If there’s one thing that humans love, it’s a good cultural festival. And by “good festival”, I mean unpredictable wild, absolutely reckless, don’t-try-this-at-home kind of festival. And man, do we have some good cultural festivals. From the uninhibited and debaucherous Mardi Gras to the psychedelic and trippy Electric Daisy Carnival, humans know how to throw a party.
But we’re just getting started. There are literally thousands of strange festivals happening all over the world, each one wilder than the last. So buckle up, because we’re about to take a wild ride through some of the most bizarre celebrations on the planet.
The Kanamara Matsuri, Japan.
Welcome to the Kanamara Matsuri, a.k.a. the Penis Festival. Held annually in Kawasaki, Japan, this strange celebration is dedicated to – you guessed it – the penis.
The origins of the cultural festival are a little murky, but some say it started as a way to bring good luck to couples trying to conceive. These days though, it’s more of a drunken (and often naked) celebration of all things phallic.
Monkey Buffet Festival, Thailand.
As you walk through the gates of the Monkey Buffet Festival, you are greeted by the sight of hundreds of small, brightly coloured monkeys running around and playing. Furthermore, these monkeys are the stars of the show and the main attraction of the festival.
The Monkey Buffet Festival is a celebration of Thai culture and cuisine. The cultural festival takes place every year in Lopburi, Thailand, and it’s attended by thousands of people from all over the world. Also, the highlight of the festival is the all-you-can-eat buffet for monkeys. Yes, that’s right – a buffet for monkeys.
The festival was also started in 1989 as a way to promote tourism in Lopburi. Since then, it has become one of the most popular festivals in Thailand, and it’s a must-see for anyone visiting the country.
Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea.
What could be more exhilarating than rolling around in a giant mud pit? If that doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, consider yourself warned – the Boryeong Mud Festival is not for the faint of heart!
Held every year in South Korea, this wild and wacky festival is all about getting down and dirty in the name of fun. From mudslides and obstacle courses to mud wrestling and even a mud bath, there’s something for everyone at Boryeong. So if you’re looking for an adventure, this is the place to be!
Burning Man, USA.
Burning Man is one of the most incredible and unique cultural festivals in the world. It takes place every year in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada and lasts for a week.
The festival is all about creativity, self-expression, and self-reliance. There are no rules or regulations – everyone is free to do whatever they please. However, the only thing that is mandatory is that you must bring everything you need with you, including food, water, and shelter.
The highlight of Burning Man is the amazing art installations that are created by the attendees. Furthermore, these installations often take the form of large-scale sculptures, art cars, and performance art pieces.
Cricket Fighting Festival, China.
You’re probably wondering what in the world cricket fighting is. Trust us, it’s just as bizarre as it sounds. This cultural festival, which is held in the city of Yulin, involves two men (or sometimes women) squaring off against each other with caged crickets. Basically, the goal is to kill as many crickets as possible using only your bare hands.
The cultural festival is said to have origins dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Furthermore, participants believe that the more cricket corpses you have, the more good luck you’ll have in the New Year. If that doesn’t creep you out, we don’t know what will.
You may think you’ve seen it all when it comes to festivals, but trust us, you haven’t. From the wacky and wonderful to the downright strange, these festivals are sure to amaze and amuse you.
