Top 10 Unusual Holidays Around The World

In a world that celebrates a myriad of traditions and cultures, some holidays stand out for their quirkiness and uniqueness. From festivities dedicated to unusual creatures to events that defy conventional norms, let’s embark on a journey around the globe to explore the top 10 unusual holidays that add a splash of eccentricity to our calendars.

1. La Tomatina (Spain)

Every August in the town of Buñol, Spain, the streets transform into a sea of red during the famous La Tomatina festival. Thousands of participants engage in a massive tomato fight, creating a vibrant and messy spectacle that has become an annual tradition since the mid-20th century.

2. Songkran Water Festival (Thailand)

Welcome the Thai New Year with a splash! The Songkran Water Festival takes place in April, where locals and visitors engage in a nationwide water fight. Streets become battlegrounds as people joyfully drench each other with water, symbolizing the washing away of the past year’s misfortunes.

3. Monkey Buffet Festival (Thailand)

Lopburi, Thailand, hosts a one-of-a-kind feast during the Monkey Buffet Festival. Locals offer a massive banquet of fruits, vegetables, and treats to thousands of monkeys that inhabit the area, creating a surreal scene of monkeys indulging in a culinary feast.

4. Dia de los Muertos (Mexico)

While not unusual in Mexico, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a unique and vibrant celebration that honors deceased loved ones. Families create elaborate altars adorned with sugar skulls, marigolds, and favorite foods of the departed, transforming cemeteries into colorful displays of remembrance.

5. Up Helly Aa (Scotland)

In the Shetland Islands of Scotland, the Up Helly Aa festival showcases a spectacular procession of torch-wielding participants dressed as Vikings. The highlight is the burning of a galley ship, symbolizing the end of the Yule season and the rebirth of the sun.

6. International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Argh, matey! On September 19th, people worldwide channel their inner buccaneer, embracing pirate lingo and attire for International Talk Like a Pirate Day. From “Ahoy!” to “Avast!” conversations take a swashbuckling turn.

7. Holi (India)

Known as the Festival of Colors, Holi in India is a joyous celebration marked by vibrant colored powders thrown in the air and smeared on faces. This lively event symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring.

8. Bunyol Battle of the Oranges (Italy)

Similar to Spain’s La Tomatina, the Battle of the Oranges in Ivrea, Italy, involves a massive food fight. Participants throw oranges at each other in a playful reenactment of a historic rebellion against tyrannical rulers.

9. Kanamara Matsuri (Japan)

In Kawasaki, Japan, the Kanamara Matsuri, or “Festival of the Steel Phallus,” celebrates fertility and protection against sexually transmitted infections. Participants parade through the streets carrying giant phallus-shaped mikoshi (portable shrines) in a display of openness and humor.

10. Cheese Rolling Festival (England)

Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire, England, becomes the site of the annual Cheese Rolling Festival, where participants chase a wheel of cheese down a steep hill. The first person to cross the finish line at the bottom wins the cheese – and perhaps a few bumps and bruises.