10 Bizarre Rituals Around the World

Think your family reunions are awkward? Hold my metaphorical plate of mystery meat!

Let’s take a trip around the globe and peek into some seriously bizarre rituals that will make your grandma’s fruitcake seem downright normal.

Bizarre Rituals From Across the Globe

1. Marrying a Tree in India

In some parts of India, astrology plays a significant role in marriage prospects. For instance, those born under the influence of Mars in the “Mangala dosha” constellation are considered unlucky in marriage. To address this perceived misfortune, some families arrange a symbolic wedding ceremony for the “Mangalik” (unlucky) individual, with a tree or even an object as the “spouse.”

This union is believed to appease the stars and pave the way for marriage with a real person later.

2. Devil’s Jump in Spain

Nestled in the heart of Spain lies the town of Castrillo de Murcia, where a curious ritual called “El Salto del Colacho” (Devil’s Jump) takes place every year. Specifically, on the first Sunday after Corpus Christi, the town welcomes newborns in an unorthodox way.

Men dressed in red and yellow devil costumes, complete with whips and giant castanets, become the central characters. When the “Caballeros” signal the start, these “devils” race through the main street, over mattresses laid out with babies. Remarkably, this seemingly outlandish practice is believed to cleanse the infants of original sin, offering them protection from evil spirits.

3. Dancing With the Bones in Madagascar

The Malagasy people of Madagascar celebrate their ancestors with a unique and vibrant tradition known as Famadihana, which translates to “turning of the bones.”

Every few years, families gather to exhume the remains of their deceased loved ones. During the ceremony, they carefully clean the bones and wrap them in fresh cloth, even inscribing the deceased’s name on the cloth to ensure their memory is not forgotten. Ultimately, this ritual serves as a powerful way for the living to reconnect with their ancestors.

4. Blackening the Bride in Scotland

While pre-wedding jitters are a universal phenomenon, Scotland offers a rather unorthodox way to address them. In some parts of the country, a tradition known as “blackening the bride” unfolds before the wedding ceremony.

The bride-to-be is showered with a concoction of ingredients like flour, eggs, and molasses, leaving her covered head to toe. This bizarre custom is believed to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, preparing the bride for marriage.

5. Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand

The town of Lopburi in Thailand pays homage to its resident monkey population in a truly unique way. The “Monkey Buffet Festival” involves setting up elaborate displays of fruits, vegetables, and sweets, transforming the town center into a veritable feast for the monkeys.

Locals believe that honoring the monkeys, considered to be bringers of good luck, will usher in prosperity for the entire community.

6. La Tomatina: The Great Tomato Battle of Spain

Spain is home to another bizarre ritual yet exhilarating tradition – La Tomatina, held in the town of Buñol. Every year, on the last Wednesday of August, the town erupts in a massive tomato fight.

Participants, armed with overripe tomatoes, hurl them at each other in a chaotic and joyous free-for-all, consequently turning the streets into a sea of red.

7. Bullet Ant Initiation in Brazil

Deep in the Amazon rainforest, the Satere-Mawe tribe has a unique coming-of-age ceremony for young men. Specifically, in Brazil’s Amazon, young Satere-Mawe men wear gloves full of bullet ants to prove their bravery and enter adulthood.

8. Leap of Faith in India: Babies Descend, Not Tossed

In India’s Solapur, a ritual sees babies lowered from a high platform onto a cloth held by devotees. Believed to bring good luck and health, this practice sparks debate on faith and safety.

9. Wife Carrying Race in Finland

Finland boasts a quirky sporting event known as the Wife Carrying Race. In this competition, strength, agility, and teamwork reign supreme. Couples race through a course, with the wife carried piggyback, fireman-style, or even in the “Estonian Carry”. – that is, the wife hanging upside down with her legs around her husband’s shoulders! The winning couple not only earns bragging rights but also a prize of their wife’s weight in beer.

10. Egungun Festival in Nigeria

Nigeria comes alive with vibrant colors and captivating performances during the Egungun Festival, a tradition for ancestral spirits.

Masqueraders, adorned in elaborate costumes and towering headpieces, represent the spirits of deceased ancestors. Moreover, through their dance, song, and interaction with the crowds, these figures serve as a channel for communication between the living and the spirit world.

You might also like to read: 10+ Bizarre Habits of Famous Historical Figures