7 Local Customs From Around The World That Seem Bizarre
While bizarreness is certainly in the eye of the beholder, the following local customs are so strange that even those who practice them understand why the rest of the world might raise an eyebrow.
In order to make our list, the custom had to be…
a) considered “normal” in only a very small part of the world, i.e. one particular country, region, or city.
b) centered around an activity that most people around the world wouldn’t be doing on an ordinary Wednesday.
c) directly linked to the culture from which it originated.
Ready for a taste of the bizarre? Strap on your ant gloves (yes, ant gloves) and let’s go!
1. Let flesh-eating ants bite you on purpose
If you want to be a real man, at least in the eyes of Satere-Mawe Amazonian tribe in Brazil, you have to prove you can take the pain…of bullet ants, that is.
Upon hitting puberty, young men journey deep into the rainforest to don ant-filled gloves and endure incredibly painful bites while dancing feverishly to take their minds off the pain.
2. Steer clear of the toilet
During a traditional Tidong wedding in Indonesia, the bride and groom aren’t allowed to urinate or defecate for 72 hours following their wedding ceremony because it’s believed that doing so would curse the marriage.
This one sounds more challenging to me than getting bitten by bullet ants.
3. Eat dead people
The South American Yanomami tribe commemorates the death of a loved one by cremating their body then eating the ashes and bone fragments in a delicious plantain soup. Mmmm….
4. Throw your baby off a building
Muslims and Hindus in the Indian state of Karnataka spend their Decembers blessing newborns and toddlers….by tossing them off a 15-meter high building.
Don’t worry, though – the kids are caught by a big, soft cloth and immediately transferred to the nearest psychologist’s office to begin treatment for PTSD.
5. Amputate yourself
Members of the Ndani tribe in West Papua, New Guinea, give Romeo and Juliet a run for their money. So romantic are these indigenous folk that they readily chop off their fingers to express their sorrow at a spouse’s passing.
6. Give a turkey a chance
Each year during the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, the presiding president is bestowed with a live turkey by the National Turkey Federation. The president then “blesses” the turkey, protecting him from being cooked for Thanksgiving dinner.
Then, along with the rest of the American people, the president sits down to a nice Thanksgiving feast, the main course of which is….um, turkey.
This might be the most bizarre custom yet.
7. Fool those pesky witches
We all know what a bummer it can be when witches try to mess with you. That’s why Norwegians take care to hide all of their brooms each year on Christmas Eve.
Because if witches can’t find a decent broom to ride upon, they’ll just have to stay home and open presents like everybody else. Good thinkin’, Norway!
What bizarre local customs have you stumbled upon during your travels?
And if these were not bizarre enough why not check out our Bizarre Destination series.
Rebekah Voss is an author, travel writer, and the creator of TheHappyPassport.com.
