Traditions are varied ad diversified values, customs or beliefs that are passed from generation to generation with a mission to preserve cultural continuity of social attitudes and behavior. Below are some of the most unusual traditions around the world.
Blackening of the Bride/Groom (Scotland)
Wedding traditions are characteristic to every country, tribe and family with some being nice and interesting and others being bizarre and sometimes even cruel. And although they have a long history of meaning and significance, many just seem out-of-place in today’s culture. Such is the pre-wedding tradition of blackening of the bride or groom.
Taken by surprise, the bride (or the groom) is covered by such foul and disgusting substances as curdled milk, spoiled curry, rotten eggs, various smelly sauces and feathers to name but a few, after which she is tied to a tree or paraded around town for all to see and learn about her wedding.
This tradition is held in Scotland and aims to prepare the couple to face all the difficulties and challenges they are going to come across in the future. This seems more like ‘hazing’ than an ancient wedding tradition, but it’s included among an interesting group of ‘most unusual wedding customs.’
Krampus Night Austria
Like weddings, there are bountiful ways to celebrate Christmas around the globe, from lavish parties to imperial ball to first footing. But the scariest thing to happen around Christmas I came across was the tradition of Krampus Night in Austria.
Krampus is the feast of Saint Nicholas and Santa’s evil twin whose job is to punish the kids who have misbehaved that year by hitting them with brooms and chasing them, while the saint gives sweets, toys and nuts to good kids.
Celebrated on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day, young men traditionally dress up like the Krampus in hairy costumes and some of the scariest masks and drunkenly run around towns hitting people with switches and sticks. The Krampus legend originated in the Alpine regions is now widespread all over Europe.
La Tomatina in Buñol, Spain
La Tomatina is a traditional food fight festival held in the sunny Mediterranean city of Valencia in an effort to draw more tourism into the small town of Buñol. Thousands of people from all corners of the globe (around 20,000 to 40,000) come to experience world’s biggest food fight, where over 100 metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.
Held every year on the last of Wednesday of August, this week-long tradition has been around since the 1940s, though it was briefly suppressed under the Reign of Franco. The most unique attraction and highlight of this festival is the tomato fight taking place between 11:00am and 1:00pm, with other features including parades, dancing, music and fireworks.
The festival started in honor of Luis Bertran and the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats (Mother of God of the Defenseless) — the town’s patron saints, however, there are no certain reasons behind the start of this fun, messy gala. During the festival women are expected to wear white, while men should come with no shirts.
