The World’s Most Obscure Festivals
People celebrate in different ways.
Every year, people around the world come together to celebrate holidays that have been ingrained in their cultures for centuries. From Christmas to Hanukkah to Diwali, these festive occasions are widely recognized and enjoyed by people of all ages. However, there is also a multitude of lesser-known holidays that are celebrated by small groups of people, often with unique and intriguing customs and traditions. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the world’s most obscure holidays and learn a little bit about their history and significance.
One such holiday is “Tin Can Day,” which is celebrated on November 28th in the small village of Yoxall in Staffordshire, England. The holiday has its roots in the early 20th century, when villagers would fill empty tin cans with gravel and roll them down the village’s main street as a way to celebrate the end of the harvest season. Today, the holiday has evolved to include a parade of floats made entirely out of tin cans, as well as a variety of games and activities centered around the humble can.
Another obscure holiday is “Chaharshanbe Suri,” which is celebrated on the last Wednesday of the year in Iran. The holiday is all about purging oneself of negativity and welcoming the new year with a clean slate. On this day, people gather around bonfires and jump over the flames while shouting “Give me your beautiful red color and take back my sickly pallor!” It is believed that the warmth and light of the fire will rid them of any illness or negativity and bring good luck for the year ahead.
In the small village of Hita in Japan, the “Hadaka Matsuri” (or “Naked Festival”) is held every year on the third Saturday in February. During this festival, men dressed only in loincloths parade through the streets, offering prayers for good health and fortune at the local shrine. The highlight of the festival is the “mikoshi,” a portable shrine that is carried through the streets by the nearly naked men. The origins of this festival are a bit murky, but it is believed to date back to the 17th century and may have originally been a fertility ritual.
Some more examples of obscure holidays from around the world include:
- “Cheese Rolling Day” — held annually in Cooper’s Hill, England, this holiday involves participants rolling a wheel of cheese down a steep hill and racing after it. The first person to catch the cheese wins it as a prize.
- “La Tomatina” — held annually in Buñol, Spain, this holiday involves a giant tomato fight in the streets. Participants throw tomatoes at each other until they are completely exhausted.
- “Moose Dropping Festival” — held annually in Talkeetna, Alaska, this holiday involves dropping various objects (including moose droppings) from a helicopter and seeing who can come closest to the target.
- “The Night of the Radishes” — held annually in Oaxaca, Mexico, this holiday involves sculpting elaborate designs and figures out of radishes and displaying them in a public square.
- “The Monkey Buffet Festival” — held annually in Lopburi, Thailand, this holiday involves setting out a huge buffet of fruits and vegetables for the local monkey population to enjoy.
- “The Battle of the Oranges” — held annually in Ivrea, Italy, this holiday involves people throwing oranges at each other in a massive street battle.
- “Up Helly Aa” — held annually in the Shetland Islands, Scotland, this holiday involves a massive torchlight procession and a Viking-themed carnival.
These are just a few examples of the many obscure holidays that are celebrated around the world. While they may not be as well-known as more mainstream holidays, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the diverse cultures and traditions that make up our world. So next time you’re looking to celebrate something a little out of the ordinary, consider marking one of these obscure holidays on your calendar.
