{"id":1543,"date":"2015-12-22T00:00:02","date_gmt":"2015-12-22T00:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/?p=1543"},"modified":"2022-07-20T21:47:28","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T21:47:28","slug":"strange-facts-unusual-customs-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/listopedia\/strange-facts-unusual-customs-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Strange Facts: The Most Unusual Customs Around the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Explorer Marisse Gabrielle Reyes –<\/em><\/p>\n

Travelling can definitely get you out of your comfort zone, but these unusual customs might just put you out of orbit. From eating chicken eggs soaked in the urine of virgin boys in China to running down a dangerously steep hill after a wheel of cheese in England, to watching ‘devils’ leap over babies in northern Spain, we track down the strangest, most absurd customs around the world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Singles Being Covered in Cinnamon | Denmark<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In\u00a0Denmark<\/a>, if you reach your 25th birthday and you’re still single, tradition has it that you’ll be pelted with ground cinnamon by your closest friends. It doesn’t stop there: your colleagues will cover your desk with the fragrant spice as well. Things don’t look up for you if you’re 30 and single, as you’ll be doused in sneeze-inducing black pepper.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Honouring Penises | Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"KanamaraCredit:\u00a0Photo<\/a> by Guilhem Vellut<\/a>\/CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

If you ever find yourself in\u00a0Kawasaki<\/a> on the first Sunday of April and witness large penis sculptures being carried through excited crowds in the direction of the Kanayama Shrine, it’s a safe bet you’ve stumbled on the Kanamara Matsuri Festival. The festival, which started in 1977, evolved from local legend, but has now become more of a tourist attraction and HIV research fundraiser.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Worshiping Prince Philip | Vanuatu<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Kastom people of Tanna Island in\u00a0Vanuatu<\/a> are part of a cult called the Prince Philip Movement, a group that worships the Duke of Edinburgh. The cult had already been formed by the time the Prince made his first visit to the island in 1974. Strangely enough, none of the cult members met Prince Philip and, at the time of his visit, the prince was unaware of his divine status on the island.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The <\/strong>\u2018<\/strong>Handshake<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong> of the Face | New Zealand<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Hongi<\/p>\n

It\u2019s customary for the Maori people of\u00a0New Zealand<\/a> to greet you by touching their forehead and tip of their nose to yours. Called hongi<\/em>, this greeting is usually reserved for formal ceremonies. Hongi<\/em> means \u2018breath of life\u2019 and it signifies the exchange of breath \u2013 an act that has deep spiritual meaning for the Maori people.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wearing Gloves Made of Bullet Ants | South America<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A rite of passage for boys of the Satere-Mawe tribe in the depths of\u00a0South America<\/a>\u2019s Amazon rainforest is to insert their hands in gloves filled with bullet ants \u2013 a large species with a venomous sting that lasts for more than 24 hours. The goal of this ritual is for the boys to withstand the pain for 10 straight minutes. But it’s not over after that \u2013 each boy will have to repeat this ritual up to 20 times.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eating Eggs Cooked in the Urine of Virgin Boys | China<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Every spring, people in parts of\u00a0China<\/a> indulge themselves in a seasonal delicacy called \u2018virgin boy eggs\u2019. This treat, which is sold on many street corners, consists of chicken eggs which are soaked and then boiled in the urine of virgin boys. The \u2018special ingredient\u2019 \u2013 the urine \u2013 is collected from school restrooms. This foul-smelling snack is meant to lower body heat in time for summer as well as to encourage circulation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Catching a Rolling Wheel of Cheese | England<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Rolling<\/p>\n

The annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake in\u00a0England<\/a> is quite easily one of the silliest competitions around. In this traditional game, a wheel-shaped Double Gloucester cheese is the main prize. The cheese is released down a hill and participants chase after the cheese, trying to catch it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Couples Being Doused in Gunk | Scotland<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In rural parts of\u00a0Scotland<\/a>, it’s not uncommon for a soon-to-wed couple to be ‘captured’, covered in a variety of sticky, messy substances, such as treacle, soot and flour, and paraded around town in an open-air vehicle. This tradition was originally meant to ward off evil spirits, but has now become a somewhat fun, and often alcohol-fuelled prank.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

An Opulent Buffet for Monkeys | Thailand<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Monkey<\/p>\n

The Monkey Buffet Festival in\u00a0Lop Buri<\/a> is nothing short of an extravagant smorgasbord for monkeys. The festival, which was created to boost tourism to this province just north of Bangkok, feeds thousands of monkeys with beautiful towers and arrangements of fruits, vegetables and flowers \u2013 a true spectacle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Force-feeding Single Women | Mauritania<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The controversial act of force-feeding women and girls before they get married is alive and well in\u00a0Mauritania<\/a>. The act is rooted in the culture’s preference for heavier women, as it’s seen as a physical manifestation of the family’s wealth. There are even professional force-feeders who oversee the feeding of these women and girls, many of whom are unfortunately being fed against their will.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

‘Devils’ Jumping Over Infants | Spain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In northern\u00a0Spain<\/a>, some locals continue to partake in an age-old tradition called El Colacho, which is part of Corpus Christi, a Catholic feast day. The tradition, which dates back to 1620, involves men (the \u2018devils\u2019) dressed in red and yellow jumpsuits jumping over babies lying on mattresses along the street. This risky act symbolises a clearing away of original sin. Pope Benedict, however, did not condone the practice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Photo credits: Getty Images<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Explorer Marisse Gabrielle Reyes – Travelling can definitely get you out of your comfort zone, but these unusual customs might just put you out of orbit. From eating chicken eggs soaked in the urine of virgin boys in China to running down a dangerously steep hill after a wheel of cheese in England, to… Continue reading Strange Facts: The Most Unusual Customs Around the World<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1544,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,90,39,407,5,69],"tags":[408,396,320,409,410,341,411,412,204,413,414],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-1543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities","category-culture","category-festivals-events","category-fun-facts-and-snippets","category-listopedia","category-tips-inspiration","tag-china","tag-denmark","tag-england","tag-fun-facts","tag-mauritania","tag-new-zealand","tag-scotland","tag-south-america","tag-spain","tag-travel-around-the-world","tag-vanuatu","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUnusual Customs Around the World - 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