Every family has a couple of weird traditions that they adhere to. Most countries have a couple of traditions people would view as pretty weird too, if they weren’t actually residents of those countries. Some of the traditions are specifically for Holidays and other times these are just traditions that they go through at some point in their lives. No matter the reason, you’ll be shocked to see some of these traditions from around the world.
Feeding The Dead (Rome)
While this tradition isn’t practiced as often, it is still done occasionally and was quite popular years ago. Roman citizens would enact a series of tubes leading through graveyards and these tubes would be used to send honey and other liquids into the tombs of their loved ones. This was actually a way of feeding the dead.
Donning Kilts And Reciting Poetry Once a Year (Scotland)
Every year on January 25th, Scottish lads don their favorite kilt and start reciting the poetry of famed national scribe Robert Burns. The day even has a title, “Burns Night”. Bagpipe music is also popular on this day and most people eat the traditional Scottish fare of haggis.
Cleaning Doorknobs On Your 30th Birthday (Germany)
Germany seems to have cornered the market in weird birthday traditions. If you are unmarried on your 30th birthday, women are expected to clean the doorknobs of their best friends. Men will get other cleaning chores. The only way out of this weird tradition is to secure a kiss from the opposite sex.
Throwing Money (Mexico)
At Mexican baptisms, the adults throw coins at the children. While this sounds kind of painful, in recent years, actual money has been replaced every once in a while with chocolate coins.
Socks Leading You On A Pub Crawl (Germany)
In Germany, unmarried 20-somethings will generally have to follow a line of socks to their birthday party. Along the way, they will be instructed to take a drink, then move on, rinse, repeat.
Eating The Ashes Of Loved Ones (Brazil)
The Yonamamo tribe of Brazil believes that when a loved one dies, the family members must consume their body. This isn’t some grotesque orgy of human flesh-munching. The tribe burns the body to ash and then that ash is mixed into the family’s food. Still not a gourmet meal but…
Wife Carrying Contests (Finland)
While Finland may have started the competitive wife carrying event, people from all over the world now come to this country in order to show how well they can tote their spouse. The sport is said to have started in the 19th century.
Shoving Your Face In Your Cake (Mexico)
After the cake is brought out in Mexico, the birthday boy or girl is supposed to be the first one to take a bite. As the celebrant bends down to take a bite, someone will almost always shove their face into the cake. Since it’s tradition, you’ll know it’s coming and still do it.
La Tomatina (Spain)
This might qualify as one of the largest food fights in the world. In the Spanish town of Bunol, La Tomatina takes place on the last Wednesday in August. Townspeople throw tomatoes at one another in lighthearted good fun.
