Around the world, small communities maintain centuries-old traditions that might
seem bizarre to outsiders but hold deep cultural significance for locals. These
practices, ranging from food-throwing festivals to death celebrations, offer fascinating
glimpses into how different cultures express their beliefs and values.
While some traditions adapt to modern times, many villages proudly preserve their
unique customs exactly as their ancestors practiced them.
Buñol, Spain
Every August, this small village hosts La Tomatina, where participants engage in the
world’s largest tomato fight using overripe tomatoes. The tradition began in 1945
when disgruntled townspeople pelted local officials with tomatoes during a parade
and now attracts over 20,000 participants annually.
Local shopkeepers cover their storefronts with plastic sheets while residents prepare for the hour-long festival by wearing goggles and old clothes.
Bali Aga Villages, Indonesia
These ancient villages practice a unique funeral ritual where the deceased is not
buried but left to decompose under a special canopy naturally. The community
celebrates death as joyously as birth, with festivities including music and dancing
during funeral ceremonies.
Visitors can witness these ceremonies if invited by locals though photography is strictly regulated.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Júzcar, Spain
This village permanently painted all its buildings blue for a Smurfs movie promotion
and refused to change back even after the promotion ended. The entire community
voted to keep their homes blue after tourism increased by 500% in the first year.
Every summer, the village hosts a ‘Smurf festival’ where residents dress up as
characters from the series.
Zundert, Netherlands
This small town hosts the world’s largest flower parade, where enormous sculptures
made entirely of dahlias compete for annual honors. Each neighborhood spends months secretly preparing its float, using millions of flowers grown specifically for the
event.
The tradition dates back to 1936 and celebrates the region’s flower-growing heritage.
Kurama, Japan
This mountain village celebrates an annual fire festival where young men carry
massive flaming torches through the streets. The celebration commemorates the
village’s protection by magical tengu (long-nosed demon spirits) and involves
carrying torches weighing up to 220 pounds.
Local sake flows freely as participants navigate the narrow streets with their burning burdens.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Gävle, Sweden
Every Christmas season, this town erects a giant straw goat and then tries to protect
it from being illegally burned down by pranksters. The goat has been successfully
burned down more often than not since the tradition began in 1966.
Local betting pools take odds on how long the goat will survive each year.
Toraja, Indonesia
This highland community keeps their deceased relatives at home for months or even
years before formal funeral ceremonies. Families treat the preserved bodies as if
they’re still alive, bringing them food and changing their clothes regularly.
When funds are finally gathered for the elaborate funeral ceremony, water buffalo are
sacrificed, and hundreds of guests attend multi-day celebrations.
Cooper’s Hill, England
This village hosts an annual cheese-rolling competition where participants chase an
8-pound wheel of cheese down a nearly vertical hill. Competitors often suffer injuries
as they tumble down the 200-yard course after the speeding cheese.
The winner gets to keep the cheese, though most winners are too injured to collect their prize immediately.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Dongyang, China
This town is famous for cooking eggs in boys’ urine, believing the resulting ‘virgin boy
eggs’ have health benefits. Schools collect urine from boys under 10 years old, and
vendors boil eggs in the liquid all day long.
The unusual delicacy sells for twice the price of regular eggs and is especially popular during spring.
Yanshui, Taiwan
This village hosts the world’s most dangerous fireworks festival, where participants
wear thick protective gear and motorcycle helmets while being bombarded with
bottle rockets. The tradition began in the late 19th century to ward off a cholera
epidemic by awakening the god of war with fireworks.
Thousands of participants join the festivities each year despite numerous injuries.
Kiwa Valley, Papua New Guinea
This remote valley’s tribes maintain a tradition of full-body mud masking during
coming-of-age ceremonies. Young initiates spend several months living in isolation
while covered in clay, learning tribal traditions from elders.
The practice helps youth develop patience and discipline while connecting with ancestral spirits.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Whittlesea, England
This village maintains a 900-year-old tradition of the Straw Bear Festival, where a
person dressed in a full-body straw suit dances through the streets. The bear-suited
person visits every pub in town, collecting drinks and money while accompanied by
traditional musicians.
The costume, weighing over 80 pounds, is ceremonially burned the day after the festival.
El Colacho, Spain
During the annual Baby Jumping Festival, men dressed as devils leap over rows of
babies lying on mattresses in the street. The 400-year-old tradition is believed to
cleanse the babies of original sin and protect them from illness.
Parents come from all over Spain to have their babies jumped over, though the Catholic Church has tried to distance itself from the practice.
Mamoiada, Italy
This Sardinian village’s Mamuthones tradition involves men wearing heavy wooden
masks and sheep bells while performing ritualistic dances through the streets. The
masks weigh over 30 pounds, and performers carry additional bells that weigh up to
65 pounds during their procession.
The ancient tradition likely dates back to pre- Christian times and symbolizes the relationship between shepherds and their flocks.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Shutitong, China
This village maintains a tradition where young women cut their hair only once in their
lives, typically before their wedding day. The women grow their hair to extreme
lengths, often reaching over six feet, and wear it in elaborate traditional styles.
The first haircut ceremony is a major celebration where the cut hair is given to the bride’s mother as a symbol of gratitude.
Embracing Unique Cultural Traditions
These unique traditions, while sometimes shocking to outsiders, represent important
cultural heritage and community identity for the villages that maintain them. While
many of these practices are open to visitors, it’s essential to approach them with
respect and understanding rather than judgment.
If you plan to witness any of these traditions, research appropriate behavior and local
customs beforehand to ensure you’re a welcome guest in these remarkable
communities.
More from Travel Pug
- 15 Dangerous European Cities to Avoid
- 15 Caribbean Islands Where Tourists Keep Getting Scammed
- The 20 Most Fascinating Abandoned Places: A Journey Through Time and Forgotten Spaces
- 15 Hidden Places in the Smithsonian Museums Locals Love: A Guide to Lesser-Known Treasures
- 16 Hidden Florida Beach Towns That Aren’t Overrun with Tourists
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.