809ed

MELO, RONALYN, M.

2021-11-23 01:11:30 UTC

Baby Tossing (India)

In the southern Indian state of Karnataka, newborn babies are dropped from a 50 feet high temple to “bring well-being and fortune to lives.”

Read more on: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/29/world/what-in-the-world/for-babies-in-india-a-30-foot-plunge-for-good-luck.html

RICAFORTE, TATYANA AANIYAH SHAZREY D.

2021-11-23 01:31:36 UTC

Thimithi Festival in India

Thimithi is a Tamil Nadu annual festival that takes place every year in the Tamil month of Aipasi, which corresponds to the months of October and November in the Gregorian calendar. The narrative of Draupadi (the wife of the Pandavas) and her journey to prove her love and devotion by walking through fire after being humiliated by the Kauravas is the highlight of the festival.

Read more on:
https://www.filmingindo.com/blog-post/thimithi-festival-fire-walking-ceremony-and-mahabharata-reading-two-important-rituals-of-tamil-nadu-india/

MATUNDAN, DAN EDWARD A.

2021-11-23 02:37:15 UTC

Voodoo Festival: African Dance and Magic

This bizarre tradition is mainly a form of entertainment and some sort of ritual wherein a large bristling object claims to dance on its own through magic. This form of 'mystical' tradition is done during the Voodoo Festival.

https://youtu.be/mtSc6MltaiM

VICENTE, ELLAYZZA GAIL E.

ellayzzavicente — 2021-11-23 04:50:58 UTC

Traditional Marriage Rite of the Frafra Tribes in Ghana

When a man desires to marry a female of his choice among the Frafra tribe of Ghana, his family will kidnap the bride-to-be and hold her captive in their home, where she will be closely guarded against escape. The groom's family would make a visit to the bride's family to inform them of the whereabouts of their daughter, and while their marriage proposal was sometimes rejected, some families would dare the man to prove his seriousness by impregnating their daughter.

Read more on:
https://pickasblog.com/the-frafra-traditional-marriage-rite-in-ghana/

GUERRA, IAN D.

guerraian21edu — 2021-11-23 06:28:42 UTC

Baci Ceremony is a thousand years-old Laos traditional practice intended to wish good fortune or celebrate life events such as birthdays, a newborn baby, and weddings. With the lead of a mor phon (elder) who will chant for spirits for good fortune, all participants are required to tie their wrist on a baci strings connected to a pha khuan (a pyramid-like tower made of green palm leaves and orange marigolds) in the center of the ritual.

Read more on:
https://matadornetwork.com/read/laos-good-luck-ceremony/

ORBISTA, LYKA B.

2021-11-23 09:30:55 UTC

On the 15th day of the first month (Yuan) of the lunar calendar, the Lantern Festival, also known as Yuan Xiao Festival, is a celebration observed in China and other Asian nations to honor deceased ancestors. The Lantern Festival attempts to promote forgiveness, peace, and healing. The Chinese New Year comes to an end with the first full moon of the new lunar year.

The Lantern Festival may have begun during the Han era (206 BCE to 220 CE), when Buddhist monks would light lanterns in honor of the Buddha on the 15th day of the lunar year. The rite was eventually adopted by the entire public and expanded throughout China and Asia. A legend about the festival's origins tells of the Jade Emperor (You Di), who was enraged after his goose was killed by a town. He intended to burn the town down, but a fairy intervened, advising the citizens to light lanterns across the town on the scheduled day of destruction. Because of all the brightness, the emperor imagined the town was already engulfed in flames. The town was spared, and as a thank you, the residents have continued to memorialize the event by carrying colorful lanterns across town every year.

Read more on: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lantern-Festival

PENULIAR, ALEXANDER GUILLE A.

2021-11-23 09:40:40 UTC

For the first ten days of September, Hindus practice Durga Puja where they worship the image of the goddess Durga. Youth dance to the sound of drums and cymbals in front of the image and people that visit will be given sweets.

Read more on:
https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Customs_and_Traditions

SALAYO, HANS JENSON LEE L.

2021-11-23 09:40:51 UTC

A tradition called Kumari Pratha (Kumari meaning a pre-pubertal virgin girl) is a standard in Kathmandu, Nepal. A kumari is believed to be a living goddess, who is worshipped with a belief that all desires will be fulfilled by worshipping her. It is said that once a Kumari reaches puberty, she is replaced by another and should not marry for the rest of their lives.

Read more on: http://www.volunteersummernepal.org/kumari-pratha

MARANAN, SAVINA MAE C.

2021-11-23 09:58:40 UTC

Mochi, also known as rice cake is eaten in Japan for New Year since the Heian period. It is eaten in hopes of getting a good fortune or good health. Usually, it is eaten in a sweet or savory dish. The making of this rice cake or Mochitsuki is one of the traditions in Japan. It takes about 24h to finish. Since it is an event that can be participated by a group of people like family and friends, some communities celebrates festival for Mochitsuki which involves performances and games that can be enjoyed by all.

Read more on:
https://asahiimports.com/2014/01/04/mochitsuki-a-japanese-new-years-tradition/

Katigbak, Jessicka A.

katigbakjess04 — 2021-11-23 10:04:40 UTC

The Dragon Boat Festival is a celebration where many eat rice dumplings (zongzi), drink realgar wine (xionghuangjiu), and race dragon boats. Other activities include hanging icons of Zhong Kui (a mythic guardian figure), hanging mugwort and calamus, taking long walks, writing spells and wearing perfumed medicine bags.

All of these activities and games such as making an egg stand at noon were regarded by the ancients as an effective way of preventing disease, evil, while promoting good health and well-being. People sometimes wear talismans to fend off evil spirits or they may hang the picture of Zhong Kui, a guardian against evil spirits, on the door of their homes.

Read more on: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/china/dragon-boat-festival#:~:text=The%20Dragon%20Boat%20Festival%20is,and%20wearing%20perfumed%20medicine%20bags.

TAGULABONG, GEM ROMHIELLE C.

gemromhiellectolc — 2021-11-23 10:44:13 UTC

Argentines are known to be affectionate people who greet each other by kissing each other on the cheek, even if they are strangers. Consider the fact that the kissing rule is considerably more widespread in large cities like Buenos Aires, and visitors should assess the other person before proceeding with a kiss, particularly amongst men.

References:
•https://worldwithtj.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/argentina1.jpg
•https://traveltips.usatoday.com/greet-people-traveling-argentina-102195.html

LOSITO, KRISTINE DIANE B.

2021-11-23 10:48:47 UTC

TOOTH FILING in BALI, INDONESIA

Before marriage, Balinese men and women get their teeth filed as a sign of control over sinful emotions including lust, greed, rage, and jealousy. These are the signs of a person's transition into adulthood, and it is a difficult and painful process.

Fajardo, Ace Drexxer B.

2021-11-23 11:48:31 UTC

Wife inheritance is a ritual practiced almost all over the whole continent. It occurs when the husband passed away due to either fortunate or unfortunate death. The husband's brother is said to be responsible for his dead brother's wife and is free to live the married life. This ritual is believed to enhance and strengthen the bonds of the family.

Read more on:
https://top15.in/top-15-weird-rituals-practiced-in-africa/
https://anankemag.com/2016/06/23/wife-inheritance-in-africa/

DIMAANO, RYLA CZARINA dF.

ryladimaano — 2021-11-23 13:08:14 UTC

Wedding Tradition in Indonesia: “Bathroom ban after wedding”

The newly married couples from the Tidong community in Indonesia are not allowed to use the toilet/bathroom for 3 days and 3 nights after their wedding. During this tradition, the couple are locked up in a room and are fed small amount of food and water to limit the urge to use the toilet.

Read more: https://historyofyesterday.com/the-culture-that-bans-newly-married-couples-from-using-the-toilet-e81e8ec89172

REYES, CYRIN ARA GRACE A.

2021-11-24 05:15:51 UTC

In Chinese tradition, a ghost marriage (Chinese: 冥婚; pinyin: mínghūn; lit. 'spirit marriage') is a marriage in which one or both parties are deceased.^[1]^{: 99} Other forms of ghost marriage are practiced worldwide, notably in France since 1959 (see posthumous marriage; compare levirate marriage and ghost marriage in South Sudan, i.e. marriage to a living relative of the deceased). The origins of Chinese ghost marriage are largely unknown, but reports of it being practiced today can still be found.

Read more: Chinese ghost marriage - Wikipedia

Unson, James Aivherson E.

2021-11-24 06:24:42 UTC

Cattle Jumping

Young boys from the Ethiopian Hamer tribe are required to run, jump, and land on the backs of several bulls – while nude – to prove their manhood. Before a boy undergoes this ritual, his female friends must dance through a parade of elders who will whip them with sticks until their bodies are completely bruised to show their loyalty to them.

Reference:
https://face2faceafrica.com/article/african-traditions/3

BAS, REIGN FAITH ARWEN, D.

arwenbas — 2021-11-24 11:47:06 UTC

Life and Death, Good and Evil

Carnaval de Oruro, or otherwise referred to as the La Diablada Carnival, is one of the most unusual and intriguing processions in Latin America. It is being held in the central Bolivian community of Oruro. Further to that, “The Dance of the Devils,” a ceremonial performance showcasing countless demons and wicked creatures in extravagant vibrant garments, is overflowing with colors and rhythms; not to mention how it unfolds the deep historical origins behind this celebration. At last, a group of masked monsters and angels, as well as dancers portraying the seven deadly sins, take part in this conflict among both light and darkness.

NARVAEZ, LANCE ANDREI, N.

2021-11-24 12:53:08 UTC

In Puerto Rico, there is a tradition on New Year's Eve wherein they fill buckets with water and throw them out the window and front doors when midnight strikes. This is in belief that it will drive away evil spirits away from their houses.

Read more here:
https://welcome.topuertorico.org/culture/new-years-traditions.shtml

DELA CRUZ, JEAN IRISH, E.

2021-11-24 13:03:17 UTC

“Aghori Cannibalism” in Varanasi, India

The Aghori, also known as “India’s Cannibal Cult,” are claimed to gather remains and use them for spiritual enlightenment, wearing the corpses, ingesting them, or constructing altars from them. In addition to eating human flesh, Aghoris drink from human skulls and gnaw the heads off of living animals. This custom is done to show their belief of being unperturbed by death.

For more information visit: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11783261/pictures-aghori-tribe-cannibals-india/

Female Photographer Spent a Month with India's 'Cannibal Cult' read more: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/tamara-merino-aghor-cannibals

Agapay, Maria Eana B.

2021-11-24 13:06:13 UTC

Picking the Right Underwear

In many Latin American countries the underwear you wear on New Year's Eve has a big impact on your year ahead. Yellow underwear, for example, is thought to bring good luck or fortune in the new year. Red underwear, edible or otherwise, is worn for luck in love. Likewise, in many parts of the world, wearing black on New Year's Eve is thought to bring bad luck.

https://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Entertainment/15-curious-latino-years-eve-traditions/story?id=18076784

VIRIÑA, ETHAN AXL C.

ethanvirina — 2021-11-24 13:34:19 UTC

Contrary to most parts of the world, some parts of Latin America, especially in Mexico, sings a birthday song to the celebrant while he/she is still asleep. The song is called Las Mañanitas. The song is also sung before cutting the birthday cake and sung on other occasions as well like Mother's Day, weddings, baptisms, and anniversaries.

Read more here:
* https://www.spanishstudio.sg/famous-hispanic-traditions-you-should-celebrate/#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20famous%20traditional,is%20the%20most%20popular%20one.
* https://www.lasmananitasmexicanrestaurant.com/las-mananitas-birthday-song-history

Rodriguez, Nathan gabriel P.

2021-11-24 14:50:44 UTC

Wife Inheritance

It is a ritual when the husband passes away; his brother may assume responsibility and take over the role as the new wife to the female. This is done to strengthen the bonds of the family.

https://anankemag.com/2016/06/23/wife-inheritance-in-africa/

Almare, Nica D.

2021-11-24 14:51:39 UTC

12 Grapes at Midnight: Spain's Great New Year's Eve Tradition and Superstition

Twelve grapes traditon came from Spain. This tradition was called las doce uvas de la suerte (“The Twelve Lucky Grapes"). According to this tradition, if you eat twelve grapes at midnight, it will brings you luck and prosperity for the whole year.

CAGUITE, NICOLE CYRINE C.

cyrinemercadejas — 2021-11-24 16:09:18 UTC

Lip Stretching

During teenage years, females of Ethiopia undergo lip stretching procedure which involves the removal of lower teeth to accommodate a lip plate and its size increases yearly. The size of the plate is related to the beauty and eligibility for marriage of a woman.

Read more on:
https://historyofyesterday.com/the-bizarre-lip-plate-tradition-4150ffc4352a

MARTINEZ, VIEREN JOHN L.

martinezvierenjohn — 2021-11-24 17:51:28 UTC

Celebrating Christmas for the whole of December
Colombians celebrate Christmas for the whole of December, with festivities beginning on December 7 with the Día/Noche de las Velitas (Day or Night of the Candles). This event usually takes place around 7pm in the evening, with families and friends gathering to light candles and lanterns in the street. Events continue into the early hours of December 8, itself a public holiday when the Inmaculada Concepción (Feast of Immaculate Conception) takes place. On December 16, events continue with the first Novena, an evening to celebrate devotion with private and public prayers. Usually taking place in a family or friend’s house, large groups gather to sing carols with instruments called villancicos, eat traditional Colombian food, read verses from the bible, and celebrate the arrival of Christmas. The event carries on for nine consecutive days, with the last Novena taking place on Christmas Eve.

Source: https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/colombia/articles/6-colombian-customs-only-locals-will-understand/

https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/colombia.shtml

ESGUERRA, MARK DAVID C.

2021-11-25 01:32:19 UTC

A Mexican Culture, Which They Adore

Some people enjoy eating chili with their meals. If you don't want to go that far, adding a green or red salsa to your cuisine adds a unique touch to any dish. Mexicans like chili peppers and salsa. Besides, these are some of the most inventive methods of expressing their appreciation. Any meal served to Mexicans requires a dash of spice.

Read more here: Salsa and Mexican Food: Everything You Need to Know-El Pollo Norteño (elpollonorteno.net)

ELOSO, DENZEL LENARD B.

2021-11-25 02:20:56 UTC

Chocolate Festival, Belize
Punta Gorda in Belize attracts visitors from all over the world to celebrate the wonders of chocolate. During the

Chocolate Festival, you can experience chocolate tastings, street fairs, and traditional music, such as Garifuna drumming and Mayan harp performances, are all available throughout May.

Source:
https://www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/travel-inspiration/other/quirky-festivals/

Marquez, Louise Andrei B.

2021-11-25 03:13:42 UTC

The Jamaican Nine Nights Ritual

It is done by many Jamaican as a ritual for the deads to ensure that their spirits will not come back to haunt the living. In the Nine Nights Ritual the friends, family, and other relatives will meet to celebrate the life of the person that passed away. It is normally done lively and fun. It traditionally involves anecdotes, lots of food, music, and plenty of rum. After nine nights the person that passed away will be buried traditionally once the celebration is finished.

References: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.roughguides.com/article/6-fascinating-jamaican-traditions-and-customs/&ved=2ahUKEwj86Kz2vbL0AhWTN5QKHYNpD3sQFnoECAQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1cbENA9bFVCTSD8TPYh_Qs

Cauyan, Jan Andrei T.

andreicauyan04 — 2021-11-25 03:39:28 UTC

This is a typical cultural practice among the Fulani tribe of Nigeria. Fulani is a pastoralist ethnic group that is semi-nomadic. The ritual is known as Sharo and is performed before marriage. It entails the groom being severely beaten by senior members of society. As a result, he gains respect and permission to pursue the wife. The wedding is called off if the guy cannot bear the agony of the whipping. Worse yet, the dowry money is refundable.

Read more on:
https://historyofyesterday.com/the-culture-where-men-get-whipped-to-get-a-wife-aecd7fb69683

SOTALBO, MARIEL GLAIZE A.

2021-11-25 05:27:55 UTC

Parintins Folklore Festival

The Boi-Bumba Festival, also renowned as the Parintins Folklore Festival, is annually celebrated in the state of Amazonas and is Brazil's second-largest festival. It takes place in late June on the verge of the spectacular Amazon River, surrounded by wildlife and lush vegetation. The celebration is primarily based on a re-enactment of the legend of Boi-Bumba, in which an ox is murdered for its tongue to satisfy the desires of a pregnant woman and then unexpectedly revived.

Read more on:
https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/brazil/articles/10-things-to-know-before-visiting-the-festival-do-boi-bumba-in-amazonas/

CALAYAG, FRANCINE U.

2021-11-25 06:09:03 UTC

Cuy, known as the guinea pig, is served nutritiously at Andes Mountains by some Peruvian, Ecuadorian, and Bolivian. These guinea pigs are fed with special diets such as lemongrass and yellow carrots then cooked as a whole from head to toe -just like Lechon in the Philippines- which tastes different like a chicken.

References:
https://matadornetwork.com/nights/weird-things-you-can-eat-in-latin-america/
https://www.machutravelperu.com/blog/what-is-cuy

TESTON, GENMAR R.

2021-11-25 06:48:49 UTC

This celebration is about using a stick and hitting a piñata filled with candies while being blind folded, this tradition has been practiced since the 13th century. This piñata has also religious meanings which represents Satan and there are seven cones in the piñata which represent the seven deadly sins particularly: pride, greed, sloth, gluttony, lust, envy and wrath.

Read more on: https://www.spanishstudio.sg/famous-hispanic-traditions-you-should-celebrate/

Uayan, Niel Khristian T.

2021-11-25 10:51:01 UTC

The red ochre of the Himba

The Himba women of Namibia are known for their gorgeous, red-tinged skin and hair. The tribe's daughters begin using otjize (a handmade mixture of butter, fat, and red ochre) to care for their personal hygiene at a young age. Some claim it serves as sun protection or mosquito repellant, while the Himba tribe claims it serves aesthetic purposes as "basically, a traditional make-up" that they apply every morning in the same manner we would do makeup.

Read more on : https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2668557#:~:text=Red%20ochre%20is%20an%20earth,a%20makeup%20that%20women%20apply.

Sacdalan, Zylle P.

2021-11-26 01:50:42 UTC

Bull Jumping

The Hamar tribe (also known as the Hamer tribe) in Ethiopia has a pretty... athletic initiation rite. The tribe is made up largely of pastoralists who revere and value their cattle.
Bull-jumping is a three-day rite of passage wherein all boys must partake in it. The initiate must walk over 15 castrated bulls that have been rubbed in dung to make their backs slippery. This ritual is done for the dignity of the initiate and his family. In addition, if the boy fails, he has to wait a whole year to try again and if he succeeded, that means he's ready to marry the girl chosen by his parents.

Reference:
https://blog.rhinoafrica.com/2018/08/13/7-amazing-african-tribal-traditions/

MARCOS, MARK JHON R.

markjhonmarcos02 — 2021-11-26 05:51:20 UTC

Weasel-poop coffee: “You want me to drink what now?”

“Weasel-poo Coffee” – also known in Indonesia as Kopi Luwak – is made via a process in which coffee cherries are eaten by an Asian palm civet: a small mammal somewhere between a raccoon, a mongoose and a lively house cat. These furry little creatures eat the cherries, which they partially digest and then excrete. Farmers then recover the beans, thoroughly wash them and continue the coffee roasting process. Sound appealing? Thought so.

When offered a cup of weasel poop coffee, most people can’t be blamed for being a little suspicious, expecting the flavour to be… earthy. But that’s not the case.

Read more on: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/vietnam/articles/the-story-of-vietnamese-weasel-coffee/

BOSEA, JAIRUS KENT, E.

bosealinds — 2021-11-29 00:21:18 UTC

Quinceanera, originating from the two Spanish words "quince (fifteen)" and "anos (years)", us a tradition celebrated in Mexico, Latin America, and the Carribean. This refers to the 15th birthday of a girl's 15th birthday, and is also the term used to refer to the celebrant. to them, a girl's 15th birthday is the passage from girlhood to womanhood. The quinceanera is a religious event emphasizing the importance of family and society of a young woman.

Reference:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/quinceanera

Mary Andrea Salazar

2021-11-29 05:41:53 UTC

In Transkei, the boy in puberty must go through a ceremony called the Khweta Ceremony. During the ceremony, boys of different ages stay in a place called a circumcision lodge. They will remain in seclusion for months under the orders and supervision of a master. During this time, they go through various severe tests that will challenge their endurance limits.

References: A Test of Manhood: The Khweta Circumcision Ceremony of the Transkei - BIDHAAR

Manalo, Bob Rubin A.

rubinmanalo — 2021-12-02 03:45:22 UTC

When ancestors and elders die, the Suku tribe in the Southwestern Congo celebrates them with a ritual held in a woodland clearing. Outsiders and all women are prohibited to visit, although presents and tributes are to be brought there.

References: https://africa-facts.org/african-culture-16-most-interesting-traditions/

Natividad, Cheennee D.

2021-12-11 12:59:57 UTC

The Maasai tribe, found in Kenya and Tanzania, spits as a greeting. Aside from that, when a baby is born, it is common practice for men to spit on him and refer to him as bad. They believe that doing so will keep evil spirits away from the baby. Maasai warriors also spit in their hands before shaking an elder's hand.

https://afrogistmedia.com/8-africas-most-bizarre-cultural-practices-that-you-wont-believe-actually-exists

Alfonso, Leslie Paula, A.

alfonsoleslieap — 2021-12-13 01:14:01 UTC

The Annual Gerewol Festival; Courtship Ritual and Beauty Contests of the Wodaabe in Chad

The Wodaabe aka "Mbororo" are a small subgroup of Fulani that are famous with their annual festival that showcase their lavish beauty contest and courtship rituals that consists of dance, chants, outfit, and make-ups to attract a potential love mate. These beauty contestants are young and handsome malesand their judges are young and beautiful females who assess the men on their charms, dancing skills, stamina, and appearance anf after the picking, it may remain on playful flirtation that also could turn to serious marriage and there will be no social stigma attacheed because the virginity of young women are not a major concern of the Woodabe.

Read more on: https://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/travel/articles/chad-wodaabe-ritual-beauty-contests.shtml

TORIO, CHRISTIAN PAOLO F.

toriochristianpaolo — 2022-02-06 12:19:08 UTC

A sacrificial midwinter festival celebrated in Iceland. Like many other traditions, this custom is connected with food. In this feast, people eat old traditional Icelandic foods such as sheepheads, fermented sharks, and sour testicles. Being able to consume these types of food is considered to be a sign of strength in the modern Icelandic culture.

Sources:
https://understandiceland.is/thorrablot-mid-winter-festival/
https://www.esn.org/blog/7-weird-customs-across-europe-you-may-have-never-heard-about

Avanzado, Steven Rint

stevenavanzado26 — 2022-02-06 12:28:14 UTC

SETSUBUN

To fend off evil spirits that bring calamity, misfortune, and bad health, Setsubun involves a lot of bean eating and bean hurling, and it commemorates the end of winter.

It is commemorated in the United States, and there are some interesting public festivities at temples that are worth seeing.

Despite the fact that many overseas tourists are still unfamiliar with the event, studying about it can help you have a better understanding of Japanese culture and appreciate it more.

BAÑAGALE, FAVIOS YLLACK, B.

fbanagale — 2022-02-06 12:28:40 UTC

In the city of Medellín, Colombia celebrates its annual flower festival in August. During the Desfile de Silleteros (Flower Grower's Parade), local famers and growers make beautiful parade floats and installations made from fresh flowers, filling the city with the lovely fragrances and colors. The festival, which is held for a week, is not about only about flowers, but also has musical performances, as well as sporting and cultural events. In 1957, the country's first flower festival was organized exclusively for Colombians. Since then, the event has increased in popularity and welcomes visitors from all over the world each year to see the country's blossoming beauty.

GESMUNDO, GIOVANNI PAOLO G.

giogesmundo19 — 2022-02-06 12:32:40 UTC

For Babies in India, a 30-Foot Plunge for Good Luck

Some families in rural India — both Hindus and Muslims — are willing to let their babies be tossed off the roof of a shrine, to be caught in a stretched bedsheet about 30 feet below. Legend has it that a saint advised people whose babies were dying to build a shrine and drop the ailing infants from the roof to show their trust in the almighty. From then on, prayers for the birth of a healthy baby in the region have included a promise to toss the baby as an offering to the god who granted the prayers. Villagers believe that the ritual brings the child long life and good luck, and maintain that it does no harm.

Read more:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/29/world/what-in-the-world/for-babies-in-india-a-30-foot-plunge-for-good-luck.html

ALCANTARA, MARIAN KRISTEL, A.

mariankristel25 — 2022-02-06 12:42:08 UTC

In the course of the burial ceremony of a tribe member, the body of the departed is necessary to be washed and their corpse is brought to a sacred place where the cleansing is performed by slitting the throat and putting water inside the body of the deceased. The water will be squeezed out of their dead body until it becomes clean and that water is collected to be used for the preparation of the whole community's meal.

https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/7-strange-traditions-across-africa/s5qc326

ALOG, LANCE GABRIELLE L.

2022-02-06 12:43:08 UTC

In Bhutan there is a form of rural courtship called "Night Hunting", it is a tradition where single men would sneak into houses of single girls in order to have intercourse.

The idea was to give the girl the right to choose her partner, so if a man is interested in a girl he would persuade her to have intercourse and if the girl gave her consent it could lead to marriage, but if not he would get chased out.

Read more on:
https://historyofyesterday.com/the-culture-where-men-break-into-girls-rooms-leaving-them-vulnerable-to-sexual-abuse-95eaa3b98ae3

VERANG, JOHN GABRIEL D.

johnverang27 — 2022-02-06 12:55:35 UTC

The Wife Stealing Festival is done by the Wodaabe Tribe in Niger, West Africa. In the tribe, men are contracted to women for marriage in infancy and the women can have as many sexual partners as they want before marriage. The purpose of the festival is for the men to impress the wives of other men through elaborate dresses, make-ups and beauty pageants. The men's make-up takes 6 hours and is mainly focused to accentuate the whiteness of the eyes, firm bridge of the nose, and whitening of the teeth

Source:
https://guardian.ng/life/the-wodaabe-wife-stealing-festival/

TICZON, JANCEL ANDREI E.

ticzon00 — 2022-02-06 13:55:17 UTC

Breast Ironing Tradition in Cameroon

From the ethnic groups in Cameroon lies a 50-year old tradition that is done to decrease pregnancy rates, help children complete their studies, better women's breast milk, and prevent breast cancer. It is a tradition where a mother of a young women monitors and deters breast development of their child, as young as 9 years old, by pounding hot objects on their child's breasts using stone, hammer, umbilical belt, and others. By doing this, women's breasts become small, flattened, and unattractive to men which may stop them from copulating a woman due to their appearance.

More information here:
https://guardian.ng/life/bizarre-african-tradition-where-girls-are-exploited/

VILLAPANDO, HEINRIANNE GAYDEL M.

2022-02-06 13:57:56 UTC

Scarification is the act of incising the skin with a sharp tool, such as a knife, a glass, a stone, or a coconut shell, to regulate the shape of scar tissue on the body's various portions. The primary goal of African scarification is to beautify, though scars of a particular type, size, and location on the body frequently indicate group identity or stages in a person's life.

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/body-marks-make-up-in-traditional-kenyan-communities/kQKyegfzRa0qKA

CUS, JOHN BRAYL M.

2022-02-06 14:30:48 UTC

Yamayaki Festival in Japan
Yamayaki is an event that sets fire to Mount Wakakusa. The flame engulfs the entire mountain, and then rises up into the night sky. There are many supposed theories as to how the Yamayaki began. Some say that the grassy hills were set on fire in order to commemorate their ancestors, while others say that the burning began as a way to encourage new growth for plant life. It is an important festival that signals the beginning of a brand new year, inviting the spring season to the city of Nara.
Read more on: https://ohmatsuri.com/en/articles/nara-wakakusayama-yamayaki

POLICARPIO, ZAN EROS C.

zaneroscpolicarpio — 2022-02-06 15:13:48 UTC

Being one of the most representative religious events in Taiwan and ranked as to be the third largest folk celebration in the world, the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival is known for its extremely dangerous fireworks festival as rockets were fired directly into the crowd. Locals believe that the more times they are hit with rockets, the luckier they will be throughout the year.

PUNTANAR, RENZO IVAN

puntanarrenzo — 2022-02-06 16:24:33 UTC

Fasnacht - Helvetia, West Virginia

This seemingly weird tradition was started by German-Swiss immigrants that came from Switzerland. This tradition occurs in the period before Ash Wednesday. The occasion is composed of wearing masks and decorating their house with scary figures. The purpose of this notion is to scare the "Old Man Winter" (an effigy figure disliked, and it is also the embodiment of winter). They dance and enjoy the festival merrily

After, they dance and enjoy the festival merrily. Fasnacht's main event will commence at midnight. It is announced that it is time to cut the rope of Old Man Winter, which is tied up in the ceiling in Helvetia Community hall. Once the cord is cut, the figure is taken outside, paraded, beaten down, and finally thrown in the bonfire, symbolizing the shortening of winter.

References:

https://www.americaslibrary.gov/es/wv/es_wv_fasncht_1.html
https://wvtourism.com/event/fasnacht/

ARPON, JERICHO A.

arponjericho18 — 2022-02-06 17:06:55 UTC

Annually, in Portland, Oregon, the Naked Bike Ride is being celebrated by thousands of participants from all around the world. The riders strip and ride their bikes to promote cyclist safety and fight the use of oil for traveling. Also, the motto of the event "bare as you dare", encourages the participants to dress based on their comfort promoting body positivity.

Read more on:
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/05/us/naked-bike-ride-portland-coronavirus-trnd/index.html

https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2018/11/world_naked_bike_ride_announce_4.html

SANTURANTICUY CUSCO CHRISTMAS MARKET

zeiramirez14 — 2022-02-07 02:35:16 UTC

The days before Christmas in Cusco are filled with equal parts excitement, holiday cheer…and crafts projects! Santuranticuy Cusco Christmas Market, one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Peru, is a temporary Christmas market that takes place every year in the Plaza de Armas.
The name “Santuranticuy” translates to “saints for sale,” which is fitting given that its primary function is for sculptors and craftsmen sell diverse figurines to brighten holiday displays. By tradition, the people of Cusco make their own nativity scenes for their homes and parishes.
Santuranticuy Christmas Market serves as the crafts store for these annual DIY projects. Cusqueños come to buy the raw materials, from moss for the grass to figurines of the most popular characters in the nativity scene. The most renowned and popular figurines are the various “Niños Manuelitos,” the Andean version of baby Jesus.

Sources:https://www.aracari.com/blog/luxury-travel-peru/santuranticuy-cusco-christmas-market/#:~:text=Local%20Festivals%20in%20Peru%3A%20Santuranticuy,Peru%2C%20particularly%20Pucar%C3%A1%20and%20Quinua.

SUÑEGA, RALPH ALLYSON M.

2022-02-07 02:54:46 UTC

With masked ensembles from Portugal and Spain, this celebration was staged in the streets of the Pombaline Downtown. Over the course of four days, this major festival gathers diverse facets of popular culture around the usage of masks in ancestral ceremonies; an explosion of color, popular art, music, gastronomy, and historical and culturally significant handicrafts.

Read more on:
https://getlisbon.com/events/iberian-mask-in-lisbon/

ALMARIO, DENISE CHLOE B.

2022-02-07 03:09:49 UTC

In Nevada's Black Rock Desert, Burning Man is an annual, nine-day gathering that spans from the last Sunday in August to the first Monday in September (Labor Day). The Burning Man experience is enriched by unconventional forms of self-expression such as light or fire performance art, naked body painting, and the fabrication of "Mutant vehicles". Despite the fact that it is commonly referred to as a hippie festival, the actual soul of the festival is the people's community and their connection, which brings everything together to build the festival from the ground up.

Read more on:
[1] https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/Burning-Man
[2] https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-burning-man-theme-tickets-dates-outfits-2018-8#where-does-burning-man-take-place-3

MALICAD, AIDAN MAINER L.

2022-02-07 03:17:12 UTC

Las Mañanitas

It is a famous traditional birthday song in Mexico, but also in Latin America. Usually, you sing this song early in the morning before the person wakes up, or just before eating the birthday cake. In Colombia, Las mañanitas is sung during Fiesta Quinceañera. You can find lots of different versions of this song, but the mariachi performance is the most popular one.

https://www.spanishstudio.sg/famous-hispanic-traditions-you-should-celebrate/

DE GUZMAN, THEODORE JOHN A.

2022-02-07 04:55:52 UTC

La Tomatina is a food fight festival held annually on the last Wednesday of August in the town of Bunol (historic) near Valencia, Spain. Thousands of people from all over the world arrive to fight in this "world's biggest food war," where hundreds of metric tons of ripe tomatoes are dumped on the streets.

Read more on:
https://www.latomatinatours.com/#:~:text=La%20Tomatina%20is%20a%20food,near%20to%20Valencia%20in%20Spain.

BALLARDA, AUDREY ROSE E.

2022-02-07 05:03:16 UTC

This bizarre tradition of the Mayans at Todos Santos, Guatemala dates back to when the Spaniard conquerors forbade them to drink during the 17th century, they did this tradition as a protest to them. The participants drink Quetzalteca (a Guatemalan liquor) the night before the race, preparing themselves for the Skach Koyl the next day.

Read more about this tradition:
https://www.odditycentral.com/animals/skach-koyl-guatemalas-unique-drunk-horse-riding-race.html
https://talarablackwood.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/skach-koyl-mayan-tradition-of-drunken-horse-racing/

Ricamara, Jahren D.

jahrenricamara — 2022-02-07 10:57:36 UTC

An historic shrine known as Konomiya Shrine draws thousands of warmly dressed visitors every February to watch thousands of naked men perform the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival. Inazawa's Konomiya Naked Festival, which has been conducted yearly since 767 to provide invocations to remove evil spirits and disease, drive out bad luck, and welcome in the good, is one of the biggest, oldest, and most well-known celebrations in the country.

Read more on :
https://www.aichi-now.jp/en/spots/detail/229/

MIA, RACHEL LOVE ANNE R.

2022-02-07 13:28:31 UTC

There are a lot of bizarre cultures found in Japan, such as the Naki Sumo Mitsuri or also known as the Crying Baby Festival. It is usually held in April or May every year at the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo. This festival is a baby crying competition, it involves two sumo wrestlers holding a baby. After that, the referee puts on a scary mask to make the babies cry. The winner is determined by who can cry the loudest and longest. This tradition is about 400 years old and is said to keep the newborns healthy.

Read more on:
Craziest Festivals in Japan (japan-mobility.com)

Bizarre Japanese Traditions You Won’t Believe Are Real - Klook Travel BlogKlook Travel

BAGON, MICHAELA LAINEY C.

bagonlainey — 2022-02-08 06:54:18 UTC

The Presidential Turkey Pardon is an annual Thanksgiving Ritual in which a turkey given to US Presidents is given a "pardon" and returned to a farm to live out the rest of their lives---albeit not very long ones, as turkeys bred to be eaten often die prematurely within the following year. Although the beginning of this ritual is often incorrectly attributed to US President Harry Truman, the first president to spare the life of a thanksgiving turkey is John F. Kennedy, and George H.W. Bush was the one who made it a permanent part of the ceremony.

Further reading:
Weird America: 9 Of The USA's Most Bizarre Traditions | Rough Guides
A Brief History of the Presidential Turkey Pardon - HISTORY

Co, Althea Honeyree C.

theareeco19 — 2022-02-08 14:20:31 UTC

In the vast city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, thousands of people visit Laguna las Lavanderas every year in celebration of the biggest and most important traditional folklore festival in the region—The Fiesta de La Patria Gaucha.

The foundation of the festival dated back in the late 1980s in honor of the gaucho known to be skilled horsemen recognized for their bravery and unruliness that lived in the countryside of Uruguay, Argentina, and the south of Brazil. Annually, people gather in crowds during the month of March to celebrate the event for five days. Furthermore, the event usually comes with traditional dances, music, galleries, exhibitions, parades, and many more to make everything more lively and festive.

READ MORE:
https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/uruguay/articles/fiesta-de-la-patria-gaucha-what-to-know-about-uruguays-biggest-gaucho-festival/

https://dare2go.com/important-gaucho-festival-uruguay/

BAYACAL, RONIN JOHN B.

2022-02-08 14:25:11 UTC

The Puck Fair, also known as "Fair of the He-Goat" is one of Ireland's oldest fairs. It takes place annually from August 10 to 12 in the small town of Killorglin.

Every year a group of people go up into the mountains and catch a wild goat who is brought back to the town and the "Queen of Puck", traditionally a young schoolgirl from one of the local primary schools, crowns the goat "King Puck".

Learn more in: https://puckfair.ie/
They have an official website!

SACDALAN, LANCE GABRIEL S.

2022-02-08 18:50:12 UTC

NOT A PRETTY DISH, BUT PACKS A PUNCH.

There's nothing Bolivians enjoy more than a bowl of soup on a Sunday Morning.

The true breakfast of champions; this delicacy is said to be a natural viagra and the predominant cure for hangovers. Enjoyed in Bolivia, the Caldo de Cardan is a widely-known soup dish with bull penis and testicles as the main ingredients. Somehow unbelievable but locals consider this soup as the #1 hangover-cure and stamina-booster. Also, considered to give an aphrodisiac effect and is believed to be the most natural cure of Bolivian impotence.

The bull genital stew is a culinary challenge in Latin America as this takes almost 10-16 hours of cooking together with lam rib, chicken breast, hard-boiled egg, potatoes, rice, and Bolivian beef jerky.

Bolivians swear that experiencing the flavorful taste of this dish will never be regretted as this dish is the thing people never knew wanted in Latin America exploration.

READ MORE

https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/caldo-de-cardan
https://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/2018/08/food-south-america/
https://www.culinaryschools.org/blog/caldo-de-cardan-bolivian-bull-penis/
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Bolivias-Bull-Penis-Soup-Soars-in-Popularity-20151113-0020.html
https://www.vice.com/en/article/8qkvqg/bull-penis-soup-is-the-national-hangover-cure-of-bolivia

Carnaval de Oruro

2022-02-09 03:35:56 UTC

The largest carnival celebration in Bolivia, the Oruro Carnival is a relatively unknown, yet extremely colorful festival. The festival, over 200 years old, honors the Virgin of the Mineshaft, in one of Bolivia’s traditional mining towns. The Oruro Carnival features colorful and elaborate costumes, decorated statues of the Virgin of the Mineshaft, big brass bands, and beautiful processions. One parade, Diablada (Dance of the Devils) showcases 20,000 dancers and 10,000 musicians in extravagant costumes. This large, colorful, and somewhat crazy celebration of Oruro Carnival is not to be missed.

Jairuz Oscar Raymundo
https://letsgo.citysurfing.com/experiences/2czspuebn8jhmdwhvvga63un51doim-wgwtn-ls7d8

Danila, Rigil Kent F.

2022-02-09 06:45:32 UTC

In Taiwan, Buddhism is one of the most major religion among it's population. In Buddhism, reincarnation or to live another life after death is part of it. So when it comes to funeral traditions, a rite is involved where these bank notes are burnt, although they are non-legal tender bills. These "hell bank notes" has an image the Jade Emperor, the presiding monarch of heaven in Taoism, on it's side. The belief is that the the burning of these notes gives the spirit sufficient spending money in the underworld or in the afterlife.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_money

LIMBO, RICKA KAZANDRA A.

2022-02-09 15:39:44 UTC

Tribe of Swazis, also known as the Swati, are a Bantu-speaking tribe that lives in Swaziland and South-East Africa. The Swazi reed-dance, which lasts eight days, is a unique feature of their culture. The goal of the dance is to honor the queen while also preserving the innocence of the single ladies. The Swati tribe has other ritual dances, such as the rain dance, in addition to the reed dance. The Swazi tribesmen are often referred to as the "royal dance tribe."

Furthermore, other traditional ceremonies, healing rituals, and religious beliefs have been maintained by this African tribe. The Swazi tribe is also known for its clothing, which comes in various styles for various age groups and genders. Boys aged 3 to 8 years old, for example, wear a piece of leather, while girls of the same age wear a grass skirt or a portion of a cloth with a beaded necklace. Unmarried women wear a fabric dress with their hair pulled back into a bun, while men wear a leather loin with bead ornaments.

Read more on:
[1] https://www.thekingdomofeswatini.com/eswatini-experiences/events/umhlanga-reed-dance/
[2] https://www.britannica.com/place/Eswatini/Cultural-life#ref480824

MAGO, KENAIZA LILA O.

2022-02-09 17:48:49 UTC

On every Saturday of the Easter week, the people of Corfu, Greece toss clay of pots filled with water out of their windows and balconies therefore creating noise crashes on the streets. Local people hold that this tradition helps repulse bad spirits and bad luck. In addition, this custom is also believed to symbolize the divine striking down of enemies and be able to make a fresh start.

At 11:00 in the morning, the bells announce the Morning Resurrection in which this custom is celebrated. Bands will play music along with traditional dancers including thousands of people yelling, "He has truly risen."

VILLANUEVA, KATE IRISH P.

2022-02-10 09:59:19 UTC

CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL IN TOLEDO, BELIZE

Happening every year around the third week of May is the Chocolate Festival in Toledo, Belize. Tourists are given the chance to try the chocolate delights, find out what’s new in the world of chocolate making, and buy chocolates and chocolate-related souvenirs.

Gordo, Christian Kyle, T.

2022-02-11 08:33:50 UTC

Tibet is known as the "Roof of the World", an autonomous region in China known for its mountainous terrain with very high altitudes. They have a unique way of burials, of honoring the departed's last moments. Most people would consider burials underground, cremation, or even a dead man's boat as it was the burial method of the vikings in history. But here in Tibet, they have what is called the "Sky Burial", where they lay the bodies on the mountain for the vultures to eat them, as a form of compassion in Tibetan Buddhism, for they believe that even in death, they must end with an act of compassion with nature.

https://www.thelivingurn.com/blogs/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-tibetan-sky-burial