“Not like everyone else”: unusual traditions in the world

A variety of peoples live on our planet. People with white, red, black skin, with almond-shaped and slanted eyes. There are a great many peoples living on earth and each has its own traditions. People speak different languages, eat different foods, play different games. But each of them loves holidays.

The most unusual traditions

There are holidays and traditions that almost everyone loves. So, almost all over the world Christmas, New Year, and Easter are celebrated. But there are also special traditions, for example, Hanukkah, the Day of the Three Kings, associated with ancient customs.

If we talk about the most unusual traditions, then it’s worth starting with the distant past, when morals were more cruel and life was more difficult.

In Greek Sparta in the fourth century BC, boys from the age of seven were sent to the army to learn military skills. And they could return back only after fifty-five years. However, few people lived to such “advanced” years at that time.

And girls from prosperous families were sent to Ginkei (something like a girls' boarding house). Where they were locked away and had no access to outside society. All their time they learned to cook, spin, play musical instruments, sing, and do housework. And they could leave there only after reaching the age of sixteen, only to go to their husband, who was chosen by her father. But before that, she needs to take a physical training course (running, jumping, wrestling). All this was done so that the girl could produce healthy offspring and become a worthy mother.

In the modern world everything is simpler. There are many laws, conventions, principles. However, there are customs that have not been lost, but having passed through the centuries, they have undergone changes, adapting to the times, but without losing their meaning.

It was customary for the Aztec warriors of ancient Mexico to fly on a religious holiday. The warriors dressed up in bright outfits depicting the silhouettes of birds. They climbed onto a high pole, tied themselves by the legs and jumped from the top down. The ropes were secured to the pole in a special way. Before the warrior landed on the ground, he made many turns around the pillar. This flight depicted the movement of the sun across the sky. This ritual has survived to this day, but is in the nature of a colorful performance.

Unusual traditions of peoples

Opening of the fishing season

Every February in Argungu (Nigeria), the opening of the fishing season is celebrated. Once upon a time, this was a means of obtaining food; centuries later, everything grew into a two-day performance. Thousands of men and youths move with nets and gourd vessels along the bottom of the Sokoto River. In this way they scare large fish (its weight can reach seventy kilograms) and drive it into shallow water. There are already fish being caught there. Fishing competitions with bare hands are also organized. Crowds of people come to the banks of the river to see this spectacle.

City of cats

In Belgium, in the city of Ypres, cats are idolized. On May 8th, a real cat festival takes place there, followed by a carnival procession. The tradition requires throwing a toy cat from a tower in the market square, and then taking part in a procession, following a motorcade of sleds with cats. The costume, of course, must be a cat one.

Where did this custom come from and why did the residents turn it into a holiday? It's actually simple. Once upon a time, Ypres was an industrial city producing yarn and thread. Naturally, after some time the city was overrun by hordes of mice. People haven't come up with anything better than getting cats. When the problem with mice disappeared, a new one appeared. Where to put so many cats that have multiplied and flooded the whole city? It is not known who came up with this and why this particular method, but people did not find a better solution than throwing poor animals from the city tower. Naturally, reaching the ground the animal crashed to death. Moreover, it was believed that the more cats were thrown off, the better the year would be.

This cruel tradition continued until 1817. When, according to the chronicler's description, the last thrown cat did not break, but landed on its paws and rushed to run away as fast as it could. After this, the residents of Ypres stopped celebrating this holiday by throwing live cats from the bell tower.

Unusual traditions from different countries

Ravana

On the last day of Dussehra, a huge figure of the demonic king Ravanna is burnt. Ancient legends say that Ravanna was killed by Rama, the greatest God Vishnu, who was born in human form. Previously, Rowana had angered him by kidnapping Rama's faithful wife.

Devil mask

Buddhist tradition for the New Year. The monk puts on a mask that depicts the face of the devil, decorated with skulls. And in it he performs a dance that celebrates the Tibetan New Year. With the help of this ritual, monks try to drive out evil spirits.

Strange traditions in the world

Malmedy

This is a very unusual carnival. It shows people putting huge top hats on their heads. It lasts four days and is held before the onset of Lent. On the first day, close people meet in a cafe, from Friday to Saturday, to celebrate the morning together. Then everyone gathers in the square and watches as the mayor hands over the keys to the city to Truvle (a fictional character). This is the beginning of the holiday. Truvle represents the carnival itself.

On this day, the Carnival procession begins, where Truvle, together with his retinue, parades through the streets of the city.

On Sunday, all the townspeople join the carnival. They put on folk costumes and start dancing together with Truvle.

On Monday, all kinds of theaters show small performances right on the streets and squares of the city.

And the final stage is Tuesday evening, when all residents gather in the main square to burn a large effigy of "Aglet".