Someone said it right, people just need an excuse to celebrate and have a good time. Which is why there are holidays and celebrations all over the world.
Holidays save us from a hectic life and reminds us that life isn’t just about running after schedules and money.
They give us a much-needed break and an opportunity to connect with people that are close to us.
And it is also an excuse for most people to get drunk and let go of their stress and simply enjoy life.
Most of the times holidays are traditions, passed down from generation to generation.
They carry a great historical value behind it and is celebrated keeping the same in mind.
However, sometimes, these traditions just don’t make sense.
Especially when it comes to some of the strangest holidays people celebrate around the world.
Here are 7 strangest holidays people celebrate around the world.
Tinku “Punch Your Neighbor” Festival.
Tinku is a traditional festival celebrated in Bolivia, in places like Potosi and Macha.
In ancient times the Incas worshiped the earth goddess Pachamama. And to ensure a good harvest, the earth goddess demanded blood.
So, every May the people of Bolivian Andes form a mob of thousands and carry on to punch whoever comes their way. Thus the name “punch your neighbor in the face.”
International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Every year on September 19 people celebrates International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
It started out back in June 1995, when two friends John “Ol’ Chumbucket” Baur and Mark “Cap’n Slappy” Summers decided to talk like pirates during a game of racquetball, for no apparent reason.
And today it has gained a cult following.
So much so that it is the official holiday of people that follow Pastafarianism, a made-up religion opposing the teachings of intelligent design and creationism in public schools.
Bonza Bottler Day.
Bonza Bottler Day is a perfect example of how people make festivals and holidays an excuse to consume more food.
Because in Bonza Bottler, all people do is just eat all day.
Elaine Fremont of Greenville, South Carolina created the holiday in 1985.
This holiday is celebrated once a month of the number of the month coincides with the number of the day. For example May 5, July 7, etc.
Here, “bottler” means “something excellent” and “bonza” is a term Australians use to refer to something great.
Blame Someone Else Day.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we never had to take the blame for something we actually did?
Well, if you feel like blaming someone else for your wrongdoing, then there is a holiday for just that.
On the very first Friday the 13th of every year, you can celebrate the blame someone else day by, well, blaming someone else for what you have done.
A woman named Anne Moeller started this holiday in 1982. She apparently overslept on this day because her alarm clock didn’t go off.
She showed up at work late making her miss a lot of her appointments.
So, she spends the entire day making excuses and blaming it on others.
Hadaka Matsuri “Naked Man Festival”.
Japan is forever known for some of the weirdest things, whether it is fashion or traditions.
So, knowing that they celebrate men marching on the street with nothing but loincloths on isn’t very surprising.
Hadaka Matsuri or the “naked man festival” falls on the third Saturday of February. And different areas have their own way of celebrating this festival.
On this day, which is one of the coldest nights of the year, thousands of men gather around the streets of Japan.
They strip down to just their underwear and march through the street to test their manhood.
Lame Duck Day.
Don’t worry if you first hear the name of this holiday and assume it has anything to do with real ducks. Because honestly, it doesn’t.
February 6th is the day that people celebrate the Lame Duck Day.
It is a day dedicated to people whose position in authority is coming to an end.
It can be a teacher or a manager gearing up to retire. Or maybe even a politician who lost an election and their days at the office are numbered.
Gai Jatra.
Gai Jatra is a festival celebrated in Nepal, mostly by the people of Kathmandu Valley.
It falls on the first day of the month of Bhadra month of the Lunar calendar (August-September).
“Gai” in Nepali means cow and “Jatra” means festival. And, people celebrate this festival to commemorate the death of people during the whole year.
People celebrate this day to diminish the sadness they’ve felt from losing their family members or loved ones.
