Festivals often bring people together for celebration, but some take things to an entirely new level of weirdness! Here’s a tour of five of the most bizarre and fascinating festivals from around the globe that will make you wonder if you would join in or just watch.

Boryeong Mud Festival

Imagine diving headfirst into a pool of mud—sounds fun, right? The Boryeong Mud Festival takes place annually in Boryeong, South Korea. This unique festival is a celebration of mud, and it is exactly what it sounds like. This festival quickly grew into one of the most famous mud parties in the world. Tourists and locals alike gather for mud wrestling, mud sliding, mud massages, and even mud facials! Yes, it is all related to mud! It is the ultimate festival if you are not afraid to get dirty. It is believed that the mud has therapeutic properties and can help with skin conditions.

Monkey Buffet Festival

In the town of Lopburi, Thailand, monkeys get to feast like kings! Each year, thousands of kilograms of fruits, vegetables, and other goodies are laid out as a buffet for the macaque monkeys. It’s a way of thanking them for attracting tourists to the area—a great way to see these fascinating creatures up close.

Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival)

Want to celebrate good fortune and health? Just strip down! Japan’s Naked Festival, or Hadaka Matsuri, happens in various cities, with the biggest event taking place in Okayama. Thousands of men, dressed only in fundoshi (a traditional Japanese loincloth), fight to grab a pair of sacred sticks tossed by a priest. If they succeed, it is said they will have good fortune for the year.

Kukur Tihar

How often do you celebrate your dog? In Nepal, Kukur Tihar is a special day dedicated to honoring dogs. As part of the five-day Hindu festival of Tihar, dogs are worshiped with flower garlands, tika (a red mark on their forehead), and delicious treats. It’s a way of thanking them for their loyalty and companionship. If you’re a dog lover, this festival is a dream come true!

El Colacho (Baby Jumping)

Ever seen a man dressed as the devil jump over a bunch of babies? That’s exactly what happens in the Spanish town of Castrillo de Murcia during the El Colacho festival, also known as “baby jumping.” This festival is part of the town’s celebration of the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi. In this unique tradition, babies born in the past year are laid on mattresses while men dressed as devils leap over them, supposedly cleansing the infants sins and bringing good luck to the baby for the rest of their life. Definitely not your typical baptism!

Which festival would you join? These unique festivals provide a glimpse into diverse cultures and traditions around the world. While some may seem unusual to outsiders, they all hold cultural significance and a sense of community for their participants.

Picture Credit: Marcus Clackson, topten22photo, dutourdumonde

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