From tomato fights to waking up after a cold swim: 5 most unusual holidays around the world
Every country has its own unique traditions, but some are definitely weirder than others. I have selected 5 unusual holidays celebrated in different countries and ranked them based on how interesting they are. Let’s see which one would surprise you the most!
1. Spain, Buñol
India has the Festival of Colors, Thailand has the Water Festival, but Spain has La Tomatina. Unlike other national festivals, it takes place exclusively in the town of Buñol, which organizes the event on the last Wednesday of August every year. It’s literally a food fight and every year they throw around 150, 000 kilograms of tomatoes. A lot, right?
As we used to have pillow fights in our childhood, here, in the town of Buñol people throw overripe tomatoes at each other just for fun. This chaotic festival fosters community spirit, camaraderie, and releases stress.
So, would you be down to attend this fest?
2. Mexico, Oaxaca
While the majority carves scary expressions from the pumpkins on Halloween, Oaxacans carve radishes before Christmas. Have you ever heard of that? Locals of the city of Oaxaca celebrate Noche de Rábanos what translates to Night of Radishes on 23 December. It’s a unique festival when artisans and local families carve different figures from giant radishes that they grew specially for it. They compete for different prizes such as cash. Competitors represent their city’s culture, nativity scenes, historical and legendary figures.
It all started back in 1897 when vendors used carved radishes as a marketing strategy to attract attention during the Christmas market.
3. Poland
Fat Thursday. Yes, you read it correctly fat. Sounds interesting, right? I have been visiting Poland for so many years and never heard about this day. But here they celebrate a day called Fat Thursday (last Thursday before the Lent) when Polish people eat sweets and donuts, usually Pączki and Faworki. Polish people eat around 100 million donuts on this day each year.
They consider it a “no-diet” on which, they forget about calories and healthy eating. Polish believe that eating at least one donut will bring you good luck for the upcoming year. So, next year don’t forget to eat “Bite of heaven”.
4. South Korea
Didn’t get a present on 14 February? Don’t get upset! April 14 is Singles’ day, also known as Black Day. In South Korea single people who didn’t receive any gifts on Valentine Day wear black and eat black sauce noodles.
Fun fact, Koreans have two different Valentine days for males and females. Ordinary Valentine Day 14 February is for females to give gifts to males.14 March called White Day is for males to give gifts to females. And there is Black Day on which Koreans celebrate their singles status, gather with friends, families and laugh about their situation.
5. Finland
Let’s admit that every one of us likes sleeping and sometimes we want to spend all day in bed. In Finland it’s better not to be the last person to wake up, because on 27 July you can be thrown into lake or sea or doused with water.
It’s called National Sleepy Head Day (Unikeonpäivä). The purpose of this odd tradition is simple – to avoid laziness for the year.
So, if you are in Finland that day, it’s better for you to wake up early. Unless you want a cold morning swim! Speaking of which, are you a long sleeper?
Author: Olivija Pagiryte
Featured image: flydime/ Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 2.0
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