CRAZY FESTIVALS
Added on: 7th Jul 2015
FROZEN DEAD GUY DAYS
Ever since Bredo Morstol’s body was brought to the United States by
his grandson in the late 80′s his body has been cryogenically frozen
in a shed located in the small town of Nederland, Colorado. Although
initially the townspeople were opposed to the idea of keeping frozen
dead people in their backyards, they’ve chilled out quite a bit
(pun intended). Today they even hold an annual festival that includes
coffin races, a slow motion parade, and a Frozen Dead Guy
lookalike contest.
GOOSE PULLING FESTIVAL
Each year on Shrove Tuesday in various towns throughout Germany
and the Netherlands villagers take part in a very old and very
controversial activity. Basically a goose is hung from either a wire or a pole
after which participants take turns trying to pull its head off. Of course,
the head can only take so much and before long somebody is successful.
Don’t get too worked up though, the animal rights activists already beat
you to it. These days only dead geese are allowed to be used in the festivities.
THE REDNECK GAMES
In 1996 when the Olympics were held in Atlanta, some locals took offense
to the fact that the international media portrayed them as a “bunch of
rednecks holding a sporting event.” As a result they ended up doing just that.
Some of the events include toilet seat throwing, hubcap hurling
and the armpit serenade.
BURNING TAR BARREL FESTIVAL
Although no one is quite sure why anymore, for hundreds of years people
in the town of Devon, England have been running through the streets
carrying burning battles of tar. As soon as the sun goes down on the
5th of November (Guy Fawkes Night) barrels are lit and placed upon the
back of a carrier. When he can bear it no more he’ll hand off the load to
the next willing soul and so and so forth.
BOLAS DE FUEGO
Staying on the topic of fire, this festival takes us halfway around the world
to San Salvador. Around the turn of the 20th century a volcano almost
completely destroyed the small town of Nejapa. Every year since then
residents have gathered together in the town square for very an appropriately
themed celebration consisting of throwing flaming rags at one another.
KONAKI SUMO
Once again we find ourselves in Japan, and once again the Japanese have
managed to outdo themselves. This time the festival involves two things,
sumo wrestlers and lots and lots of babies. Every April the wrestlers face
off while holding the babies to see who’s will cry first. May the man with
the most baby friendly hands win.
GOAT TOSSING FESTIVAL
There are few things in the world stranger than what happens in the small
Spanish town of Manganeses de la Polvorosa every fourth Sunday of
January. Essentially it consists of a young boy finding a goat, tying it up,
and then throwing it from the top of the church belfry after which it is
supposedly caught by villagers on the ground.
EL COLACHO
Also known as the baby jumping festival, this cringe worthy celebration
occurs every year on the feast of Corpus Christi in the Spanish village
of Castrillo de Murcia. Any baby that was born in the previous 12 months
is placed on a mattress in the street while all the adult men of the village
take turns jumping over them. Although there are usually at least several
injuries (surprise!), word has it that they typically only involve the jumpers.
Comment on this