The world is a great, big, beautiful place. However, it can also be a very strange place. Strange doesn’t have to mean bad though. Strange can also be weird and wonderful! Cool and quirky traditions often get taken to the next level in the form of unusual events, festivals and even competitions. Attending one of these events can give you a fascinating insight into little-known parts of other cultures. Or, it can just be a ton of good, old-fashioned fun!
Expat Explore has rounded up some of the world’s coolest and quirkiest festivals to attend throughout the year. Discover some intriguing global customs and traditions by reading below. Or, take it to the next level and attend one of these festivals yourself!
1. La Tomatina, Spain
Spain is no stranger to bizarre festivals and rituals. Whether it’s giant puppets or human towers, you’ll find it in Spain. It’s hard to pick a favourite Spanish fiesta but the strangest has to be La Tomatina. Ok, this may be debatable but throwing tomatoes at each other just for fun is pretty unique! Taking place annually in the Valencian town of Buñol, this giant food fight has been an official celebration since 1957!
Related: Learn more about La Tomatina and discover more fabulous Spanish fiestas!
2. The Battle of the Oranges, Italy
Similarly, the Battle of the Oranges is another epic food fight which forms part of the bigger Carnival of Ivrea in northern Italy. The battle represents the city’s liberation from a 12th-century tyrant. Thousands of locals are divided into nine teams who, you guessed it, throw oranges at each other! Originally, beans were thrown. Then, apples and since the late 19th century, oranges!
Related: Here are some more Italian events not to be missed!
3. International Hair Freezing Contest, Canada
If the thought of going outside on a cold day with wet hair gives you the chills (literally), then this competition might not be for you! The International Hair Freezing Contest takes place every year in the Takhini Hot Springs in Yukon, Canada. Entrants can visit the hot springs any time between December and March but only when the temperature is below 20℃! Contestants get into the water, wet their hair, sculpt it and then let it freeze. The winner (whoever has the most creative frozen hair) gets $2,000!
Related: Explore the Eastern USA and Canada on this unforgettable tour.
4. Cheese-Rolling, United Kingdom
Who doesn’t love cheese? Well, eating cheese is always enjoyable but running to catch a 4kg wheel of Double Gloucester cheese rolling at 110 km an hour may not be an ideal way to spend a public holiday! The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake has become something of a legend. Every year on the Spring Bank Holiday, participants from all over the world race down the 180 m hill, chasing after a big ball of cheese. The main prize is the cheese itself! However, this contest is not for the faint of heart. Injuries often occur due to the steep and uneven nature of the hill. Even onlookers need to watch out for the heavy and speedy cheese as it comes towards the crowd!
Related: Discover some more of Britain’s quirkiest traditions!
5. Wife Carrying World Championship, Finland
Obstacle races are a fantastic way to challenge one’s fitness and endurance. The Finns found a way to make these races even more challenging… and bizarre! Eukonkanto (wife-carrying) is a contest where male participants navigate an obstacle course with a female partner on their back. The “wife” does not necessarily have to be their own, she can be his neighbour’s wife or a friend! There are some rules, however. She must be over 17 years old and weigh over 49 kg (if she weighs less, she will be given a backpack with extra weight).
While wife-carrying contests have actually taken place all over the world, the World Championships have taken place in Sonkajärvi, Finland since 1992. The prize is the wife’s weight in beer!
6. Burning Man, USA
This next entry is probably the most well-known and popular out of all the quirky festivals. This epic nine-day celebration of art, community and self-expression is on the bucket list of many free spirits and adventurous travellers around the world. Located in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, Burning Man is more of a temporary city than an event. Attendees build and display their own artworks, organise their own activities and conduct their own performances. No cash is allowed at the festival; attendees are encouraged to barter and gift goods. The Man, a towering wooden sculpture, is the official icon of the festival which is ultimately burnt down in a mesmerising spectacle.
Related: Don’t forget to add these top American festivals to your calendar!
7. Cheung Chau Bun Festival, Hong Kong
Another bizarrely fascinating festival revolving around food, the Cheung Chau Bun festival is the only food festival on this list to hold religious significance. It is a Taoist sacrificial ceremony originally performed by fishing communities to pray for safety from pirates. Today, it is an exciting celebration of Chinese tradition.
The festival takes place either in April or May (depending on the lunar calendar) and lasts around a week. The entire island of Cheung Chau will go vegetarian for this week and colourful parades will take place. The most important (and quirky) part of the festival, however, is the bun snatching! Three giant bamboo towers are covered with buns. Young men will race up these “bun mountains” to grab the highest bun. According to tradition – the higher the bun, the better the fortune!
8. Kanamara Matsuri, Japan
Japan has its fair share of awe-inspiring festivals or matsuri, most of which showcase ancient Japanese traditions. This is not the case for Kanamara Matsuri! Its name translates to the “festival of the steel phallus” and phallic objects are certainly abundant in the form of decorations, souvenirs and candy! The festival is very light-hearted in nature and raises funds for HIV research. It also gives Japan’s LGBTQ community a chance to celebrate safely and loudly in a generally very conservative country.
Related: Along with Kanamara Matsuri, be sure to experience these top Japanese festivals.
8. World Bodypainting Festival, Austria
Bodypainting is a truly impressive art form which uses the human body as a canvas. Models are painted and airbrushed to appear as if they are wearing costumes. Apparently, the paint is actually as thick as a light sweater! The results are astounding with models often looking completely otherworldly. Since 1998, Austria has celebrated the top body paint artists with the World Bodypainting Festival in the state of Carinthia. The festival is family-friendly and ends with a paint party!
The world is full of weird and wonderful things to experience! Discover even more quirky events and traditions when you embark on a tour with Expat Explore. Have a look at our multi-country tours or check out our upcoming departures.