JoGuru lists top 10 weirdest world festivals of 2014
(PRWEB UK) 29 April 2014 -- What comes to mind with the word ‘festival’? Take a moment and imagine because all the ideas about festivals are about to change.
Festivals are essentially a reason for people to come together and celebrate; in the company of friends, family, neighbours and perhaps the local deity.Whacky, hilarious and some downright insane, some festivals really do push the envelope when it comes down to weirdness.
1. FESTIVAL OF WITCHES- CATEMACO,MEXICO
Don’t believe in witches? Then dare to head to the small town of Catemaco in Mexico on the first Thursday of March. Hundreds of self-taught and self-proclaimed witches, shamans and healers come together for a cleansing ritual every year, since 1970. Look out for magical brooms!
2. MOOSE DROPPING FESTIVAL-TALKEETNA, ALASKA
One wonders how this festival came about. Did a bunch of people wake up one day and decide to drop moose dung on each other for recreation? Well, whatever the reasons for this strange Alaskan tradition that takes place in July, the results are hilarious for spectators. Watch out for moose droppings from the sky! For those who like what is seen, take back a moose dung souvenir!
3. FROG FESTIVAL-RAYNE, LOUISIANA
Nowhere else in the world do frogs feel as special as they do on Labor Day weekend in Rayne. Tens of thousands of frog-fans gather together and celebrate these four-legged creatures by way of concerts, races, rides, etc. They also relish dishes made out of frogs! Satirical and ironic for the frogs but delectable for humans!
4. COOPER’S HILL ANNUAL CHEESE ROLLING FESTIVAL-GLOUCESTER,ENGLAND
It’s a cheesy world, quite literally. The annual cheese rolling festival held in Gloucester England in July is a one of a kind gathering of people that can turn pretty nasty over a blob of cheese! Hundreds of people risk their lives tumbling and tossing down the hill after a huge case of cheese that almost inevitably wins the race. Busy day for the paramedics!
5. NEAR DEATH FESTIVAL-‘FIESTA DE SANTA MARTA DE RIBERTEME’-LES NIEVES,SPAIN
Isn’t it paradoxical when people who have had a near-death experience willingly lay themselves in a coffin? Apparently not in this Near Death festival that takes place every year on 29th July. The festival celebrates the patron saint of resurrection with a parade that is participated by hundreds of people. Don’t be creeped with the sight of open coffins in the parade with bodies that are still alive and kicking!
6. NAKI SUMO- TOKYO, JAPAN
What comes in the mind when people talk about sumo wrestlers? Fierce giants with gritty faces? Picture this; two incorrigibly obese men holding tiny babies in their humungous hands, trying to scare their opponent’s baby into crying. The Naki Sumo festival held in April is just this. Maybe, just maybe ... the babies are crying because of laughing too hard!
7. BABY JUMPING FESTIVAL-CASTRILLO DE MURCIA,SPAIN
This festival is probably based on people's worst nightmare about the babies. Grown men dressed as devils jump over babies in this sleepy (but creepy!) town in the month of May/June. This practice supposedly wards off evil and sin from your baby. Whatever happened to good old baptism?
8. GOAT TOSSING FESTIVAL- MANGANESES DE LA POLVOROSA, SPAIN.
This festival that takes place as a precursor to the annual fiesta of San Vicente de Martir, is a sort of unwarranted adventure sport for goats. Every year, young citizens of the Manganeses town throw a (not-so lucky) goat down the church belfry at onlookers that try to catch the falling goat. The goat that survives the biggest shock of his life becomes a local hero and is paraded around town. Tough world for goats, eh?
9. TUNARAMA: PORT LINCOLN, AUSTRALIA
Remember when Tuna fish was considered a good catch? Well here in Australia, Tuna fish is thrown as a sport but there’s no one to catch! Every year in January, Port Lincoln hosts a festival to celebrate the only food it knows best; Tuna! The highlight of the festival is the Tuna Toss where the person who throws their fish the furthest is considered a winner.
10. BORYEONG MUD FESTIVAL : BORYEONG, SOUTH KOREA
South Koreans have a strange way of letting their hair down! They love to roll around in mud once a year at the mud festival held at Boryeong. A mud fight might be quite a fun way to spend your day but getting yourself rid of the muck afterwards could be a pain!
With life getting more and more complex and people getting wackier, festivals such as these are a culmination of crazy ideas to escape routine. Tinie Tempah has said it right “People discover you at festivals. Hey come to see Coldplay or who ever, and then wander over and catch your act. Festivals make a lot of sense to me.” Does it make sense to all?
Praveen Kumar, JoGuru Social Network LLP, http://www.joguru.com, +91 8380079100, [email protected]
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