Strange But True Traditions and Festivals in The World

One of the most amazing things about travelling is experiencing different cultures. What we consider strange or downright scary may be absolutely normal in a different part of the world. Some of them are stranger than others. In this article is a compiled list of the five strangest traditions and festivals in the world.

Bullet ant glove initiation ritual, BrazilBoys of the Sateré-Mawé tribe in the Amazon rain-forest of Brazil have to go through a very painful ritual in order to become men. They have to endure numerous stings of the most excruciating pain from the bullet ant. For the ritual, hundreds of sedated ants are woven into gloves out of leaves then once the ants regain consciousness, the boy places his hands inside and endures ten minutes of incredible pain. Once the gloves are off, the hands remain paralyzed for hours and the pain will continue for at least 24 hours. Every boy has to go through the ritual 20 times over the course of several months in order to become a man.
El Colacho baby jumping festival, SpainThis tradition happens every year during the Corpus Christi celebration in the town of Castrillo de Murcia. Mothers bring their new-born babies into town and lay them on mattresses in the street. Then Men dressed like devils, called Colachos, are seen jumping over the babies. It is said that the souls of the babies will be cleansed and freed from the original sin. The festival has been held since the 1620s and, according to locals, no baby has ever been hurt.
Jertik, milk-spitting wedding tradition, SudanThe Sudanese wedding tends to last longer than the average wedding. It is a long list of seven and one of the seven Sudanese wedding ceremonies is called Jertik. The bride and the groom will sit on a stage while the mothers and grandmothers cover their faces in spiritual spices for good luck. Afterwards, the newlyweds then begin spitting milk at each other’s’ faces. Some say that whoever spits the milk out the furthest will be the stronger, more dominant part of the couple. Others are convinced that it symbolizes the couple’s devotion and love for each other.
Ma’Nene, the festival of the departed, IndonesiaEvery year in August, the streets of Tana Toraia is filled up with the walking dead. It is said that people exhume their loved ones, clean their bodies and dress them up according to the latest fashion. The bodies are later walked around the village during the festival. Through the festival, families say they can strengthen their bond with the dead relative while remembering and celebrating their life.

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